Learning about Salmon and the Silts

We arrived in Icy Strait Point on day 6 of the cruise. This day I started learning about the fishing, silt, the natives and their legends, and the totem pole. So, so much information.

Our excursion tour guide was Chad, who graduated from a university in Arizona in video gaming, and wanted to do something different, so he came to Alaska for the summer. He said he was living in a train's car with a couple other guys (think of Tiny Homes), and he was loving his experience. I think he was falling in love with the area. He said every day he walks the three miles to work because it is just too beautiful to miss.

What we saw along the coast line, and what Chad sees every day when he walks to work. But this is nothing unless if you see it up front and close.

                                           This is one of my favorite photos. Gorgeous.

Chad taught us about the silt. It looks like a beach, but BEWARE, it is not. It is more like quicksand, but not quite because it does not swallow you. What it does, though, is it grabs you and won't let you go. Silt is exposed during low tide, and twice a day there is a high tide. When the tide is high, then you die by drowning.

Looks like a nice beach area where you could go and look for shells, etc. Don't. This is silt.

Chad told one story where a husband and wife were in an RV and started to go across the land since they wanted to get to the other side and they thought this would be faster. The RV got stuck and the wife went out to push the camper. She got caught and he called for help but before help came, the tide came in. Sad ending to a vacation. Chad said this happens -- I believe he said there has been about a dozen deaths due to drowning due to people not understanding the dangers of silt.

During my trip to Alaska, I also learned about salmon. Since I enjoy eating this fish, I wanted to know which type is the best. I found out.

I heard this explanation on how to name the 5 salmons many times, and before I left Alaska, it was embedded in my mind. Take a hand and your fingers can help you name the 5 Alaskan salmons.

Your thumb is used to remember the 1st salmon -- Chum. This salmon is caught in July and August and is also referred to as Dog, since the natives feed this salmon to their dogs. If you do eat this salmon, it is best smoked or dried.

Your index finger is also the finger you use to poke an eye, so the 2nd salmon is named Sockeye or Red salmon. This is considered the best of salmon because of its high quality. Bristol Bay is the Sockeye Capital of the World and you can catch this fish between July and August. This is the salmon that is made into lox.

The middle finger is the largest, so this 3rd finger is named King in salmon language. This salmon is Alaska's state fish and it is the largest, and the least abundant. It is also called Chinook, and is caught between May and July. People like this fish because it is a healthy steak, and it is good either fresh or frozen.

The ring finger represents the 4th salmon, Silver or Coho. This fish is caught between July and November and it keeps its orange-red color. It is also good either fresh or frozen.

The pinky finger is the 5th salmon, Pink. This is the smallest salmon and should be eaten immediately. If frozen, the meat is soft after freezing. (Great to know when you go to the fish market). This fish is caught from late June to mid October and is abundant in Ketchikan's streams. Most of the commercially caught pink salmon is caught for canning.

Interesting, huh?

Now I know that I will only buy King or Sockeye, and when I eat salmon in a restaurant I am going to ask, "What type?" Also, I want to start ordering salmon from Alaska and it will be sent freeze dried to me. Now I know which one to buy.

I also learned that most people who live in Alaska live off the land. People were everywhere fishing while we traveled the roads, and I found out that people fill up their freezers before winter with fish and meats that they have hunted, as well as the berries and the planted vegetables they tended during the summer months. Remember, most food has to be imported so it's best to gather your own. Also, there are few ways out in the winter -- remember -- few roads and most modes of transportation is the ferry or floatplane. I believe it was Chad who said it takes 36 hours to travel by ferry to the closest city for groceries. Plan on stocking up! Cotsco must make a killing in Alaska!

Tomorrow, I will continue with Icy Strait Point and tell about the Alaska Natives.

Are you enjoying this tour of Alaska?

Until then...have a great day...