The tail-end of winter maintains an icy grip over the waters of the mighty Copper River, slowing its progression to the sea as it carves the western edge of the 13.2 million acre Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve.  25 to 75 miles to the east stand the magnificent peaks of Mt. Sanford (16,237 ft.), Mt. Drum (12,010 ft.), Mt. Wrangell (14,163 ft.) and Mt. Blackburn (16,390 ft.).  After several hours of watching multiple arcs dance in the far north, a sudden energetic burst of elegant aurora swirls through the starfields, briefly forming a brilliant halo above the great peaks and the Copper River Basin