Sleeping under the stars and a painted sky

[MVDH]

For me nothing beats sleeping under the stars during a 2 week solo hiking trip into the mountains of Northern Sweden and have amazing Northern Lights above my tent. Such a magical experience, to be here, all alone, in this beautiful world.

Sarek National Park, Sweden, September 2024





















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[Kazmarov]

Wonderful images and I am sure a great experience. Thank you for sharing both!

 

[SigmaChrome]

Glorious images. Thanks for posting.

 

[Yar1971]

For me nothing beats sleeping under the stars during a 2 week solo hiking trip into the mountains of Northern Sweden and have amazing Northern Lights above my tent. Such a magical experience, to be here, all alone, in this beautiful world.
Sarek National Park, Sweden, September 2024

Excellent photos. The show itself also must have been glorious. I was much more south of You that night (13/14 Sept., 40-50 km E of Trondheim, Norway). At some moments almost the whole sky was burning, but mostly green with minimal addition of other colours. But sometimes very dynamic, with rapid oscillations and shape changes - just dancing

BTW, we both love the same hiking activity. In southern Sarek one may wander 10-16 days and not meet humans for 5-10 days in order... I was there twice, in the southern part only, as my second attempt in these mountain (3 years ago) failed to complete planned route and I had to withdraw to Kvikkjokk. Anyway, I saw a (weak) aurora over Rapadalen. Time to go back there soon? This is the question ;-)

Regards,

-J.

 

[MVDH]

Yar1971 wrote

Excellent photos. The show itself also must have been glorious. I was much more south of You that night (13/14 Sept., 40-50 km E of Trondheim, Norway). At some moments almost the whole sky was burning, but mostly green with minimal addition of other colours. But sometimes very dynamic, with rapid oscillations and shape changes - just dancing

BTW, we both love the same hiking activity. In southern Sarek one may wander 10-16 days and not meet humans for 5-10 days in order... I was there twice, in the southern part only, as my second attempt in these mountain (3 years ago) failed to complete planned route and I had to withdraw to Kvikkjokk. Anyway, I saw a (weak) aurora over Rapadalen. Time to go back there soon? This is the question ;-)

Regards,

-J.

Thanks!

I realy like Sarek. This was my 3rd Sarek hike, this time I took Southern route start/finish in Kvikkjokk, hiking around Parte, Luohttolahko, Sarvesvagge and Rapadalen. Hiked 12 days, didnt meet anyone for 10 days, only some hikers on first and last day on the Kungsleden section.

The aurora was amazing that night. Finished off with pulsating aurora like I never saw. Simply breathtaking.

Actually I got some Aurora over Rapadalen, not so spectacular, will try to add this tonight to the post.

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[MVDH]

BTW, we both love the same hiking activity. In southern Sarek one may wander 10-16 days and not meet humans for 5-10 days in order... I was there twice, in the southern part only, as my second attempt in these mountain (3 years ago) failed to complete planned route and I had to withdraw to Kvikkjokk. Anyway, I saw a (weak) aurora over Rapadalen. Time to go back there soon? This is the question ;-)

Regards,

-J.

Here a weak aurora above the famous Rapadalen, with view on Nammasj and Skierffe. I camped at the south side, at Bagevárásj viewpoint.









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[gregt943]

Awesome images. I have never seen the northern lights, but I'm heading to Yellowknife Canada this winter to hopefully see and photograph them for the first time. Experiencing them in such a beautiful park in that setting must have been incredible.

 

[Yar1971]

Excellent!

Much better from mine, as You caught the valley & delta beneath very well and I had brighter sky definitely (end of August). I could also shoot at northern direction only at night. Not so far from Your location (NW edge of Tjahkelij, 1.5 km from Your viewpoint in Vajggantjahkka massif). Here is mine from 2021:





Your location is hidden at the left edge I'm not sure if I posted this before here previously, sorry if so.

I'm still previewing my last photos from NO/SE, maybe later I post something from the 13.09, the same night as Your great OP photos.

Regards,

-J.

 

[nighthiker]

Hi!

Great shots!

I'm astonished what you add (camera gear) to the already heavy several-day camping equipment for such a trip. I changed my gear to ultra-light backpacking, so that I can add a lot of camera gear, but only for overnight trips. Well, I'm already living in Norway with a nice scenery around.

You are using the Akto, right? I like the details (clothing on dry line), showing that it is from a real hike and not staged for photo purpose!

Did you took single-frame images or did you use e.g. multi-exposure with a longer exposure for the foreground (and probably a shorter for the tent if the lantern is too bright) which can be blend in easily?

I captured that aurora from 61 deg north with a bit of light pollution (Bortle 4) but easier access (1 hrs drive plus 20 min walk) and even there it was spectacular. I have had to use a 10mm lens on FF to get most of the display for a panorama. Pulsations and the corona were really great!

Winter is now slowly moving in with snow at higher elevation, making the access more challenging until it's suitable for skiing again.

 

[MVDH]

Hi!

Great shots!

I'm astonished what you add (camera gear) to the already heavy several-day camping equipment for such a trip. I changed my gear to ultra-light backpacking, so that I can add a lot of camera gear, but only for overnight trips. Well, I'm already living in Norway with a nice scenery around.

