2016 Fish Camp

Last year for the Personal Use Fishery, my friend Niki invited me to join her using another friend’s setnet site and gear, and try our hand at setnet fishing. We got our feet wet literally and figuratively, but didn’t do that great at the fishing.

Fast forward to this year and we decided to do it ourselves along with another friend Moira. Niki found a deal on two used nets, one in good, usable condition, and the other in need of new net. We worked together with another set of friends, Caleb & Kayla, to figure out what we needed for our rigging and for repairing the second net. Kayla it turns out, likes to hang net and helped us out greatly by hanging the entire new netting on our second net!

Photo credit: Niki P Kayla hanging new net on the corkline.

Out of our little cooperative of friends we ended up with help from so many people. The Parrish’s (we had two Parrish families!) helped setting up our rigging and figuring out which set-up we liked the best. Mr. P has mad skills at the fish filleting. Ms. Jane can repair a net and set a net out even at nearly high tide.

Photo credit: Kaylena M. Jane replacing a torn section of net.

Photo credit: Brandi W. Mr. P, Juniper and Dean working on the cleaning table whilst Thing 2 and Lil Bit observe.

Moira ran a mad kitchen and has some fabo skills at campfire cooking. She can also set a net out on her own which is no small feat I might ad. Between the three of us we have 11 kids I think, so there were little people everywhere at any given time, ranging from 22 months to 13+ years. It was a lot of fun.

Photo credit: Moira I. Campfire fajitas almost ready!

Juniper was a real trooper, coming out regularly to lend a helping hand and bringing gear. Her awesome “1972 Tent” housed my family for the duration comfortably, except for that one rainy night… but we all dried out good the next day!

Kaylena didn’t bat an eye at getting into the messy work of cleaning and filleting the fish. She brought a cheerful little pup to camp too, a favorite of the children.

The Schwartz family brought out goodies and supplies, and hours of entertainment for the kiddos.

Photo credit: Niki P
Moira and Annie 4-wheeling it.

There were a few other folks who came to lend a hand and left with a few fish, all of which were appreciated. And many a campfire were burnt and enjoyed on the beach.

Photo credit: Kayleena M. Campfire time!

All in all we caught over 300 fish total for our cooperative which included two kings and several Kenai Reds (which are larger than the Kasilof Reds). We set up a canning kitchen and started canning right on the beach.

Photo Credit: Niki P. Salmon in jars.

Photo credit: Brandi W
Sand fish being hauled to the cleaning table.

It was a great Alaskan experience. The kids had daily geological, meteorological and nautical lessons right in front of their eyes. The divers biology, from finding a live crab in the neighbor’s net to many pieces of dead crabs left over from the previous tide, to the eagles taking the fish waste and dive-bombing the seagulls, to various seashells and sea glass, every day was a new discovery.

Photo credit: Brandi W.
Feather collecting child.

It was seriously exhausting and yet so very rewarding. I am greatly looking forward to next year and doing this all over again!!

Photo credit: Kaylena M.
A tired Gus sleep-guarding the net.

Photo credit: Moira I
4-wheeler fun!

Thanks to everyone making this year’s fish camp a success!

Photo credit: Moira I.
A beautiful ending to a beautiful day.

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Sea Lions and Glaciers and Whales, oh my!

Yesterday the older kids and I embarked on an epic adventure for school, a boat ride along the Kenai Fjords. It was a wonderful experience that I would love to share with all of you. We started out the day rather early, since we had to drive to Seward and arrive by 10:15 am! And ya’ll know how I love my early mornings (in bed, asleep).

Once there, we decided we hadn’t dressed warm enough and layered on anything and everything we could find in the Pearl and I went a picked up gloves for all of us and a headband for myself. Yes, I still occasionally forget to bring everything “just in case”. It is Alaska after all.

Panorama of our cabin mates.

Our group of IDEA homeschoolers gathered together and in the nature of homeschoolers, we sort of boarded in an orderly manner. Well, we all got aboard anyways. I had empathy for the number of passengers aboard who were tourists and not traveling with young children. There were muffled inquiries as to why so many children were on board… Why were these children not in school… Why did you put me on this particular boat…  J/K.

The Callisto Voyager.

We boarded our vessel, the Callisto Voyager and settled in for a scenic cruise through Resurrection Bay.

Bear Glacier in the distance.

The weather was a bit dreary, windy and cool at the start but eventually warmed up and became what would be a beautiful day for exploring the fjords.

Our first stop was Bear Glacier. Bear Glacier is very large and part of the Harding Ice Field system. It has a lagoon in front of it with icebergs floating in it. We couldn’t get very close to this glacier so from a distance the ice bergs look quite small. In actuality some were over 80 ft tall.

