OT: Wild camping

[11thEagleFan]

So I don’t know if it’s an impending midlife crisis or simply a bucket list wish, but I’ve had an almost insatiable urge to get back out in the woods. One of my lifelong dreams is to see the Northern Lights. Not only to see them, but to sleep under them. I’m looking at Norway, Iceland, Scotland, and Alaska. Anybody ever experienced it?

 

[M R DAWGS]

On my list of things to do as well.

 

[Dawgbite]

Not personally but good friends went to Iceland two years ago and loved it. They flew from Nashville to Boston to visit family and flew direct from Boston to Iceland.

 

[Shmuley]

Alaska has grizzlies. The other places you named do not. Although Norway has the Eurasian Brown Bear, but very few of them located mostly along the border with Sweden.

 

[ronpolk]

I’d like to see the northern lights. Not sure about camping under them. Isn’t it always pretty cold anywhere you can see the northern lights?

 

[msualohadog]

Got lucky and saw them while in the military in Alberta. Pictures don't do it justice. Might want to look at Banff in May timeframe.

 

[BiscuitEater]

So I don’t know if it’s an impending midlife crisis or simply a bucket list wish, but I’ve had an almost insatiable urge to get back out in the woods. One of my lifelong dreams is to see the Northern Lights. Not only to see them, but to sleep under them. I’m looking at Norway, Iceland, Scotland, and Alaska. Anybody ever experienced it?

At 30 - 40,000 feet most winter nights over north central usa.

 

[MtPigsmore]

Iceland is awesome, but if you want to see the northern lights you have to go in the winter and it gets ridiculously cold then. I'd advise renting a camper van if you go that route.

2 years ago the wife and I took a direct flight out of Dallas. We camped every night (tons of campgrounds everywhere) and the trip ended up costing about $2k. Most of that expense was for the rental car and airfare. What really pissed me off was forking out $4k this year for Disney knowing I could do Iceland again twice.

 

[GloryDawg]

Go to Alaska and spend your money in the United States.

 

[aspendawg]

You don’t have to worry about brown bears in Alaska if you’re going to see the northern lights. Brown bears hibernate in the winter and it has to be dark and cold for the lights to show up so winter is your only option. I would advise against camping because things can go wrong and you’re pretty isolated. Fairbanks and North-pole Alaska are great places to see them. You can even see them in Anchorage but you have to get away from the light pollution(Try Talkeetna) Wherever you go in Alaska bears aren’t your biggest danger. First is Moose and second is the elements. I’ve seen them a bunch. The best was in Barrow Alaska over the Arctic Ocean but I was working there and traveling as a tourist up there is very expensive... and there.. you have to legitimately worry about Polar bears when you’re outside.

 

[EngDawg]

Winter camping in the north would make me nervous, seems like you could get yourself in trouble quickly if you don’t know what you are doing. Might want to see if you can find a guide or at least someone who’s done it before.

 

[aTotal360]

I've spike camped several times in Montana on elk hunts. We would live off the land for the most part, but we did have some niceties (pots, pans, burners, etc). The first 5 days suck. But the last 5 days are great.

 

[JMC987]

I paddled over to Horn Island once. Spent a night, tent camping by myself. Spooky AF but the sky was incredible that night. Id love to do it again....with someone.

 

[Mjoelner]

The northern lights are on my bucket list too.

I would like to go to this place but 1: A little expensive to get there and stay with no guarentee of seeing the lights. 2: I texted this to my girlfriend last July and got the reply "I got cold just looking at that" so I guess Kakslauttanen is a no-go for me. I'll find another way.

https://www.kakslauttanen.fi/

 

[maroonmadman]

I've had the pleasure of seeing both the northern and southern lights. (Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis) Both were awe inspiring.

 

[houstonutsack]

Wife and I went to Alaska over a Labor Day weekend and spent 10 days there. Great time to go as the mosquitoes and black flies are not a problem and the leaves are changing color. In about 3 weeks the creeks will start to freeze up. Also, the days have shortened and you have an opportunity to see the Northern Lights. We saw them and it is great.

 

[horshack.sixpack]

I chuckled thinking about explaining my next vacation plan to my wife and that I got advice from houstonutsack.