Welcome to the 2016 GLAH Gathering website!
The Great Lakes Aurora Hunters will hold their 4th annual gathering from Oct. 28-30, 2016, in Two Harbors, Minnesota. Join us for an exciting weekend on Lake Superior's shore featuring the Northern Lights! There will be presentations, aurora hunting, light painting and night sky photography, as well as an informal dinner on Friday and a GLAH Banquet for our members and friends on Saturday.
Registration closed on Sept. 28, 2016.
Get your gear and look north!
Held at Superior Shores Resort with a stunning view of Lake Superior, the GLAH Gathering is packed with awesome opportunities! From the moment you arrive, you'll find countless ways to connect with fellow Aurora Hunters.
Will we see the aurora borealis? No one can say for sure. The natural phenomenon is extremely hard to predict, and we have no way of knowing whether it will appear during the retreat. Even if we don't see anything, we'll create our own light show and you'll learn how to find the northern lights on your own. Whether you enjoy the educational sessions, spend your nights watching the sky or relax on Lake Superior's shore, you're sure to have a great time. Take a look!
Friday
• Meet and Greet
• Cash Bar
• BBQ Buffet
• Bonfire Ring on Lake Superior's shore
• Aurora Hunting on your own
Saturday
• Breakfast & Coffee
• Aurora Hunting Sessions!
• Lunch — Prepaid, or on your own
• More Aurora Hunting Sessions!!
• GLAH Banquet
• Cash Bar
• Aurora Photography Slideshow
• Night Shoot, Light Painting &
Aurora Hunting
• All-Night Bonfire on Lake Superior's shore
Sunday
• Travel Companion Exchange
• Send Off
Registration for the GLAH Gathering includes several meals. The meals are a BBQ buffet on Friday night, breakfast rolls in the morning and the GLAH Banquet on Saturday night.
If you'd like to add lunch at the resort on Saturday, choose the GLAH Gathering + Lunch Package. The lunch, which is covered in the ticket price, includes a sandwich wrap in a herbed tortilla with ham or turkey, lettuce, tomato, cheese and ranch dressing, served with chips and chef's choice of soup.
If you choose to do lunch on your own, there are many great diners and picnic spots in the area.
Please register by Sept. 15, 2016. UPDATE: The deadline has been extended to Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016.
Aurora Hunting Sessions
You can choose from nine sessions, which will be offered between 10am and 4:30pm on Saturday. Each 80-minute session will have a different topic and presenter. The sessions are organized by the time of day when they will be offered, with three sessions occuring during each time slot. Please select the three you'd like to attend when you register.
Session I
a) Camera Settings
b) Astronomy 101: What to Photograph in the Night Sky
c) Light Painting & Spinning Wool
Session II
a) Post Processing
b) Aurora Forecasting 101: Forecasting for Absolute Beginners
c) Star Trails
Session III
a) Time Lapses
b) Advanced Aurora Forecasting
c) Aurora Folklore & Myth
There will be other opportunities at the event too, so be sure to pick up a packet at the host hotel! Watch the Facebook Event Page for updates.
GLAH Banquet
The GLAH Banquet will be held in the Superior Shores ballroom in the evening on Saturday. It will include:
• A presentation by the Great Lakes Aurora Hunters
• Our aurora photographs on display
• The chance to mingle with fellow aurora hunters
• Your choice of one of three catered meals*
• Bar service will be available at an added cost
The GLAH Banquet is a great opportunity to make connections and share your experiences! The cost of the GLAH Gathering Package covers three meals. Both packages also help to pay for conference amenities and the facility rental. There will be a cash bar during dinner on both nights of the retreat.
After the banquet, we will head out for night photography, light painting and aurora hunting at a nearby state park.
Dinner choices for the GLAH Banquet come with a house salad and rolls, and are served with seasonal vegetables. Choose from one of three plated dishes:
• Apple Brandy Filet of Pork, with chipotle smashed potatoes
• Champagne Chicken, lightly breaded and smothered with champagne sauce, with roasted red potatoes
• Pasta Aglio Olio, gluten-free vegetarian pasta with olive oil, lemon, herbs, veggies and cream free butter
Lodging & Camping
Rooms at the host hotel will sell out fast! We've reserved a block of rooms at Superior Shores Resort, at a discount for GLAH guests. The two-night reservation requirement has been waived for lodge rooms only; other rooms require a two-night minimum. Until rooms sell out, these rates are available for the evenings of Friday, Oct. 28 and Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016:
Guest Lodge Rooms...........$79/unit/night
Superior Lodge Rooms.......$89/unit/night
Jacuzzi Rooms.....................$129/unit/night
One Bedroom Suites..........$149/unit/night
To get the discount, call Superior Shores at 1-800-242-1988 and mention the "GLAH Conference." These rates are not available online. A deposit for the first night will be required to hold the reservation. The listed rates are subject to a resort service and state sales tax.
Make your reservations now! October comes on the heels of fall colors season on the North Shore, and the rooms will be released to the public one month before the event. There are many other hotels and lodging options in the area, including Grand Superior Lodge, Country Inn and AmericInn in Two Harbors, nearby lodges, cabins, campgrounds and many other options.
The closest Minnesota State Parks with campgrounds include Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, Gooseberry Falls State Park and Tettegouche State Park, but there are many others in the region.
Apparel
Any apparel for the Great Lakes Aurora Hunters will be handled seperately from the retreat. Please watch the Facebook page or the GLAH Gathering Event Page for details.
About the Great Lakes Aurora Hunters
The Great Lakes Aurora Hunters make up an online group with over 20,000 members who share a passion for the Northern Lights. The first GLAH Gathering was held in November 2013, and it has become an annual tradition. It's an informal event, so come as you are! Bring anything you'll need to chase the Northern Lights, including warm clothing and outerwear.
Join the discussion on Facebook at: GLAH Gathering 2016.
FAQ
Will we see the Northern Lights?
There is no way to predict what will happen this far in advance, but if there are clear skies and the aurora make an appearance, we'll be in one of the best locations in the U.S. for viewing.
Does registration include the hotel?
No. You'll need to book your lodging separately. Please make sure you have a place to stay before you register.
Can I bring my partner, friend or family member?
Yes! The retreat is designed for adults, but you are welcome to bring guests.
What if someone wants to attend but they are not on Facebook?
That's okay. All who share an interest in the Great Lakes Aurora Hunters or Aurora Hunting are welcome.
Do I have to register?
Yes, please register. There is a limited capacity at the host hotel, and we would like everyone to enjoy the dinner together. We have worked hard to find a host hotel that fits our event needs, while keeping the costs low.
What if I want to change the sessions I registered for?
We've included the sessions in the registration process to get an idea of how large the rooms will need to be for each one. It's pretty informal. If there's room, you're welcome to attend a different session at the retreat.
Banner photo by Kris Trygg Kidd. Click here to see the full banner photo. Inset aurora photo by Matthew Breiter.
* If you require a vegetarian or gluten-free meal during the GLAH Banquet, please choose the pasta option when you make a dinner selection.
