Aurora Borealis story from Alaska

[terracore]

I remember living in Alaska in the winter of 1998/1999 and the aurora was particularly epic that winter. One night I had hiked out onto the frozen Mendenhall lake so that no trees would obscure my view. The aurora was an incredible tapestry of shifting ribbons of colors and shapes that were so intense they played tricks with the mind. If that wasn't epic enough, there happened to be a meteor shower that night and at its peak there were several meteors every minute. It was like God had commanded the heavens to put on a show like no other. I stayed and watched for hours until my toes and fingers went numb and I had to go inside for safety. Just before I went inside I turned around and took one last look at an experience that was truly etched into my memory forever and as I did the aurora pulsed with so many vivid bright colors it caused the snow to glow in it's reflection and then a giant fireball screamed across the sky. What a way to end the night. I have seen the aurora dozens, maybe of hundreds of times, but nothing ever compared to that night. I spoke to people who were there the previous year and saw intense aurora, the Hale-Bopp comet, and a meteor shower all at the same time and they said while it was epic, the aurora wasn't as intense that year.

Describing intense aurora to someone who has never seen it is impossible. Sure there are pictures and videos, but until somebody comes up with a 360 degree full 3D virtual reality version, the only way is to travel to where you can see it and be patient. It may take several years or longer. The sun has an 11 year cycle and I remember one solar max was mostly a dud for aurora viewing.