SALMON SEASON 2014: Here We Go Again!

I write this as I stand at one of those convenient electronics charging counters at the Seattle International Airport (SEATAC).  My flight this afternoon will take me once again to Sitka, Alaska for four weeks of work at the fish camp and exploration of the local mountains.

I recall my experience last year when I worked an average of sixteen hours every day for about six weeks.  That was my first time in Alaska.  It was brutally difficult and challenging but I survived.  This time I am better prepared and I am arriving later in the season.  Most importantly, the work load hasn’t been as consistently heavy this year.

Read the chapters of this blog for a detailed account of the 2013 salmon season at Silver Bay Seafoods.  It’s a really good read for anyone considering this type of work, and for photographers, backpackers and explorers interested in learning details of adventures such as wild edible plants, alternatives to usual backpacking gear, and facing adversities.

Until the next post,… wish me luck!

Salmon season in Alaska is almost here!

The seasonal spawn of salmon in Alaska begins in just a few months but the fishing industry is already getting ready for another highly anticipated successful season.  The 2013 season saw record catches.  Processing plants could hardly keep up with the amount of fish being unloaded at the docks.  This scenario spells big opportunity for hard-working men and women to earn some money while experiencing the unparalleled natural beauty of Alaska.

Did I say hard-working?  I should clarify this.  I’m not talking about working hard for 40 hours a week.  Not even working hard for 60 hours a week.  In the Alaskan fishing industry a processor can expect to work up to 120 hours a week.  Do the math.  That’s over 16 hours per day, seven days a week.  That’s right, not even a day off.

During the 2013 salmon season I arrived in Sitka, Alaska on July 14 and worked until September 1.  During my seven-week stay I had a total of two days off and during a five and a half week period we worked 16 hours or more each day without a single day off.

Chapters 1 through 8 of this blog detail my experience working at Silver Bay Seafoods in Sitka, Alaska and observations of the natural beauty of the region including picking and eating several delicious species of wild berries, catching salmon by hand, and backpacking to the peaks of nearby mountains.  Unprecedented natural beauty and an experience of a lifetime await those daring enough to take on the challenge.

Those interested in working during the annual salmon season can apply online at Silver Bay Seafoods.  Expect to work brutally hard, but it’s only for a season and it’s an unforgettable experience.

Would you work 112 hours a week?

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to work at a salmon fish processing plant in Alaska, this blog is for you.

If you’ve suffered physical injuries in your life and would like to learn simple techniques for relief, this blog is for you.

If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to hike the wilderness of Alaska, this blog is for you.

Between July 14 and September 10 of 2013 I was in Sitka, Alaska working like a slave at Silver Bay Seafoods during the annual salmon season and exploring the wilderness as time permitted.  It was a grueling difficult experience and at the same time very rewarding in unique ways.  Follow my experiences as I relate my stories in a series of eight detailed chapters.