Northern Lights Adventure
Introduction
So wonderful, so magical, the Northern Lights are a gift to those who live in Canada’s north and Alaska. This heavenly light show shoots green lights this way and red swirls that way as a curtain of white, shimmering light dances before you. And, when the conditions are just right, you can hear them crackle.
The best part is you don’t need a ticket to see this performance. All you have to do is get away from the city lights and get north. The best time of the year is between mid-August and late April. The best time of day is between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.
Now there is an easy and comfortable way to see the Northern Lights: CanaDream has an assortment of winterized campers that will take you to the most picturesque corners of Canada’s north and Alaska.
Just imagine sitting on your lawn chair with the Northern Lights displaying its wonders on nature’s very own high-definition wide screen of the night sky. You can go into your CanaDream winterized camper, parked just behind you, to warm up and make a hot drink. Now, return to the show until sleep nudges you back inside to your warm bed.
As wonderful as the Northern Lights are, you want a good night’s sleep because The North has so much to offer in its winter months during the day. You can go ice fishing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, dog mushing and shopping. And many communities celebrate winter in their own special way … and guests are always welcome and enjoyed.
What are the Northern Lights?
As magical as they appear, Northern Lights are a subject of science to understand. The Aurora Borealis (as science knows them) begins 149 kilometres from the sun’s surface as energetic particles are carried on solar winds. After a trip to earth at speeds of up to 1,000 kilometres per second, the particles that are not deflected by the earth’s magnetosphere are trapped in the magnetic field. These particles rush to the Polar Regions where access to the atmosphere is easier. When they come into contact with earth’s oxygen and nitrogen atoms, they become excited electrons that release light as they settle down once again.
The Northern Lights are not always on display and are sometimes obscured by clouds. Forecasts are available online at www.gi.alaska.edu/cgi-bin/predict.cgi and by phoning 1-800-423-7326.
Photographing the Northern Lights
It is difficult to capture the Northern Lights on film. The detail can be best captured on slower films that offer a fine grain. But, because the Northern Lights shimmer and throb, a faster film is needed to freeze the action. A high-performance lens with an aperture of 1.4 will give you an exposure time of four seconds when you use 800 ASA film, but the wide-open lens will give you distortion around the edges and the film will leave a grainy image.
The experts start with a happy medium. A 200 ASA film is quick, but still has a fine grain. Use an aperture opening of 2.8 and leave it open for 60 seconds. Then shoot the same photo at 50 seconds and again at 70 seconds. At any time during the exposure, you can trip your flash toward the foreground. Someone standing approximately five metres away will come out sharp.
Digital cameras are best because they do not have film that can become brittle in the cold or susceptible to static electricity in the dryness. You can also experiment much more. A tripod is a must since you cannot hold your camera still for such long exposures. Also bring extra batteries and keep them warm in an inside pocket.
What to expect in Whitehorse
Your Northern Lights tour begins in Whitehorse, the Yukon’s capital and home to CanaDream’s northern station.
Whitehorse is a modern city that truly comes alive in the winter. Snow is everywhere from late October to early May. It is dry and stays white and fluffy. Every street looks like a Christmas card.
Your dining experience ranges from fine restaurants to fast food. Shopping is available at fine boutiques in Whitehorse’s vibrant downtown or at chain stores in various mall locations.
The weather is much more tame than most think even during the three coldest months. The average temperature in December is –16 degrees Celsius, in January it is –19 degrees Celsius and in February it is –13 degrees Celsius. It is a dry cold, so the moisture does not creep into your bones.
The lowest temperatures reach –30 degrees Celsius and, on rare occasions, -40 degrees. So it is important that you have good boots, parka, hat and mittens. Men’s World, in downtown Whitehorse, can rent this clothing to you.
December is the darkest month with only 5.5 hours of sunlight. Yukoners call the long nights, “cozy”. Each month of the winter adds more sunlight until April ends up with 13.5 hours.
Your Winterized Camper
CanaDream is proud of its trouble-free campers. Now they are trouble-free in temperatures as low as -30 degrees Celsius. You are kept warm with a propane furnace while insulation and double-pane windows keep the cold out. Running water is maintained with a fully heated water system and your camper is generator ready.
Where to go, When to come
Each community in The North has its own unique beauty and its own way of celebrating winter. Click on the link to each community and you will find a schedule of events and other activities available to you.
