4th of July cabin trip

[NightTrain]

Just a few pics of what we were up to this last weekend. There were 5 adults and 4 kids along on this trip, unfortunately my honey had to work and couldn't go.

I'm teaching my buddy Lee how to run the river in his boat, so he accompanied me whenever I made a run anywhere... there's a learning curve involved in knowing where to steer your boat so you don't end up high-n-dry on a gravel bar in the middle of the river that was covered by an inch of water. It's very hard on boats & jet units, not to mention a major effort to get your boat back into deeper water that usually involves several hours of back breaking work.

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[NightTrain]

The girls came up the next day, so I went down to the boat launch in Talkeetna and waited for them. We spotted this knucklehead walking on top of the railroad bridge, and while he was doing it a train went past... I can only imagine how much that bridge swayed and somehow the idiot didn't fall off. I hated watching because I was sure he was going to fall and kill himself, but he made it back down.

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[NightTrain]

My brother Jim. Put a few beers down him and he turns into a lumberjack... grabs the wheeler and the chainsaw and goes to work.

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[NightTrain]

This is Frost, Sharon's German Shepard, waiting for me to throw a stick for her. She's a great dog and is hell on wheels when it comes to chasing off bears. But she's getting old now, and her hips are really slowing her down... I have to lift her into the truck and into the boat these days.

My buddy Lee in the background fishing.

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[NightTrain]

Our 4th of July crew fishing. The King Salmon weren't thick up here through the canyon yet, but they're close.

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[NightTrain]

The river follows the left bank there, and right around that corner is Class IV whitewater that we run through to get here. It's pretty cool listening to the water roar down below, and even more cool scaring the hell out of new people that haven't been in a riverboat running next to standing 15' waves, getting bounced around, hearing the engine roar and occasionally cavitate, while the water spray off the bow rains down. It's kind of like a roller coaster and I like hearing the screams... but my passengers almost always are ready to do it again - it's a lot of fun.

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[NightTrain]

Lee with a nice little Dolly.

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[NightTrain]

My brother Jim and his daughter Madison. She's a hell of a fisherman and outperforms everyone on every trip... fish swim past other lures to get to hers. A very nice Dolly Varden she caught here.

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[NightTrain]

Madison's first King Salmon. This is a small Jack, which means it returned to spawn after only 1 year instead of waiting for the typical 4 years, so it's much smaller in size.

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[NightTrain]

Lee pulling in logs with the 4 wheeler, while Tanner and Madison get the sauna ready.

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[NightTrain]

There's a couple of reasons why we're logging like this. Firewood, of course, but more importantly we're clearing out dead cottonwood trees that need to come down back behind the cabin, because we're getting ready to build a couple more cabins back behind the main cabin. We're making trails around the property, and by dragging the logs behind the ATVs it quickly makes a nice smooth trail.

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[NightTrain]

This trail is only about 2 hours old.

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[NightTrain]

Back behind the cabin about 100 yards, the site of one of the new cabins.

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[NightTrain]

...and the other site where my brother Jim wants to build his. This is typical foliage for the area, and you can see how easily a bear can get within a few feet of you without you even knowing he's there... that's why dogs are an important part of being safe, along with having plenty of firepower should you run across a rogue bear.

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[NightTrain]

Fireworks were banned this year due to very dry conditions, so all the fireworks stands were closed.

So, we went with explosives instead! This 2-pound Tannerite was impressive... when it exploded, it felt like someone hit me in the chest with a sledgehammer. Anyone else played with Tannerite? I'm actually kind of surprised that normal people can buy these without restrictions with the nanny state we have going these days.

Anyway, you shoot this with a high-speed rifle and it explodes. I have a video of it going off, but it doesn't do it justice.

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[NightTrain]

Shooting the Tannerite in front of the cabin. We used a .300 Win Mag to do the honors.

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[NightTrain]

Madison getting instructions on how to fire the AR-15 for the first time.

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[NightTrain]

And my son Tanner firing the AR-15.

He really wants to shoot my .375, but even though he's a big 12 year old kid, I'm going to wait til he's about 15... that baby kicks like a mule and I can only shoot it twice before I've had enough.

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[darin]

That's such great stuff, NT!

If you'd wanna learn to make your own tannerite, lemme know - I have a few successfull batches :)

[NightTrain]

That's such great stuff, NT!

If you'd wanna learn to make your own tannerite, lemme know - I have a few successfull batches :)


Hell yeah! Lay it on me, Darin. That stuff is a lot of fun to shoot.

