Last week in Vadsø, I FINALLY experienced the awe and beauty of the Nordlys, or Northern Lights. However, it’s not from a lack of trying that I hadn’t yet seen them.

When my family was with me in Tromsø, I was confident that we’d see the Lights. After all, Tromsø was ranked as one of the best places in the world to see them. However, I didn’t realize how tricky it was to ‘catch them’. The sky needs to be clear, and the aurora activity needs to be high. I had both the Norwegian weather app, YR, that indicated cloud cover, and the Aurora app that sent notifications of aurora activity. We ventured out multiple times to search for the lights, but the skies were either cloudy, or it was snowing, so we only saw one dim green streak off in the distant sky while in Tromsø. Our VRBO was filled with heavy footsteps, all night long, as people above and below us ventured out in search of the Northern Lights. I’m not sure they had any success either.

My luck changed last week as my phone apps constantly sent notifications of high aurora activity. The first night in Vadsø, I ventured outside at 11pm looking for the lights. However, the skies were cloudy, and I couldn’t see anything. I set my alarm for 5am, as aurora activity was predicted, but again no luck.

When school ended on Tuesday at 2:00, it was DARK outside. I settled in my hotel room to grade my college students’ work. At 4:00, my phone notified me of high aurora activity. I looked out my hotel window and saw a line of pink in the sky, so I quickly put on my boots and gear and dashed outside.

I meandered up and down streets trying to find a dark location, finally sitting on a mound of snow. I stared at what I thought were clouds, but after a moment they started changing color and shape. As I sat there in the snow, the clouds spread across the sky and illuminated upwards. The colors grew brighter, then dimmed. Moments later, a spot to the west began growing and illuminating; the light changed in shape and color intensity. The colors went dim and then a patch of light appeared toward the east; bright and colorful, the light grew and stretched across the sky. After approximately 30 minutes, the lights dimmed and disappeared.

My hands were freezing from taking photos, and my legs were cold, so I walked back to the hotel…nearly a mile… In my enthusiasm to catch the lights, I walked fast and far in search of a perfect viewing spot.

It wasn’t long before my phone again alerted me to high aurora activity. I quickly threw on my winter gear, to include snowpants this time, and rushed outside. Again, I doubted that I would see the Northern Lights because it looked as if the sky was cloudy. After a few minutes, green lights started appearing behind the clouds. First a ‘cloud line’ appeared and then it expanded, and the green hues grew stronger. That line grew to what appeared to be a complete arc in the sky. The lights were moving and swaying and sometimes streaks of light appeared to be shooting up, perpendicular, from that cloud line. Other times, the line formed spirals and circles. After the long line of lights dimmed, I assumed that the light show was complete.

Ope. A spot to the west began to grow and brighten, then another spot in the east. Above me, I took a photo that looked like an explosion of light. I read that those images indicate that the Aurora was directly overhead. I stayed and gazed at the sky for quite a while. I returned to my hotel room but set outside again when I received yet another high aurora notification. Uff, chasing the Northern Lights was addictive! By that last time, however, the sky was cloudy and there were no lights to be seen.

The next day, I met a teacher at the new, local sauna at 5pm. When I arrived at the dark structure that jetted out into the fjord, two beautiful streaks of green light illuminated the dark sky. The Aurora app only mentioned medium aurora activity for that evening, so I wasn’t expecting any lights. That’s the thing about the Northern Lights, they are an unexpected beauty, which is perhaps part of their appeal.

I’ve never been incredibly fond of fireworks. Yes, they’re bright and the science-related colors, patterns, and sounds are neat…but the Northern Lights are far better than any commercially created light show. There is science behind the Northern Lights as well, but it’s completely natural and the event is spontaneous. What an incredible experience it was to sit and stare at the sky as light emerged and disappeared, illuminated and faded across the winter sky. I caught the Nordlys and experienced the motion, colors, and challenges of chasing them. For that reason, Vadsø will forever hold a special place in my heart.

Nordlys (Northern Lights)

Food in the Fridge