Anchorage Lights

The “Anchorage Lights” Experience

Green auroras stand out against the orange & blue twilight sky above Anchorage, Alaska, with Mts. Denali, Hunter & Foraker silhouetted 170 miles in the distance. This beautiful coloration was viewed from Powerline Pass in the Chugach Range on April 27, 2019 at 1:42 am.

I love springtime auroras! Late April is not usually considered a very good aurora viewing time in Alaska because the window of darkness is only a few hours long and the extensive daylight of summer is right around the corner. And that’s what makes catching these springtime auroras feel extra special. This was one of my last chances for the season.

Knowing exactly the shot I wanted, I wandered down a snowy trail below Flattop Mountain toward a pre-scouted location. I had to pick up my pace when, quite suddenly, a green aurora band I had my eyes on started to bend, twist and then climb into tall curtains. This was it! The moment when the pre-visualization all comes together: the shimmering lights of my hometown, the orange glow of a lingering sunset silhouetting the distant Alaska Range, a picturesque glacier-carved valley lined with cool mountain peaks, and a window in the trees creating a framework for the grand centerpiece, a majestic display of northern lights. What a spectacular night for a variety of “Anchorage Lights” to shine.