I'm flying to Bethel right now and possibly King Salmon after, so it might be a couple of days before I'm back online.

[darin]

Hell yeah! Lay it on me, Darin. That stuff is a lot of fun to shoot.

I'm flying to Bethel right now and possibly King Salmon after, so it might be a couple of days before I'm back online.

Hey - just thinking - if I mailed you some money, could you smoke a salmon and mail it back? :)

[BJ_WA]

Thanks for the great pictures and tutorial. I've not been to Talkeetna in many years. My brother and I flew up and around the Moose's Tooth in the most incredible flight I've ever been a part of. He used to be chief pilot for K2 and fly climbers to the base camp. We were always going to go back and fish his grayling spots but it never happened. I've yet to add greying to my list of fish caught.

[jimnyc]

Awesome pics!! I'm always so jealous when I see you guys off to the cabin. I'm starting to play the pick 3 and 4 again in addition to the mega millions. :)

[NightTrain]

Hey - just thinking - if I mailed you some money, could you smoke a salmon and mail it back? :)


I can mail you a jar of some smoked Salmon... we don't have any yet, but remind me in a month. And, no, money isn't necessary.


Now, about that Tannerite recipe...

[jimnyc]

I imagine a dumb question, but how good is salmon? What other fish would you compare it to, taste wise?

[NightTrain]

Thanks for the great pictures and tutorial. I've not been to Talkeetna in many years. My brother and I flew up and around the Moose's Tooth in the most incredible flight I've ever been a part of. He used to be chief pilot for K2 and fly climbers to the base camp. We were always going to go back and fish his grayling spots but it never happened. I've yet to add greying to my list of fish caught.

I've flown with K2 a few times, back in the day. They make bank with the tourists wanting to fly up to Denali (Mt. McKinley) and of course the hordes of climbers, especially the Japanese - it's a real cultural badge of honor in Japan to have been on that mountain, for some reason.

Funny thing about the Grayling population... we haven't seen any of them in the last few years in the Talkeetna, and there's always been a decent amount equal to the Rainbows and Dolly Varden. We were just talking about their absence last weekend and no one knows why they've disappeared. The Fairbanks area has been strict on releasing them for a few years now, so their decline isn't just a local thing.

[NightTrain]

I imagine a dumb question, but how good is salmon? What other fish would you compare it to, taste wise?

I can send you some when I mail Darin some, and you can see for yourself!

I don't think there's really any other fish that tastes like it - salmon is high in oil content, the highly sought after ones (like Copper River Reds) are especially prized because they're higher in content than other runs. Not to say that it's oily, it isn't, but you really have to screw up a salmon to make it dry.

[Kathianne]

I imagine a dumb question, but how good is salmon? What other fish would you compare it to, taste wise?
If you like fish, you'll love salmon. Are you saying you've never had before? Really can't screw it up.

[jimnyc]

I can send you some when I mail Darin some, and you can see for yourself!

I don't think there's really any other fish that tastes like it - salmon is high in oil content, the highly sought after ones (like Copper River Reds) are especially prized because they're higher in content than other runs. Not to say that it's oily, it isn't, but you really have to screw up a salmon to make it dry.

Surely, no doubt!! I'll try anything once, well...


If you like fish, you'll love salmon. Are you saying you've never had before? Really can't screw it up.

Never had any! I'm not a huge fish fan. I grew up loving the 'cheesewich' sandwich from Arthur Treacher's!! :) Lobster never impressed me, I like crab a little more, and a love shrimp cocktail!! As for fish... maybe fluke or flounder. Most of the time I prefer fish to be deep fried. My wife makes tilapia which isn't so bad.

[BJ_WA]

Farmed raised Atlantic salmon should be available in any super market in New York. I read, recently, where it is the salmon most chefs like to use because it's quality and price is relatively constant. With that said, you can't beat a salmon caught in Alaska or the Pac NW. I smoke cook salmon in a Weber with alder or plum for smoke and make a mustard and dill sauce for the side. I'm not much for rubs on salmon either. In the next few days I'll book a trip to Wesport for salmon and rock fish. I'm about out of the local canned tuna and need some canned (and fresh) crab, as well.

I'll do salmon on the grill tonight, take a few, pictures, and show you how I do it.

I've got a Model 700 .300 Win. Mag. my uncle gave me for college graduation. It's taken a moose but not by me. I loaned it to a friend who shot one in Alberta with it. The moose was excellent eating, too. I think I'm passed moose hunting now. :-)


My brother flew for K2 in the 90's, BTW. He may have flown you. I know he said he flew a lot of Japanese and especially Japanese news crews on the Iditarod.