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
Whitehorse, Yukon
Schedule
December
Bi-Weekly on Wednesday nights – Snowmobile Drags and Enduro and Sno Cross Races on Schwatka Lake.
Bi-Weekly on Sundays – Club races on Schwatka Lake.
January
Bi-Weekly on Wednesday nights – Snowmobile Drags and Enduro and Sno Cross Races on Schwatka Lake.
Bi-Weekly on Sundays – Club races on Schwatka Lake.
Last week of month – Fulda Challenge hosts teams from all over the world to compete in extreme adventures.
February
Second weekend of month – Frostbite Music Festival is three nights and two days of concerts, dances, workshops, kids’ festival and a youth stage. www.frostbitefest.ca
Mid-month – Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race is tougher than the Iditerod. It is run between Fairbanks, Alaska and Whitehorse. The race starts in Whitehorse on odd-numbered years and in Fairbanks on even-numbered years. www.yukonquest.com
Mid-month – The Yukon Arctic Ultra challenges competitors in cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and mountain biking. www.arcticultra.de
Third weekend of month – Cirkus Inferno is a circus of slapstick adventures on the stage of the Yukon Arts Centre. www.yukonartscentre.org
Last weekend of month – Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous Festival is a winter party. Snowshoeing, flour-packing contests can-can dancers, nightly entertainment and the International Winter Air Show. www.yukonrendezvous.com
Last weekend of month – Sugar Bush Days offers maple products and French Canadian specialties. It is presented by the Yukon’s francophone community.
March
Third weekend of month – Thunder 500 is a 500-mile ice enduro sno-cross. There are also snow dogs and kids races.
April
Third week of month – Celebration of Swans welcomes back thousands of swans and other birds to Marsh Lake. An interpretive cabin and lookout are the sites of guest lectures and workshops. www.environmentyukon.gov.yk.ca/viewing
Things to do
Birchwood Tours – Various winter activities are provided at a snow-covered golf course within 10 minutes of downtown Whitehorse. These packages last from three hours to all day. There are combinations that offer snowshoeing, dog mushing, snowmobiling, tobogganing, ice fishing and building a snowman. www.birchwoodtours.com
MacBride Museum – There are gold rush exhibits as well as those devoted to the RCMP, natural history and geology. It has the largest display of Yukon gold in the world, five galleries, a gift shop and Sam McGee’s cabin. www.macbridemuseum.com
Transportation Museum – Located beside the international airport, this museum has a unique collection of artefacts depicting gold rush transportation and the building of the Alaska Highway. www.yukontransportmuseum.homestead.com
Yukon Arts Centre – This state-of-the-art facility showcases northern art on the stage and in its gallery. www.yukonartscentre.org
Cathers Wilderness Adventures – The Cathers family welcomes guests to the shore of the historic Lake Laberge. They offer a four-day dog sled picnic that can be run during the day or at night to see the Northern Lights. www.cathersadventures.com
Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre – Just three minutes from downtown you will find the longest lighted cross-country trail in the world. There is also swimming, curling and fine dining available.
Takhini Hot Springs – This pool is kept warm with a constant flow from a natural hot spring while a wall of ice keeps the wind away. There are also a campground and restaurant on the property.
Yukon Wings – Glacier tours are available. www.yukonrivercruises.com
Beringia Interpretive Centre – This multi-media exposition features life-sized models of animals from the last ice age. There is a woolly mammoth, giant steppe Bison and a 180-kilogram giant beaver. A half-hour film shows what life was like in this area from Siberia to northern Yukon that avoided the last ice age. www.beringia.com
Yukon Archives – Look up any relatives that may have come up the Trail of ’98 for the Klondike Gold Rush. There are also many historical photos available. www.btc.gov.yk.ca/archives
Muktuk Kennels and Sled Dog Adventures – Frank Turner is a past winner and iron man of the Yukon Quest. He has designed a sled dog tour for novices to enjoy the Northern Lights.
Dawson City, Yukon
Schedule
December
Second Saturday of month – Dawson City Old Fashioned Christmas Party is a town-wide open house for families.
February
Third week of month – Dawson Curling Club Annual International Bonspiel is a three-day event. Saturday night closing banquet will be held at the casino at Diamond Tooth Gerties.
