What to Bring and Wear Aurora-Watching

Whether you’re watching the aurora from behind the North Inn or Wiseman with us, one thing will usually be true: it’s going to be cold! 

No matter where you’re from and what kind of weather you’re used to at home, it can be tough to stand outside in the cold for long enough to spot a great aurora. And there’s no worse feeling than having to leave a great display to go back inside and warm up. 

If you come with us to Wiseman, you’ll have access to hot drinks in a heated cabin, as well as a double-barrel stove outside to keep warm. But, you can’t see the aurora from inside. And if you don’t have the right gear, then even standing next to the stove can get chilly--especially for your feet and hands. 

If you’re already coming all the way up to see us, make sure you maximize your chances of spotting and enjoying the northern lights. 

Pack these coworker-recommended essentials to have the best and most comfortable aurora-viewing experience possible!

Wear These…

Coat

First and foremost, don’t forget to bring a warm coat! (Seriously, you’d be surprised.) 

If you’re purchasing a coat specifically for your trip, don’t worry about spending a ton of money. Springing for a Canada Goose parka really isn’t necessary. There are plenty of reasonably priced options that will keep you warm, especially if you layer up. 

As you’ll probably notice when you arrive, most coworkers (and Alaskan locals) favor Carhartt bibs and coats--for good reason: they’re affordable, rugged, and will keep you way warm. Even the crews that work along the haul road are often wearing Carhartts, and they’re usually outside working for hours at a time regardless of the weather. 

Just one thing: make sure you’re purchasing the workwear, and not the streetwear. While trendy, the streetwear isn’t quite as practical for cold-weather exploring as the workwear is. Specifically, check out the “Extremes” line: these coats are specifically designed for adventuring in Alaska, and the one-piece design of these bibs will block the wind. 

If you’re already in Fairbanks without a coat, check out Big Ray’s or Value Village to pick one up last-minute! There are also gear rental spots in Fairbanks where you can pick up a coat and boots for a few days, and return them at the end of your trip. 

Boots

We’re sorry to say it, but hiking boots just won’t cut it. Neither will sneakers. Heels and stilettos won’t, either, and actually could be pretty dangerous on the ice. (Again, you’d be surprised.) 

Yes, you can buy toe warmers! We definitely recommend them. But toe-warmers work best when you’re also wearing warm, insulated winter boots that’ll keep all that heat in! Most hiking boots, even waterproof ones, simply aren’t built to withstand the cold temperatures (often as low as -30F, sometimes as low as -50F) that aurora-watching demands. 

If you’re looking for a branded option, Sorel and Baffin both make really nice cold weather boots, many of which you’ll spot on coworkers during your time here. But, if you’re interested in a discount pair of boots, go with bunny boots (or, officially, “Extreme Cold Vapor Barrier Boots” developed by the U.S. military)--there are a few military surplus stores in Fairbanks that’ll have them at a reasonable price. 

And, like we mentioned above, if you don’t want to pop for a brand-new pair of boots, or if you don’t want to waste precious suitcase space, you can always check out the gear rentals in Fairbanks! 

Gloves

Gloves are also a necessity, especially for colder nights. There’s nothing more frustrating than having to run inside during an amazing display because your hands (or feet) get cold. And, it could be dangerous, too--frostbite happens quickly here during aurora season. 

As you’ll notice is a theme in this article, layering up can help!

Wear a thin, tech-compatible pair of gloves underneath a bulkier gloves or mittens to reduce the chill (and save you from painful dry skin) when you have to take a glove off to take photos on your camera or smartphone. 

However, like we said, frostbite is no joke. Even with your under-gloves on, try to minimize time outside of your mittens or thick gloves, and make sure your hands stay in your pockets between photos.

Socks

Wear warm socks! The thicker, the better--as long as they still fit inside your boots. (Definitely make sure you try your boots on over your socks before committing.) 

You can also layer ‘em: wear regular crew socks underneath, and put a thicker on over them before putting on your boots. 

Carhartt makes these reasonably-priced Arctic wool-blend socks that will go a long way towards keeping your toes nice and toasty. 

Bring These…

Head Lamp 

Though a head lamp isn’t crucial, it’ll make your aurora-watching experience a lot easier. Part of escaping the urban light shadow is that it gets really dark. So, a headlamp can make, say, a trip to the outhouse a lot smoother. 

The only thing you’ll want to keep in mind when selecting a headlamp is to make sure that it has a red light setting. 

Why is a red light setting so important? Simply put, it’s because red light preserves your night vision. 

We do everything we can to reduce light in Wiseman. Turning on a white light forces your eyes to adjust, and, if you accidentally shine it the wrong way, can force others’ eyes to adjust too. Introducing white light into photos can also ruin your aurora and night sky pictures. 

