The “Tree of Life” Experience
From the bright trunk of this green aurora tree, multiple branches of light spring forth and reach skyward during an explosive display of growth along the Dalton Highway of Northern Alaska on March 26 at 2:45 am. For me, this sort of thing is a life-giving force…. call it photosynthesis! It was Night #5 of the aurora hunt, and I was in “lone wolf mode” while cruising up the Haul Road in my truck camper.
Around 1 am I crested a hill near the Arctic Circle and was thrilled to see moonlit, snow-encrusted spruce trees with a green shoot of auroras sprouting up from the eastern horizon. Time to hop into action! Snap, Crackle, Pop! The distant beanstalk grew into a jolly green giant that twisted the night away right up until the 5:45 am break of dawn. My favorite moment came when these fantastical aurora bands divided into around 10 branches, creating a canopy of green light over this picturesque winter wonderland.