Mid month -- Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race is tougher than the Iditerod. It is run between Fairbanks, Alaska and Whitehorse with a layover in Dawson City. www.yukonquest.com
Third week of month – Trek Over The Top is a Snowmobile journey that follows the snowed-over Top Of The World Highway to Tok, Alaska. The snowmobilers return the following week. www.trekoverthetop.com
March
First week of month -- Trek Over The Top is a Snowmobile journey that follows the snowed-over Top Of The World Highway to Tok, Alaska. The snowmobilers return the following week. www.trekoverthetop.com
Second weekend of month – International Federation of Sleddog Sports World Championships is the Olympics for dogs. This is a two-week event that includes a festival. www.themushison.com
Third weekend of month – Percy DeWolfe Memorial Mail Race is a 340-kilometre dog sled race to Eagle, Alaska and then return on the historic mail route used by Percy DeWolfe for 35 years. There is also a junior race and wrap-up banquet on Saturday night. www.thepercy.com
Second weekend of month – Thaw-Di-Gras Spring Carnival celebrates the return of spring with themed games, entertainment and a snowshoe baseball tournament. www.dawsoncity.org
Last weekend of month – Annual Dawson City International Short Film Festival is three evenings and two afternoons of screenings and workshops for Canadian filmmakers. www.kiac.org/filmfest
Things to do
Tr’ondek Hwech’in Cultural Centre – Tours and programs on contemporary and traditional experiences of the Han people. www.trondek.com
Klondike River Kennel and Adventures – The Joinson family offers one-hour to all-day dog mushing trips. Night trips are also offered to enjoy the Northern Lights along the way and at a trapper’s tent. www.klondikeadventures.ca
Watson Lake, Yukon
Schedule
December
First weekend of month – Christmas Cheer Spiel is held at the Watson Lake Curling Club.
First weekend of month – Silver Tips Oldtimers Hockey Tournament at the Johnny Friend Arena.
December 31 – New Year’s Eve Gala at the Watson Lake Recreation Centre.
February
First weekend of month – Kiki Karnival combines hockey, food fair, curling Bonspiel, dancing and more.
February 14 – Valentine’s Dinner is home cooked at the Watson Lake Recreation Department.
Third weekend of month – Annual Watson Lake Open Air Bonspiel.
Third weekend of month – Snowmobile Drags.
March
Third weekend of month – Yukon Cup Alpine Ski Race Series at the Watson Lake Ski Club.
Last weekend of month – Annual Sno-Pitch Tournament is slow pitch softball in the snow. A live band plays Saturday night at the wrap-up banquet.
Things to do
Sign Post Forest – Over 50,000 signs are on display from all over the world and the number increases by thousands every year.
Mount Maichen Ski Hill -- There are nine runs on this 170-metre hill with ski rentals available at the gift shop. There are also cross-country skiing trails and hiking trails.
Haines Junction, Yukon
Schedule
December
Last week of month – Homecoming Hockey Tournament.
January
January 1 – Annual New Year’s Day Snowmachine Poker Run is a three to four-hour snowmobile trip to Bear Creek Summit and return.
February
Second weekend of month – St. Elias Lion’s Sweetheart Bonspiel.
March
First week of month – Silver Sled Dog Race is a two-day race to Silver City and back. There are also sprint races and a one-dog weight pull.
Mid-month – Female Hockey Jamboree.
Faro, Yukon
Schedule
March
Third weekend in month – Ice Worm Squirm Extravaganza is a winter carnival that features winter sports, games, dance and community dinner.
April
First weekend of month – Sleeping Bag Bonspiel lasts all night.
Things to do
Bear’s Den ATV Tours – Guided tours of any duration via all-terrain vehicles.
Rockafooler Stained Glass – The home studio, at 501 Douglass Drive, is open to the public from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Faro Municipal Recreation Centre – The town has cross-country ski equipment that can be borrowed by visitors.