Tripod 

Like we said in our article on photographing the aurora, a tripod is essential! Because you have to use such a long exposure to capture the northern lights, getting a clear, crisp shot of the aurora is almost impossible without keeping the camera totally still. 

If you already have a camera or a smartphone that you want to use to shoot the aurora, it might be worth picking up an inexpensive tripod like this one. (Don’t forget a smartphone adapter if you’re going that route!) 

But if you don’t have the equipment or don’t want to invest, don’t worry. Our guides bring a camera on every aurora viewing trip and can give you details on purchasing the photos from your excursion.

So, there you have it - these are the coworker-recommended basics to wear and bring when you come aurora-watching in Coldfoot! If you’ve already visited and have some essentials that you’d like to share, or if you have questions, drop a comment below!

Aurora Forecasts: What they Are & How to Read Them

All of the photos above were taken in Wiseman on nights where the Kp index was a 2.

So, imagine this. You’re all set to go aurora-watching: you finally made it to Coldfoot, you rented or bought good boots and a heavy-duty coat in town, and you even brought your camera all this way. Then you check the aurora forecast...and it’s only a two. 

Just a two, after you’ve come all this way? 

Seriously, we get it. If you talk to a coworker in the cafe or your guide on the safari, they’ll tell you: Don’t panic! You should still go out and look for it. You could still see great aurora! 

But...isn’t that just something we’re being paid to tell you in order to get you to go to Wiseman anyway? Nope! Really, it’s not. We know that it’s very possible--even probable, if it’s clear--that you’ll still see the aurora. (And that’s whether or not you come with us to Wiseman.) 

Before we explain why, we should say: the aurora is still a natural phenomenon, which means we can’t control it. We can’t make it come out, or clear up bad weather so you can see it. What we can and will always do, though, is try to make sure you have the greatest possible chances of seeing it--if and when it does come out. 

With that in mind, let us explain why aurora forecasts are probably not the best way of determining how the aurora will look in Coldfoot, specifically.

What is an aurora forecast?

Before we look at why they might not work so well for Coldfoot, first we have to understand what an aurora forecast really is.

You might’ve heard us talk about being located directly beneath the aurora oval. This means that we’re smack dab in the middle of the band where aurora happens. When we see the northern lights, they’re usually directly overhead, and we can see 100% of visible auroras on clear nights. 

Now, let’s move into the forecast itself. An aurora forecast is generally expressed using a number called a Kp index. The higher the index, the higher the geomagnetic activity is predicted to be. The geomagnetic activity creates the aurora, so, the higher the geomagnetic activity, the better the aurora is predicted to be!

So...what’s the catch?

The forecast is simple, right? Kind of...there’s still a catch. And it has to do with how the Kp index is calculated.

The algorithm used to formulate the Kp index is actually designed to let people living outside the aurora oval know what their likelihood of seeing the aurora will be. 

In other words, an aurora forecast describes how wide the “band” of the aurora oval is going to be: or, how far north or south the aurora could potentially be spotted.

What does the forecast mean for Coldfoot? 

The Kp index basically tells us how wide the aurora band is going to be; but, conveniently, Coldfoot is located under the part of the band that stays put. No matter how wide or how narrow the band gets, we’re still smack dab under it--so, if the aurora’s visible and if the weather’s clear, you’ll likely get a glimpse of the northern lights. 

So, the next time you’re out aurora-hunting in Coldfoot, and the forecast is only a 2, don’t fret. We’re not trying to trick you! (Check the gallery at the top for evidence.) The aurora isn’t guaranteed, of course, like any other weather event. And it could still be cloudy or snowy. 

But, by coming to Coldfoot, you’ve already given yourself the best possible chance of seeing the aurora borealis. And while you’re here, the only way you’ll see the aurora is if you get outside and look! 

Photographing the Aurora for Beginners

Seeing the northern lights can be a life-changing experience. If you do get lucky enough to spot the aurora, you’ll want to make sure you’re prepared to take the best photos you can to share with family and friends! 

We know a lot of you are experts (we see you on Instagram!) so if you already know what we’re about to cover, feel free to skip on down to the next post. But, if you’re not an expert--this is for you! 

What to Know First 

Probably the first--and most important--thing to remember is that tripods are a necessity. If you want to get a good aurora photo, whether you’re shooting on a camera or on a phone, you need a tripod! 

It definitely doesn’t have to be fancy (this one from Amazon is under $25) but it does have to keep your phone still through a low-light, long exposure. If you’re planning on using a smartphone, don’t forget a smartphone adapter for your tripod, too. 

Okay. With that in mind, here are the best ways to photograph the aurora using any device! 

iPhone 

For all iPhones except the iPhone 11 Pro, we recommend downloading the NightCap Camera app. iPhones come with great cameras that are capable of taking good aurora photographs, but unfortunately, don’t give you the ability to go in and change the camera settings. 