I know of a river in northern B.C. that's loaded with grayling and dollies but a bit of a drive. It would be rough camping with griz and no gun.

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

Surely, no doubt!! I'll try anything once, well...



Never had any! I'm not a huge fish fan. I grew up loving the 'cheesewich' sandwich from Arthur Treacher's!! :) Lobster never impressed me, I like crab a little more, and a love shrimp cocktail!! As for fish... maybe fluke or flounder. Most of the time I prefer fish to be deep fried. My wife makes tilapia which isn't so bad.
Here the grocery market in WalMart has wild caught salmon frozen(at least it did months ago). Salmon to me is ten times better than talipia.
And Salmon is very, very healthy to eat too. I have Riza bake mine to avoid the deep fry unhealthy negatives, but deep fried it tastes great.
Any great restaurant offering fish usually has Salmon on the menu. -Tyr

[Loralei]

Nice pictures you shared there, NightTrain.

:clap:

[Abbey Marie]

Surely, no doubt!! I'll try anything once, well...



Never had any! I'm not a huge fish fan. I grew up loving the 'cheesewich' sandwich from Arthur Treacher's!! :) Lobster never impressed me, I like crab a little more, and a love shrimp cocktail!! As for fish... maybe fluke or flounder. Most of the time I prefer fish to be deep fried. My wife makes tilapia which isn't so bad.

In the meantime, go to a nice restaurant and order Salmon! You won't regret it.

I doubt you will see a fried version, though. That would be a waste of an excellent fish.

[BJ_WA]

There are some recipes for fried salmon but one must be careful. I like it rare, too, especially fat slabs of Tyee.

Leftover salmon in wonderful in scrambled eggs, omelet, frittata or cold sandwich.

[Gunny]

This is Frost, Sharon's German Shepard, waiting for me to throw a stick for her. She's a great dog and is hell on wheels when it comes to chasing off bears. But she's getting old now, and her hips are really slowing her down... I have to lift her into the truck and into the boat these days.

My buddy Lee in the background fishing.

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I like the dog. Who's that ugly guy though? :)

[NightTrain]

I like the dog. Who's that ugly guy though? :)

That's Lee, a friend of mine. He went to high school with my little brother... pretty solid guy, has done quite a bit of hunt Guiding around the State and he knows what he's doing. His only shortcoming as an outdoorsman that I can see is his lack of river running expertise... I've taught him the basics, now he just needs to get out there and beat up his boat to complete his education - the hardest lessons are the best ones, you know. After he spends a few miserable hours dragging his boat inch by inch back to the deeper water to float it, he'll become much more cautious about gravel / sand bars.

Not to mention buying a new impeller and sleeve for his jet unit, those pricey little items reinforce those lessons nicely! :laugh: Everyone has to go through it though, just part of the drill.

[NightTrain]

Farmed raised Atlantic salmon should be available in any super market in New York. I read, recently, where it is the salmon most chefs like to use because it's quality and price is relatively constant. With that said, you can't beat a salmon caught in Alaska or the Pac NW. I smoke cook salmon in a Weber with alder or plum for smoke and make a mustard and dill sauce for the side. I'm not much for rubs on salmon either. In the next few days I'll book a trip to Wesport for salmon and rock fish. I'm about out of the local canned tuna and need some canned (and fresh) crab, as well.

According to all the 'fish snobs', the farmed salmon is not nearly as good as the wild salmon... and of course, the commercial fisherman all rail against farmed salmon.


I've got a Model 700 .300 Win. Mag. my uncle gave me for college graduation. It's taken a moose but not by me. I loaned it to a friend who shot one in Alberta with it. The moose was excellent eating, too. I think I'm passed moose hunting now. :-)

On Saturday when Lee and I were buzzing down the river in my boat, we came around a corner about 2 miles below the cabin and caught a moose swimming across. We could have spanked it on the ass with a paddle as we went by, unfortunately I was too busy steering around it to get a picture of it next to the boat and Lee was unprepared as well. That .300 Win Mag is a great rifle, it's taken a few moose. When my deceased brother's youngest son is of age, that's going to be his rifle.



My brother flew for K2 in the 90's, BTW. He may have flown you. I know he said he flew a lot of Japanese and especially Japanese news crews on the Iditarod.

Nope, I missed him, then. Last time I flew with K2 was to Sockeye Lake from Talkeetna back in the late '80s. Pretty stand-up outfit though, and they have a solid reputation for good equipment and excellent pilots.