Alta church with Purple Clouds

Between Purple Clouds and Northern Lights

Joshua WalterErlebnis, 2026 1 Comment

Between Purple Clouds and Northern Lights

My Arctic Adventure
Joshua Walter, the author
von Joshua Walter
,
31. Januar 2026

My Arctic Adventure in the Northern Lights city Alta

My travel startet on January 7th 2025 with the destanation Alta, Norway. During my flight I had an overlay in Oslo where I encountered my first snow storm. After that, my final flight to Alta took off. On the flight I saw the Northern Lights for the first time, which made me really happy and excited for my stay. I arrived in complete darkness, with temperatures below minus 20 degrees. 

Friluftsliv

The Right to Roam and the Will to Grow

During my stay in Norway, I took part in the course Friluftsliv, which focused on the “right to roam” and living in close connection with nature. This course gave me countless valuable experiences, especially through excursions into the wilderness. We went on large group ski trips that lasted one or multiple days. We also had a multi-day expedition in small teams. These adventures were not only educational but also deeply shaped my personal growth.

One of the most important parts of the program was planning a self-organized trip lasting more than five days. This required close collaboration, because our chosen route led through avalanche terrain, a challenge that always involves a certain level of risk. The mood at the beginning was rather subdued. Only a few weeks earlier, students from another program had experienced a tragic accident in the French Alps, news that made us question whether it was responsible to go ahead with our own journey. Postponing wasn’t an option, so we began to plan.

With mixed feelings, we eventually chose a time and an area considered relatively safe. We prepared carefully: Which equipment would each small group need? How would we organize food and supplies? Everyone contributed, and together we created a well-structured plan.
 
For me personally, the start was overshadowed by illness. My parents had visited me the weekend before, which was wonderful, but I came down with a severe cold and even developed a fever. I felt physically weakened, yet I still decided to take part. This experience taught me how important teamwork, preparation and perseverance are, and that personal limits deserve just as much attention as the challenges nature presents.

5 Days in the Wild

A test of the mind and the team

Day one 

The Beginning

The day of departure began with a sense of nervous anticipation. We packed the last pieces of equipment and then finally set off. At the starting point our group began the three kilometer trek toward the first camp. For me this part of the journey felt unusually exhausting and deeply draining. I was not used to feeling this worn out so early, and each step seemed heavier than the last. I tried to keep pace, yet a quiet worry stayed with me. I was still torn about whether joining the trip had been the right decision, because I still felt really sick and did not want to become a burden to my group.
 
 

    When we arrived at the planned campsite, we immediately began setting everything up. Bit by bit our camp took shape until the tent finally stood ready. As soon as it was finished, I slipped inside and fell asleep almost instantly. The short rest was necessary, and although it did not solve everything, it gave me enough strength to rejoin the group again in time for dinner.

    DAy two

    Struggels under the Northern Lights

    On the second day our professors joined us and sent us out on the next stage of the journey. In small groups we had to navigate to the next destination on our own. For me this would have been almost impossible by myself because all my energy was focused on simply keeping my body moving.
     
    I struggled with the feeling that I was becoming a burden to the group, something I had never experienced before. My teammates had to keep an eye on me and that made me uneasy. In those moments I felt like a potential risk, which reminded me how a group can only move as confidently as its weakest member. Most of the time I was operating at my physical limit.

     

    Nevertheless there were moments which lifted my spirits. The breathtaking views and the clear weather helped me breathe a little easier, and the kind and supportive people around me made a tremendous difference. Slowly my fear of having to quit began to fade. In the afternoon we reached a new campsite that became our main base for the days ahead.

     
    The nights were the most magical part of the entire experience. When the Northern Lights appeared above us, all exhaustion seemed to disappear. Watching that silent movement across the sky gave me a sense of calm and a renewed motivation for whatever the next day would bring.

    Day Three

    A bit of rest 

    The third day was perhaps the most relaxed of the entire trip. We had only a short ski excursion planned, which allowed us to take things easier. After the previous challenges, it was a welcome chance to enjoy the landscape and recharge.

    Day four

    The Greatest Challenge

    The fourth day was the most exhausting, both physically and mentally. Our route led through avalanche terrain and also included a training exercise. At first, we received detailed instructions on how to behave in the event of an avalanche and which steps to take. In addition, we were given avalanche transceivers that would help locate us under the snow in an emergency.
     
    Due to a misunderstanding, the originally planned route of two kilometers turned into almost six kilometers and ended with a steep ascent that drained my last reserves of energy. Once we reached the top, we had only a short ten-minute break, barely enough time to recover. Immediately afterward, some of my fellow students gave a practice lecture in which they simulated an avalanche accident and explained how to rescue a buried person in such a situation.
     
    The return journey was just as demanding, and I was completely exhausted. Back at camp, we were still required to build a snow shelter. I eventually stopped halfway through and decided to save my energy for the next day. That night, however, the northern lights appeared once again, renewing my strength.

    Day five

    Final Journey

    The final day was bittersweet. On one hand, I felt relieved that the hardest part was behind us. On the other, I was a little sad, because I had finally started to feel better and would have liked to continue. The way back was exhausting, especially since I had to walk part of it on my own because I couldn’t keep up with the others. After a while, I caught up with another group during their break and together we made our way back to our original starting point. 
     
    Despite all the challenges, I was genuinely happy to have taken this journey. It was an experience I will always carry with me.

     

    Here you can see the route we took. On the first day, we hiked to Camp 1 (C1), and on the following day we continued to Camp 2 (C2), which became our final base camp for the trip. From there, we undertook several shorter excursions as well as the longest trip along the Livllevággi River, marked in red. On the final day, we walked from C2 back to our original starting point.

    I was very happy that I decided to take part in this trip. Although it was very exhausting for me, it was also an incredibly meaningful and beautiful experience. If I would have the possibility to do it again, I would 100% do it. 

    I also received a lot of positive feedback from my fellow students, who told me how much they admired that I went through with it and that the trip was a great learning experience for them as well.
     
    I can highly recommend traveling to Norway and exploring its nature to make unforgettable memories. Experiencing such an adventure is truly special, the purple clouds and Northern Lights alone are absolutely beautiful and inspiring.

    © Credits pictures

    (c) Joshua Walter. (2025). Own Pictures

    (c) Medea Fabbricotti (@mepic.8). (2025). Own Pictures

    Kommentare 1

    1. I admire that you pushed through with the trip despite your illness. Reading that you nevertheless enjoyed your semester abroad is great.

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