The NightCap app allows you to take great nighttime photos. The app will bypass manual camera control to automatically optimize your settings for low-light and long-exposure shots that will best showcase the natural beauty of the northern lights. 

Android Phones

Most recent Android phones (especially Samsungs, Pixels, and Huaweis) are fairly easy to configure to take decent photos of the aurora. The basics for setting your phone are as follows: 

• Set your ISO to 800, or the highest setting 

• Set your F-stop to 10, or what’s labeled as 1.5 

• Set the Manual Focus (MF) as high as possible (slide it all the way to the right). 

• (Make sure your camera is “flipped” the right way! Selfies in “aurora mode” probably won’t turn out so great.) 

If you have an older phone model, or are having trouble navigating your phone settings, make sure you download a pro camera app before you arrive in Coldfoot. We don’t want you to miss out on great shots--it’s better to be safe than sorry! 

Point-and-Shoot Cameras 

Point-and-shoot cameras can vary in terms of quality. The most important thing to check is whether your point-and-shoot camera has a manual setting--if it does, the process for setting your camera up will be a lot like the Android steps above. 

Here’s a great guide to setting your camera (with a manual setting) to shoot the aurora! 

DSLR Cameras

A DSLR camera has a lot more settings--and greater capabilities--than your average camera, especially when you’re shooting something as specific as the aurora. 

Here, it might be good to do a little bit of poking around to familiarize yourself with your camera’s settings before you visit. Playing around with the manual options before crunch time can help you feel more confident in getting shots you can be proud of while you’re here. 

But, we won’t reinvent the wheel. Here are a couple of good guides that professional photographers have put together on aurora photography with DSLR cameras. 

They offer great tips on setting all types of cameras, and even walk you through the photo-editing process afterwards: 

• Dave Morrow’s Northern Lights Photography - The Definitive Guide [2020] 

• Northern Lights Photography Settings 

Too Much Work? 

Intimidated by trying to work out all the right settings? Does all of this sound like way too much work? Accidentally forget your extra SD card? 

If you’d rather leave your camera at home, you’re in luck! 

Your aurora guide will bring a camera with them to take photos throughout the evening. You can let them know at the end of your viewing if you’re interested in purchasing those photos, and you can get a USB drive with all the photos of that night’s display. 

We do want to make sure that you know this isn’t a get-rich scheme, like the photos they make you take at theme parks then sell back to you at the end. 

We simply want to make sure you leave with the memories of your aurora viewing experience! 

Now that you’re all set to photograph the aurora on any device, check out our guide on what to wear and bring aurora-watching, or view the rest of our aurora series on the Coldfoot blog! 

Aurora Lore: Myths of the Northern Lights

Nowadays, we’ve come to accept the scientific explanation of the northern lights: it’s a particulate reaction with the atmosphere influenced by Earth’s magnetic fields. Pretty simple, right?

But when you’re standing right below them–staring straight up and watching the lights shimmer, dance, and change colors overhead–it becomes easy to understand why the aurora borealis is the subject of so many folk tales.

Photo by Jackie Veats

It’s absolutely otherworldly.

Stories come from places as far apart as Iceland, Greece, and China, and legends of what the aurora borealis represented vary just as much. Here’s a compilation of some of the most popular aurora legends from cultures around the world.

International Folklore

Greenland: Indigenous Greenlanders believed that the aurora was made up of the spirits of children who had died in childbirth.

Iceland: In Iceland, the northern lights were thought to relieve the pain of childbirth, but only if the mother didn’t look directly at them. If she did, it was believed that she’d give birth to a cross-eyed child.

Finland: In Finnish, the word for aurora is “revontulet,” which translates to “fox fires.” In Finnish lore, the aurora is caused by a fox running so fast across the snow that its tail sparks flames up into the sky. The Sámi people believed that the lights were created by a whale’s water spew.

China: Because of their latitudinal location, the Chinese rarely saw the aurora borealis. However, when they did see a rare display, they thought the northern lights were the fiery plumes on the breath of good and evil dragons, battling each other across the night sky.

Photo by Kenji Sato

Russia: Similarly to the Chinese, Russians believed that the aurora was a massive fire dragon. The difference? According to the Russians, the fire dragon would descend to earth while a village’s men were away in order to seduce the remaining women.

Greece & Rome: The Greeks and the Romans believed the northern lights represented the visible path of the dawn, named Aurora. She rode her chariot across the sky each morning to warn her siblings–the sun and the moon (Helios & Selene)–that a new day was coming.

England & France: The few times the English and the French happened to see an aurora display, the lights seemed to correlate with a war or other tragedy. So, to the English and the French, the red sky was an omen of bloodshed or ill fortune. 