Southern Lakes Region, Yukon
(The Region Southeast of Whitehorse)
Things to do
Klondike Sun and Snow Recreation – Northern Lights viewing from a comfortable deck with snacks and hot drinks provided. Daytime activities include snowshoeing, dog sledding, ice fishing and snowmobiling. www.yukonrecreation.com
Pristine Wilderness Tours – Dog sledding tours and hiking with pack dogs are custom designed for each customer. Or you can just visit the kennel and talk to the owners about their experiences on the trail of the Yukon Quest. www.pristinewilderness.com
Fairbanks, Alaska
Schedule
December
First week of month – Winter Solstice Celebration has sleigh rides, carolling, riverfront lighting and music. www.downtownfairbanks.com
Every second Sunday of month – Mushers Challenge Series Race has various classifications of dog sled teams and are raced indoors and outdoors. www.sleddog.org
Sunday closest to Solstice – Ivory Jacks Annual Invitational Golf Tourney on the shortest day of the year with hospitality suite and bonfire. www.mosquitonet.com/ivoryjacks
January
Every second Sunday of month – Mushers Challenge Series Race has various classifications of dog sled teams and are raced indoors and outdoors. www.sleddog.org
First weekend after new year – Annual Rookie Spiel is two days of curling for novices and first-timers. www.curlfairbanks.org
Third week of month – Tesoro Iron Dog is the world’s longest snowmobile race at 3,200 kilometres. www.irondog.org
Mid-month – Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race is tougher than the Iditerod. It is run between Fairbanks, Alaska and Whitehorse. The race starts in Whitehorse on odd-numbered years and in Fairbanks on even-numbered years. www.yukonquest.com
Third weekend of month – Gold Run has various classifications of dog sled teams and are raced indoors and outdoors. www.sleddog.org
March
All month – World Ice Art Championships allows the public to watch ice sculpturing and then enjoy the finished pieces. www.icealaska.com
First week of month – Festival of Native Arts celebrates Native culture with traditional dancing and singing. Arts and crafts will be on display and for sale. www.geocities.com/festivalofnativearts/
First weekend of month – North Pole Winter Festival has entertainment, dog sled rides, snowmobile races, turkey bowling and a pancake feed. www.fairnet.org/npc/CommunityEventIndex.htm
Second weekend of month – Chatanika Days is a winter festival with outhouse races and snowmobile tug-of-war in the historic gold mining town 50 kilometres north of Fairbanks.
Third weekend of month – ACS Open North American Championship Sled Dog Race is the oldest continuously run sled dog race in the world. www.sleddog.org
April
First week of month – Annual International Bonspiel has a competitive and rookie division. www.curlfairbanks.org
First week of month – Arctic Man Ski and Sno-Go Classic combines skiers with snowmobilers. www.arcticman.com
Second Saturday of month – Annual Beat Beethoven 5k Run has runners competing against the final note of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. www.fairbankssymphony.org
Things to do
University of Alaska Museum of the North – Exhibits and demonstrations by Alaskan artists. As well, there are activities for the kids. www.uaf.edu/museum
Dog Mushers Museum – Admission is by donation to this museum dedicated to sled dogs and the people who rely on them. There are evening programs as well.
Pioneer Park – Not all of the shops in this “gold rush town” are open in the winter, but still a wonderful place to take a walk and to visit its museums. www.co.fairbanks.ak.us/Parks&Rec/PioneerPark/defalt.htm
PAWS For Adventure – This dog mushing school also has half-day trips and overnight trips to see the Northern Lights. www.pawsforadventure.com
Sled Dog Adventures – Half-day and full-day tours are offered at this dog mushing school. www.sleddogadventures.com
Mount Aurora Skiland – Cross-country skiing, snowboarding and downhill skiing are available at the home of the most northerly ski hill in North America. www.skiland.org
Chena Hot Springs – The open skies and location away from city lights makes this hot spring the best place to view the Northern Lights. Snowmobiling, cross-county skiing and snowshoeing are available. www.chenahotsprings.com
Birch Hill Cross Country Ski Center – This city run cross-country ski facility has 32 kilometres of world-class groomed trails. www.nscfairbanks.net
Sno-RV – Snowmobile rentals available at Chatanika Lodge.
Skagway, Alaska
Schedule
March
Fourth week of month – Buckwheat Ski Classic’s course that runs through the historic White Pass Mountain that Stampeders used to reach the gold fields of the Klondike.
April
Third week of month – International Mini Folk Festival features musicians from Southeast Alaska.
Things to do
Alaska Icefield Expeditions – Glacier viewing by helicopter and dog sledding on glaciers. www.akdogtour.com
Haines, Alaska
Schedule
December
Alaska Bald Eagle Festival – The trees in the Chilkat Valley, just outside of Haines and visible from the road, is full of bald eagles. Approximately 3,500 of them come to feast on the Chum Salmon in the last river to freeze up in Alaska. www.baldeaglefest.org
January
Mid-month – Alcan 200 International Snowmachine Race runs from the Canadian border to the Yukon and return. www.wytbear.com
February
Mid-month – Dick Hotch Basketball Tournament at the high school.