You are using the Akto, right? I like the details (clothing on dry line), showing that it is from a real hike and not staged for photo purpose!

Did you took single-frame images or did you use e.g. multi-exposure with a longer exposure for the foreground (and probably a shorter for the tent if the lantern is too bright) which can be blend in easily?

I captured that aurora from 61 deg north with a bit of light pollution (Bortle 4) but easier access (1 hrs drive plus 20 min walk) and even there it was spectacular. I have had to use a 10mm lens on FF to get most of the display for a panorama. Pulsations and the corona were really great!

Winter is now slowly moving in with snow at higher elevation, making the access more challenging until it's suitable for skiing again.

Thanks for your feedback, much appreciated!

Pack weight was max around 25 kg for 12 day hike: 6 kg camera equipment (incl tripod), 10 kg camping gear and 9 kg food/gas.

My tent is a Hilleberg Akto indeed, very good tent, although at 1.7 kg a bit heavy.

Pictures are all single exposures. U use a small Fenix CL09 camp light. It has different brighness settings, I found the lowest setting just enough to ilumitae the tent without blowing out highlights.

 

[MVDH]

BTW, we both love the same hiking activity. In southern Sarek one may wander 10-16 days and not meet humans for 5-10 days in order... I was there twice, in the southern part only, as my second attempt in these mountain (3 years ago) failed to complete planned route and I had to withdraw to Kvikkjokk. Anyway, I saw a (weak) aurora over Rapadalen. Time to go back there soon? This is the question ;-)

Regards,

-J.

Are you from Norway maybe?

If you have any nice hiking area's for southern Norway I'd love to hear them. I've been in Lofoten, Femundsmarka and Lyngen Alps and am considering a future hiking/photography trip of approx 1 week in Southern Norway. Maybe Jutunheimen or Rondane?

 

[nighthiker]

Hi!

Great shots!

I'm astonished what you add (camera gear) to the already heavy several-day camping equipment for such a trip. I changed my gear to ultra-light backpacking, so that I can add a lot of camera gear, but only for overnight trips. Well, I'm already living in Norway with a nice scenery around.

You are using the Akto, right? I like the details (clothing on dry line), showing that it is from a real hike and not staged for photo purpose!

Did you took single-frame images or did you use e.g. multi-exposure with a longer exposure for the foreground (and probably a shorter for the tent if the lantern is too bright) which can be blend in easily?

I captured that aurora from 61 deg north with a bit of light pollution (Bortle 4) but easier access (1 hrs drive plus 20 min walk) and even there it was spectacular. I have had to use a 10mm lens on FF to get most of the display for a panorama. Pulsations and the corona were really great!

Winter is now slowly moving in with snow at higher elevation, making the access more challenging until it's suitable for skiing again.

Thanks for your feedback, much appreciated!
Pack weight was max around 25 kg for 12 day hike: 6 kg camera equipment (incl tripod), 10 kg camping gear and 9 kg food/gas.

Respect! I try to stay below 20 kg for my single-night-hikes. So several cameras (usually for aurora) and only a minimal 'safety' equipment (sleeping bag, bivy bag, snow shovel, ...)

My tent is a Hilleberg Akto indeed, very good tent, although at 1.7 kg a bit heavy.

Yes and no as you need a robust tent in Sarek. The hiking 'hytter' in Norway are a good place for the night and for the foreground (difficult in Sarek, I know).

Pictures are all single exposures. U use a small Fenix CL09 camp light. It has different brighness settings, I found the lowest setting just enough to ilumitae the tent without blowing out highlights.

Thanks! That lantern is even lighter than my recent 'Lighthouse Micro'. And yes, usually even a candle is too bright (and dangerous) for night photography.

I was once thinking of Trolltunga which isn't too far away, but it's too popular/crowded, the usual view is to the West and it's a challenging hike.

God tur!

 

[Yar1971]

Are you from Norway maybe?
If you have any nice hiking area's for southern Norway I'd love to hear them. I've been in Lofoten, Femundsmarka and Lyngen Alps and am considering a future hiking/photography trip of approx 1 week in Southern Norway. Maybe Jutunheimen or Rondane?

Actually, no. I'm from central Europe. I had some opportunities to visit Norway before, but only once (2021) for hiking - I finally chose Dovre over Rondane due to presence of muskoxen I wanted to spot (success). I caught also aurora, on 30 August or so. I was also in Lofoten in winter, for more stationary aurora hunting and once in Tromso (visit at friend's).

This year I was hiking around Sylen/Sylaren massif on the border between Norway and Sweden. I've seen aurora last night before flying home, 9-10 km from airport:





Regards

-J.

PS. I also used hiked in Iceland, but rather outside of aurora season (though have seen there my 2-nd aurora in life). Also some winter trekking in Sweden and once in Finland - sometimes with nothern lights, too

 

[mreynolds767]

Insanely good! Colors look fantastic and like the composition with the tent.

Have experienced dancing aurora before but yet to see that in combination with the other colors ; hopefully some day in the next couple years.

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