Photo by Jackie Veats

Myths from North America

Indigenous people in North America had the most diverse range of beliefs about the northern lights, believing it to be anything from a battle omen to walruses playing ball with a human skull.

An excerpt from The Labrador Eskimo by explorer Ernest W. Hawkes:

“The ends of the land and sea are bounded by an immense abyss,
over which a narrow and dangerous pathway leads to the
heavenly regions. The sky is a great dome of hard material
arched over the Earth. There is a hole in it through which the
spirits pass to the true heavens. Only the spirits of those who
have died a voluntary or violent death, and the Raven, have been
over this pathway. The spirits who live there light torches to
guide the feet of new arrivals. This is the light of the aurora.
They can be seen there feasting and playing football with a
walrus skull.

The whistling crackling noise which sometimes accompanies the
aurora is the voices of these spirits trying to communicate
with the people of the Earth. They should always be answered
in a whispering voice. Youths dance to the aurora. The
heavenly spirits are called selamiut, “sky-dwellers,” those who
live in the sky.”

Photo by Jackie Veats

To the Saulteaux tribe of Canada, the northern lights were the dancing of human spirits.

The Fox people of Wisconsin believed the lights were spirits of enemies killed in battle come back to visit pestilence and famine; the Mandan people of North Dakota thought they emanated from fires lit by powerful warriors–over which large cauldrons filled with dead enemies simmered.

Some Inuit groups thought they were spirits of animals they’d hunted, like belugas, caribou, seals, and salmon. The Menominee of Wisconsin said they were huge torches friendly giants used on hunts to help spear fish.

A popular legend stated that the lights were human spirits playing ball with a walrus skull. People on Nunivak Island told it the opposite way, where walrus spirits played the game with a human head.

The Algonquin people believed it was the fire of Earth’s creator retired to the north, its bright reflection in the sky a reminder that he still remembered and cared for his people.

Only the Native people of Point Barrow believed it was evil; they carried knives and weapons when traveling outside at night to defend themselves.

So, which myth best describes the northern lights?

We’ll let you decide for yourself!

Photo by Nickolas Warner

Looking for more information?

Check here: [1], [2], [3], [4], [5]

Coldfoot is the Best (and Most Underrated) Place to See the Northern Lights

Photo of the aurora borealis over the South Inn by Kenji Sato.

Be honest with us for a moment: what comes to mind first when you think of ‘taking a trip to see the Northern Lights’?

For lots of folks, that’s “Oh, right, where is my passport?” or, if you’re in much of the U.S., “Would it really be worth taking that international flight?” The good news is, that totally doesn’t have to be the case. If you’re reading this, you’re probably already clued in-–but lots of Americans don’t even realize they have the option to see the aurora borealis right here in the United States.

In short: Coldfoot has stellar auroras. (Get it?) This isn’t just seeing the aurora, either, like it’s possible to do in the northern parts of some states in the Lower 48. It’s world-class aurora-viewing. Cool, right?

Here's why. 

For one, Coldfoot is located above the Arctic Circle. As you may already know, our Arctic location means that we have twenty-four hours of daylight in the summer and almost twenty-four hours of darkness in the winter (which, up here, is most of the year). Skies are dark all the way from the 21st of August to the 21st of April, meaning that aurora hunters can catch excellent Northern Lights displays for almost eight months.

Another perk of being in the Arctic is that Coldfoot is located directly underneath the Aurora Oval. The northern Aurora Oval is a band encircling the north pole where solar flares collide with atmospheric particles and emit photons (light energy). As the name implies, the northern Aurora Oval is also the zone where the aurora borealis is most visible to us on the ground. This means that any night where the weather is clear enough, you’ll be able to see the aurora from Coldfoot or Wiseman.

In addition to a perfect location, we also have near-perfect weather. By the time that the very brightest and most colorful auroras are out, eighty percent of nights are totally clear--cloudless, and without precipitation--making for incredible views almost every night.

Finally, we have little to no light pollution! Often, in the Lower 48, even if the aurora is visible, it appears dimmer due to the amount of light pollution from nearby neighborhoods or urban areas. At our cabin in the nearby village of Wiseman, Alaska, there is absolutely no light contamination; here in Coldfoot, there are some outdoor lighting fixtures, but they’re very easy to get away from. In both cases, the nearest towns are 240 miles away in either direction-–meaning darkness and great displays no matter where you choose to watch.

For all these reasons, we like to think Coldfoot is one of the best (and most underrated) destinations for aurora hunters and travelers alike. If seeing the Northern Lights is on your bucket list, forget about your passport, take that long weekend, and come on up to Coldfoot!

Colorful aurora borealis over Slate Mountain by Kenji Sato.