Stories from the Arctic: The Moonrise

Impossibly beautiful.

We could already see the sun beginning to set as we drove into Narvik, Norway; the sky was awash with purples and pinks and blues. I don't think anyone really expected the view we got when we reached the coastline though. The colours got more saturated, more pink, more purple, and the ebbing arctic waters reflected the dying day. We were so lucky to see the moon peek out behind the mountains and we waited and just watched it rise in the sky. The photos don't do it justice, it felt a bit like an out of body experience - the scene was just unreal. Look at the mountains, those beauts.

Narvik was also the place I dropped my DSLR. Ouch. Luckily, I just dented the exterior and the lens is a-ok. thank you, thank you, thank you. Scariest moment of the trip, for sure! hahah.

More on Narvik here

Art Of Flight

"The brave don't live forever but the cautious don't live at all."
- Timothy Luce

Currently watching Art of Flight. It's a beauty, such a feast for the eyes.

The sequence filmed in Patagonia is so sick! These people are crazy.

Stories from the Arctic: Narvik, Norway

Meeting a local wearing just a t-shirt. Also, look at the view from their backyard! No big deal.

We really lucked out in the cozy town of Narvik. Perfect weather conditions, perfect timing - just as the sun set behind the mountains. It's 220 km inside the Arctic circle and one of the most northerly cities in the world. It's actually connected to Kiruna and Abisko by train, but we took the bus. Amazing views either way. And thus continues my love affair with Norway, still going strong. 

Also where I saw this. Still blows my mind.

Stories from the Arctic: Sparklers and bonfires

On our last night, we went to the lake and lit some sparklers

"Lights of the North, come forth!"
"Okay, they're not here."

One of our many, many bonfires.

Stories from the Arctic: The Northern Lights

Overlooking Abisko and Torneträsk lake with no tripod, and numb & trembling fingers
For reference, the black figure in the middle is a person.

They say the best place to see the Northern Lights is at the Aurora Sky Station in Abisko, between 8pm and midnight. So, we bundled up like crazy and took the 20 minute, uncovered (!) wooden chair lift up the mountain to see them.

Unfortunately, the promisingly clear day turned into a foggy night, and our best bet was to climb up the mountain, past the sky station. Feeling like pioneers, we were guided by sheer will and the glow of the moon, making fresh tracks as our feet sunk well into the snow. No one had decided to hike up yet, so we were alone and it was amazing.

But as the Rolling Stones liked to say "You can't get what you want, but you get what you need."

We never did get to see the Northern lights this night, or any other night, but I like to think luck was still on our side.

Because on the peak of a snow covered mountain, we laid down and watched the moon and stars pierce through the darkness of the night. And in the stillness, we had only cookies, rum, and our thoughts for company. We ate, we drank, we dreamed.

Stories from the Arctic: Kiruna Ice Hotel & Reindeer Farm

Ice Hotel and Ice Bar. Nifty to see but I'd never stay there. One room did have a slide though, which was awesome! And you go soo fast!

Kiruna, Sweden. Walked around at night. Small town, with babies stuffed into snowsuits walking around like penguins. They also have lots of sweet all-terrain prams (strollers).

Reindeer! Only the Sami people are allowed to own reindeer in Lapland. We got to pet them and give them food. Antlers are kind of terrifying, especially when they start to jog around.

This last picture is from inside one of the churches.

Stories from the Arctic: The Sauna

The sauna sat at the edge of Torneträsk Lake

There was only one item on my Swedish Bucket List, and it was this one.

The traditional wood heated sauna was about 15 minutes from our cabin and we had to hike it in the dark wearing our swimsuits under full snow gear. We went back twice and both times we made the trek we found no fires burning, and the sauna almost pitch black. We had to re-start the fire and wait an impossibly long time for it to heat up again.

Then we ran into the lake at 4 in the morning, in -15 degree weather, and wind so cold I thought my skin would peel.

Flushed with adrenaline and our skin whipped by the blistering, arctic wind, we scrambled back to the sauna, laughing and catching our breath. What a rush, what a feeling!

Running barefoot in the snow made my toes feel like they were going to break off. At one point I even slipped and slid down part of the hill. And boy, getting back into the sauna is like heaven.

Sarah Burke

Rest in Peace, Sarah Burke.

Polar Bear Swim 2012

Source

Happy New Year's!

Celebrated the first day by doing the Polar Bear Swim! I was on the fence about it during the morning but I figure 2012 is a good enough year to do some crazy things. It was super fun! I had to run like crazy just to make it on time because we had to park so far away (definitely did not anticipate all the people!). I also didn't know that the Polar Bear Swim started in Vancouver! All the more reason to have done it, eh? Plus, I got a sweet pin. I'm looking forward to next year.