The “Crown Jewel” Experience
Snow-capped Denali Mountain, Alaska's crown jewel and tallest peak in North America at 20,310 feet, glows under the radiant brilliance of an exquisite aurora display just after midnight on September 25, 2023.
This 4-mile-high mountain looks like it’s touching the northern lights when in actuality it only reaches 1/10th the way up to the 40-mile-high base of the auroras. The illusion is mesmerizing, but that piercing “Highlander” beam of light only appears to emanate straight out of The Mountain as it wraps around the curvature of the earth hundreds of miles beyond the range. This fleeting yet perfect alignment blew me away and was the crowning moment of the night. The deep emerald and ruby red aurora colors reflecting in the braided channels of the Chulitna River below complete this autumn gem.
Starry Note: See the stars of the Big Dipper twinkling behind the sharp center of the curtain? Spill out of the dipper toward the top and you’ll find Polaris, the North Star.
