Guided Night Vision Hiking and Stargazing– Experience the North Shore Like Never Before

Located at the edge of the federally des­ignated Night Sky Sanctuary and the Boundary Waters Ca­noe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), Low Light Experiences of­fers guided nighttime hiking and star gazing adventures.

Aurora Island started Low Light Experienc­es LLC last summer. Before that, she had acquired a basic night vision unit for per­sonal use, a mid-90s model that uses green phosphor technology. When a friend offered a higher quality, newer unit of a higher quality using white phosphor technology, Aurora grabbed it.

“Star gazing is amazing,” Aurora said. “I realized that I had the infrastructure to start a business.”

Night vision gog­gles (NVGs) don’t just amplify the available light, they transform the way you see the world, even in the darkest environments. This revolutionary technology allows for clear vision in con­ditions that are pitch black to the naked eye, creating a truly awe-inspiring experi­ence.

“It’s like seeing the world through whole new eyes,” Aurora said

Aurora grew up in the flatlands of west­ern Minnesota’s farm­ing country. In her senior year of high school, she became an emergency medical responder (EMR). She worked as a paramed­ic for more than six years.

A vacation trip to Colorado opened this self-described out­doorsy person’s eyes to a different topog­raphy and wilderness experience. When an opportunity to join Cook County Am­bulance Service as a paramedic arose in Grand Marais in the spring of 2021, Aurora left the prairie for the wilderness and varied nature of the North Shore.

Aurora says that fees vary depending on the services customers choose.

“Our standard hik­ing experience is about two hours,” she said. “That’s an appro­priate amount of time. The first half hour or so to get used to the NVG.” The typical fee for two hours is $150.

Hikers need to be as prepared for a hike in the woods at night as they would be for a daytime adventure. “No sneakers,” Auro­ra said. “Stable shoes or hiking boots are a necessity.”

Each stargazing par­ty is unique, and pric­es are quoted case-by-case.

Aurora is marketing the Low Light Expe­rience through sever­al methods, including word of mouth. She carries business cards wherever she goes and has informational bro­chures at tourist-ori­ented attraction card racks. The Low Light website is https://www.lowlightex.com/ . Aurora has a social media presence on In­stagram at low light experiments.

Aurora, an innova­tive creator, is working on getting a thermal receiver for her equip­ment. This heat-sens­ing addition will en­able visitors to identify some of the wildlife they encounter on their hikes.

“The wildlife is amazing, too,” Aurora said. She reports seeing everything from frogs and rabbits to bats and deer. She has heard the haunting sounds of owls but has yet to see them. The thermal attachments will make locating the owls and other mammals easier.

As the guide for nighttime hikes, Au­rora ensures your safety and enjoyment throughout the expe­rience. She typically carries a ham radio for communication, some basic first aid items for emergencies, water to keep you hydrated, bug spray to ward off insects, and likely trail mix/snacks to keep your energy up.

You don’t need to know the science be­hind night vision tech­nology to see the night sky differently with Low Light Experienc­es. But Aurora wel­comes any questions you may have.

To book a hike or stargazing party, simply visit https://www.lowlightex.com/ or call 320-808-1624.