Wilderness State Park | Surrounded by the Northern Lights

If you follow any of the aurora chasing groups or have any aurora alert apps, your phone was probably going OFFFF on March 23rd, 2023, and holy smokes was it for good reason! I've been chasing the northern lights for over 10 years, with alerts/apps available for at least the last 3-4 and I've never had my phone blow up as much as it did the other night!

UPDATE: due to numerous comments, texts, emails, and DMs, I've posted a much more detailed and informative blog post: Chasing the Northern Lights - an in-depth guide to reading the date (app and group recommendations), location scouting, etiquette and tips to photographing the northern lights.

Back to March 23rd, which is pretty much etched in my memory forever now as it was no ordinary night; it was cosmic, electrifying, cold, and one of the most amazing aurora displays I've witnessed in my entire life. If it had been a little warmer, I could've stayed out all night watching.

Earlier in the day, plans were set to venture towards Lake Superior somewhere between Grand Marais and L'anse. A huge difference, but I wasn't sure what I wanted to do yet. But things really got going far earlier than I had anticipated. With the sun having just set, I found myself at Wilderness State Park with the aurora already glowing bright and high in the sky.

From a little green to my eyes adjusting and a stellar display of colors, even to the naked eye this was a big one. I got myself set up and watched as the aurora touched the glowing moon and crept its way over the treetops. By 9:30pm STEVE was peeking over Venus and the northern lights danced overhead making their way further and further behind us.

As time went on, the moon dipped beneath the horizon and the aurora came to life in intensity and magic. By 10:30pm it didn't matter which direction you turned, you could see her. Reaching further, shining bigger and brighter as the night drew on.

While I had all the intentions of still heading north, we never did end up leaving where I had originally started. Too afraid something bigger would happen and I'd miss the magic, we stayed put in a little spot along the shores of Lake Michigan in Wilderness State Park.

There actually came a moment where I found myself speechless, camera long forgotten as I lay in the snow watching the aurora pulse and dance above us.

If this was your first encounter with the northern lights, you're both blessed and cursed. Blessed because WOW what a magnificent show to witness your first time out. Cursed because girl, good luck getting that show again. How do you top that?

So, here's to the late nights spent under the stars, the magic that surrounds us, and the northern lights that breathe life into the souls. With a solar maximum upon us, may the sun continue to dazzle and inspire one display at a time.