Dogsledding in Arctic Norway

 In Feb 2017 I went dog sledding in Arctic Finland and really loved the experience. So when I was in Arctic Norway in Dec 2024 I booked to go again.

I was on a cruise that stopped at Alta, which is above the Arctic Circle. I booked the tour independently and I was pleased to find I was the only person on the trip from Gargia lodge, which meant I would be driving the sled the whole time, rather than being a passenger for half the time. 

Firstly I had to get dressed, it was -18° C. I was kitted out in a thick Norwegian jumper, huge oversuit, thick socks and boots, a balaclava and thick mittens, all on top of my ordinary clothes minus jacket. I found if I dropped anything it was difficult to bend down with so many bulky layers.

Mushing is a sport or transport method powered by dogs and a musher drives the dogsled. I had 4 dogs, Linda the guide had 6 as 2 were elderly and due to retire. I had a lesson on driving the sled, then we were able to start. The only disadvantage of driving the whole time was I couldn't take photos on the move as I needed to hang on to the sled! Getting ready -

I found it quite easy to drive, though the corners are sometimes a bit scary, thinking I would tip. Luckily Linda was able to take some photos of me -

I remember from Finland 2017 that my glasses steamed up and eyes and nose were running, so this time tried to keep my mouth and nose uncovered, despite the cold. We initially went through forest and it was all so beautiful. Then came to open land, and had a break there. The moon was amazing and the light so nice. The sun doesn't rise at all in Dec, resulting in Polar nights, and it was only due to the full moon reflecting on the snow that is seemed so bright - it was around midday.

The snow was fresh and new. During the break the dogs were still eager to be off -

We carried on and it got windy for a while in the open area, with wind blowing the snow and there was a lot of fresh snow that slowed down the sleds. 

The last part was back through the forest. Approaching the kennels -

Once the sleds were secured, I helped give the dogs meat water, which is just meat flavoured water, for the dogs to rehydrate.

I was then shown how massage my dogs. They seemed to appreciate it. After I could go and see all the other dogs and the 3 puppies. They were all quiet and behaved, unlike the ones I had seen in Finland in 2016 (see note at end). There are about 28 dogs here. 

Then back to the lodge for hot chocolate .

In July 2016 I was in Finland in July for the midnight sun and went to a husky farm for huskyhiking. There were 93 dogs at this farm and the noise was incredible - see and listen to this video.

Northern Lights Aurora Borealis, Norway

 In Dec 2024 I did a Northern Lights cruise to Norway, hoping to see the aurora. The Aurora Borealis has been particularly good this year throughout autumn and winter, and were even seen as far south as the south coast of England. They had also been seen in SE London.

So I had high hopes we would see them on the cruise. Our Fred Olsen ship was named Borealis, which means “northern”. We left on Dec 7 during Storm Darragh and then had cloudy skies and rough seas for the next few days. It was only on 13th Dec that we had our first sighting of the northern lights. We were at Tromso, which is above the Arctic Circle. The lights weren't very strong and almost impossible to see with the naked eye, but are visible through a camera lens. These photos were all taken with my phone. The sky looks brighter than it actually was and stars are visible on the photos. I haven't bothered to "photoshop" the photos.

Part of the plough constellation -

On the 14th evening we had another weak display, we were at Alta.

The 3rd and last time we saw them was on the 16th, after leaving Sortland, which is at 68° N. This time the display was visible to the naked eye (but still not the all singing all dancing display you see in magazines and documentaries!). The lights were visible for a few hours. The sea was rough and we were expecting 5.5 m waves so it was hard to keep the camera still. That night we had to go at full speed to get ahead of the low pressure = bad weather. 

The lights had a jagged tooth effect -

The circumpolar moon with clouds -

See my blogs on :

Circumpolar moon

Polar stratospheric clouds

Finland Northern Lights 2017

Circumpolar moon in Arctic Norway

Whilst on the December 2024 Arctic Norway Northern Lights cruise, it was full moon on 14 Dec. However once we crossed over the Arctic Circle, the moon was visible about 24 hours a day, as it never sets. And the fact there is no sun in the Arctic in December, it felt strange seeing the moon all the time. The sun doesn't show over the horizon for several months, resulting in just a few hours of twilight during the day. The lack of sunrise and sunset results in Polar Nights.

The moon is considered circumpolar when it appears from any latitude north of 61°28'N. 

I took so many photos of the moon as it was so beautiful and I was fascinated to see it constantly and it even appeared almost full most of the time.

4.20 pm south of Tromso

Tromso at 10.30 am

Tromso 12.20 pm

zoom in at 12.20 pm

Tromso 1.36 pm

Tromso 1.40 pm

Tromso church 2 pm

Further north, in Alta -

8 am

9.10 am

The next 2 were 11.30 am, taken on a dog sledding trip -

Alta, 3.50 pm

Next day at sea, taken soon after 9 am. Some of the photos appear lighter than it actually was, depending on camera - my phone on night setting made the photos look lighter, whereas my compact camera photos look darker - as can be seen in the first 2 photos -

Chef taking a photo 10.45 am

12.50 pm

The moon kept hiding behind the mountains

The next few were taken in Sortland -

9.50 am

Moon over the church at 11 am

Sortland 1 pm

Whilst watching the aurora borealis one evening, this was the moon at 7.40 pm -