17th March 2017
Frozen Stillness and Northern Lights
I will never forget the moments spent in Abisko. We arrived by train late in the afternoon, just as the last traces of light were fading from the sky. Stepping off the train, I was instantly hit by a rush of air so cold it shocked my lungs. It was unlike anything I had ever felt.. a deep, dry cold that stung my nose and cheeks. Probably around minus 20 degrees, but it felt even harsher in that Arctic stillness.
That night is carved into my memory. The sky was clear, the stars crisp, and the world around us completely quiet. My best friend and I bundled up and walked to a frozen lake, a dark sheet of ice surrounded by snowy silence. We waited, eyes on the sky, trusting what we’d learned from the apps and our instincts after days of chasing the aurora.
And then, they came. Slowly at first, faint green whispers, then stronger, dancing across the sky like silk in the wind. We stood there, speechless, frozen but amazed, as the northern lights moved above us. I tried to capture the moment with my camera, hoping the photos would reflect even a piece of what we felt.
The next morning, we woke up to the same biting cold. It didn’t ease up, but we were starting to get used to it, or maybe just better at layering. We had a quiet breakfast, still wrapped in awe from the night before, then boarded another train, heading south through Sweden.
Abisko stayed with me.. the breath-stealing cold, the silent lake, and the sky that came alive. One night, one aurora, one perfect memory.
That night is carved into my memory. The sky was clear, the stars crisp, and the world around us completely quiet. My best friend and I bundled up and walked to a frozen lake, a dark sheet of ice surrounded by snowy silence. We waited, eyes on the sky, trusting what we’d learned from the apps and our instincts after days of chasing the aurora.
And then, they came. Slowly at first, faint green whispers, then stronger, dancing across the sky like silk in the wind. We stood there, speechless, frozen but amazed, as the northern lights moved above us. I tried to capture the moment with my camera, hoping the photos would reflect even a piece of what we felt.
The next morning, we woke up to the same biting cold. It didn’t ease up, but we were starting to get used to it, or maybe just better at layering. We had a quiet breakfast, still wrapped in awe from the night before, then boarded another train, heading south through Sweden.
Abisko stayed with me.. the breath-stealing cold, the silent lake, and the sky that came alive. One night, one aurora, one perfect memory.
