During these dark winter days (we’re down to seven hours of daylight here in Anchorage), it’s nice to remember those brighter, warmer days of summer. Here are some pictures from our unforgettable trip to Red Shirt Lake in August.
The Nancy Lake State Recreation Area, located near Willow, Alaska, is a true Alaskan gem. It’s comprised of several smaller lakes connected by a vast network of hiking and canoe trails. We chose Red Shirt Lake based on a recommendation from a friend, and it was incredible.
We picked up our paddles and life jackets from Tippecanoe, a quaint canoe rental shack perched on the shore of Nancy Lake. From there, we hiked the easy three miles in to Red Shirt Lake.
Maybe it was the feel of those warm, lazy days of summer, or maybe it was the way the canoes were stacked neatly on the lakeshore, but whatever it was, it reminded me of being at summer camp as a kid, and I loved every minute of it.
After about twenty minutes of paddling, we spotted our destination: a tiny island, home to Red Shirt Lake Public Use Cabin (PUC) # 3. And it was perfect.
We got settled in as the dogs explored every nook and cranny of our own personal island. After lounging around for a while, we headed out for a sunset canoe ride around the neighboring islands.
When we got back, we cooked dinner and ate outside by the fire as we watched the sun set.
The auroras weren’t expected to be especially active, but given the clear skies, the absence of any light pollution, and the fact that the flatness of the surrounding terrain would give us an expansive view of the horizon, I decided to set my alarm for 1:00 am. Because our cabin faced to the south, we decided to paddle the short distance to a nearby island we’d spotted earlier in the day. This particular island was even smaller than the one where we were staying, but it had just enough space to sit comfortably and gaze to the north.
As soon as we started paddling, I knew we were in for a treat. There was not a breath of wind, so the water was unbelievably calm. As we dipped our paddles in the still, smooth surface of the water, we could see the stars reflected perfectly. We felt like we were paddling through space, with stars blanketing us from both above and below. And the best part was, the auroras were out. What ensued over the next few hours was one of the most vibrant, colorful, and incredibly active displays of northern lights I’ve ever seen.
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