April
Last weekend of month – Panhandle Picture Show is a film festival of short films and videos and is held at the Chilkat Center for the Arts. www.panhandlepictureshow.com
Things to do
Alaska Heliskiing – Helicopters are used to take visitors to remote regions for sightseeing, fishing or skiing. www.alaskaheliskiing.com
Alaska Nature Tours – This company specializes in eco-tours that get you close to wildlife without disturbance. www.kcd.com/aknature/
SEABA – Southeast Alaska Backcountry Adventures uses helicopters to take visitors to remote regions for sightseeing, skiing or snowboarding. www.skiseaba.com
American Bald Eagle Foundation – It’s museum features 180 specimens of wildlife in the Haines area. Its main display is a taxidermic wonder in the round. Open by appointment in the winter by phoning 1-907-766-3094. www.baldeagles.org
Kroschel Films Wildlife and Educational Center – This facility displays Alaskan wildlife in its natural habitat. Set up for the film industry to photograph these animals, it is open to he public as well for viewing and education. www.kroschelfilms.com
Inuvik, Northwest Territories
Schedule
January
Early in month – The Sunrise Festival celebrates the returning of the sun on the evening of the last day before the sun rises. There will be a bonfire and fireworks.
February
Third week in month – Oil and Gas Bonspiel.
March
Third week in month – International Curling Bonspiel.
Fourth week in month – Figure Skating Carnival.
End of month – Top of the World Ski Loppet.
April
Second week in month – Muskrat Jamboree Midnight Sun Biathalon.
Things to do
Arctic Nature Tours – Guides are offered to show visitors the Inuvik and MacKenzie Delta, Hershel Island and the Arctic Ocean coast. www.arcticnaturetours.com
Igloo Church – Our Lady of Victory Church is shaped like an igloo.
Community Greenhouse – An abandoned hockey arena is now a community greenhouse. A variety of plants, that will thrive on the long hours of sunlight in the summer and withstand the short growing season, are on display.
Dempster Highway – From Dawson City to Inuvik, this is the only highway in Canada to cross the Arctic Circle. Views of wildlife, Arctic tundra and the Tombstone Mountains make this 671-kilometre drive worthwhile.
Yellowknife , Northwest Territories
Schedule
March
Last weekend of month – Caribou Carnival is a celebration of winter with a dog derby, snowmobile races, sports, ice-sculpting contest and children’s activities.
Last weekend of month – NMI Mobility Canadian Championship Dog Derby is a sled dog race with dog pull contest and children’s races. www.yellowknifedogderby.com
Last Saturday of month – Tree of Peace Annual Talent Show is open to everyone.
Last weekend of month – Ice Worm Challenge is a mountain bike race across frozen lakes. www.overlandsports.com
Last week of month – Western Canadian Cross Country Ski Championships has various classifications. www.skiyellowknife.com
Last weekend of month – Mad Trapper’s Ball celebrates spring with a fancy party.
Mid-month – Back Bay Loppet is a 10-kilometre cross-country race. www.skiyellowknife.com
Last weekend of month – Cariblues Festival is a blues festival with performances in various venues.
Third weekend of month – Polar Cup 3 Biathlon. www.skiyellowknife.com
April
Easter weekend – Mad Trapper’s Ball celebrates spring with a fancy party.
First weekend – NorthwesTel Ski Loppet. www.skiyellowknife.com
Second weekend – Ski-Run-Ski. www.skiyellowknife.com
Things to do
The Great Canadian Adventure Company – Northern Lights tours are packaged with snowmobiles, dog sleds or Inuit culture. www.adventures.com/gasnet/abv.htm
Aurora Village – Thirty minutes from Yellowknife, a village site is filled with dog sled rides, snowmobile tours, snowshoeing, sliding, skating, photography and northern lights viewing. www.auroravillage.com
Raven Tours – Packages include dog sledding, snowmobiling, wildlife viewing and Northern Lights viewing. www.iisca.com/raventour/e/12.html
Canadian Ex Aurora Tours – Northern Lights viewing with ice fishing, caribou viewing and dog sled trip. www.aurora-tour.com
DogPaddle Adventures – Dog sled adventures with ice fishing. www.dogpaddleadventures.com