Next we rounded Aialik (say it with me: eye-Al-ick) cape into Aialik Bay to see, you guessed it, Aialik Glacier. This one was magnificent. We were able to get fairly close to this tidewater glacier, about 1/4 mile from the face. We stayed in this general are for quite some time so we could experiences the sights and sounds of the glacier. They talk to you, groans and pops, sounding like a shotgun blast. You can hear them inching, creeping along the surface. The crew fished a chunk of ice out of the water so all could touch it, examine this piece of living history. The ice that is breaking off is estimated to be around 400 years old.

Aialik Glacier

Glacier Doula

We watched the glacier calve a few times, small chunks, nothing enormous. It happens so quickly and without warning that it was really hard to catch it on film. But I was there, experiencing this moment, silently supporting the massive sheet of ice break off her babies, the glacier doula.

Then we were off again, back out Aialik Bay, and the weather started to turn a bit nasty, winds and waves picking up. We saw a few whale’s blowing in the distance so we headed that way. We eventually came upon a few humpback whales feeding and were blessed to see them come up for breath and dive down again. One young fella put on quite a display for us even flipping his tail up for us. No one breached though. And like the calving glaciers, so difficult to catch on film. But we have the experience forever. I was sitting at the back of the boat with Lil Bit, who after the bumpy ride was feeling a bit green around the gills. She and I got to see the whale show together. Something about sharing such an awe inspiring moment with one of your littles.

Stellar Sea Lions on the rocks.

We stopped at the Steller Sea Lion rookery and observed and listened to the sea lions. So amazing to see these creatures in their natural habitat, outside of the confines of a zoo. It was the first time for me to observe these creatures, and puffins, in the wild. It is such a good feeling to know that my kids get to see these creatures in the wild, and that will be normal to them.

We circled Harbor Island and began our return. There were some major waves and wind. More than a few folks were feeling the effect of the seriously rocking boat.

Glacial moraine on Fox Island.

On our way back into Resurrection Bay we went around Fox Island and got to see a large glacial moraine that has standing dead cedar trees from the great 1964 earthquake. It is quite amazing that these trees are still standing after all this time and all of the weather than they face.

Back to port and a quick group photo-op, then off to a picnic dinner at the park in Seward before heading home.

This was an amazing trip, and one that would not have been possible if not for being offered to our school. I’m so thankful for the opportunity to go and see a part of Alaska that can’t be seen any other way. And what a great experience to share with my Solstice Sisters Moira and Niki!

I’ll post various other pictures for your enjoyment, of course the camera just doesn’t do Nature any justice.  Thanks for sharing in our adventure!

Thing 2 and Thing 1 ready to shove off.

Lil Bit and Mama ready to shove off.

Friends out on deck as we head out of the bay.

Friends on the upper deck.

Cheesy smile, before she lost the glasses.

An eroded cave in the face of the cliff.

A lil island growing lil trees.

More rocks and caves

The determination of this tree!

Rocky majesty.

Break time.

Lil Bit blowing in the breeze.

We are under way.

Tidewater glaciers reach all the way down to the water.

a large chunk of ice.

Ice floes in Aialik Bay.

All friends on deck!

Holding a piece of history, 400 years old, incidentally after she lost the glasses.

 

 

 

4 weeks

I have waited exactly  3 years, 4 months and 1 day for this event. And now it is only 4 weeks away. 4 WEEKS!!

I’ll be in Anchorage, anxiously awaiting that Alaska Airlines flight to touch down… and deliver me my Seester and Yon and Duke. I can’t wait. I’m so excited I could burst, but I haven’t told the kids yet (except for Thing 1) because they will drive me bonkers. I’ll tell them when it’s almost time.

So much to do. So little time. Winter is coming.

Crab-apples and cranberries to pick. Rose-hips to snip. Jelly to make. Hopefully a moose to process… time will tell. Winterization to happen. A new chimney to install.

But until then, I’m over here counting down the days until the epic Alaska adventure and the margaritas commence…

3rd Day

3rd Day 5-18

Hauled 4 gals. water and started work on garden-rained all A.M. until late P.M. worked until 11:30 P.M. tonight. Got strawberries – chives and one hill of rubarb (sic) in today. Noki is getting on my nerves already. 

Dad’s Journal

Dad kept a small notepad for a journal during his first days out at Gray Cliffs. It was one of the more precious things to be found at the cabin. It was in the little cabin, mildewed and damp. 

I love that I have this glimpse into the past and his thoughts as he begins his Alaska cabin journey. I thought that I would copy and share with you all.

Lot 306

Gray Cliff Sub.

1st Day May 16, 1987

Walked Bill &Barb back to beach & trk (truck) to say good-by, & watch the trk go down the beach-sense of alowness (sic) settles in. 

Setting up camp in early P.M. Got to listen to radio for correct time and set my clock. 7pm 

2nd Day 5-17

Started foundation and floor- got water, shot a spruce hen- worked on camp. 

Isn’t enough hrs. in day when have to cook, clean and work. Got over 1st day rush- finally ate sup at 10:30 p.m.-tired.