We left Fairbanks yesterday morning headed south to Chitina (pronounced Chit-na).  Through Little Roy Lewis (of the first family of bluegrass-gospel music-The Lewis Family) Richard met a man who lives in Homer, Alaska.  Lyle recently turned 92 years old.  He and some other men go dipnetting in the Cooper River area of Alaska as part of the residents-only subsistence tradition.

Subsistence is the customary traditional uses of wild resourses for Alaskan Indians and local residents to allow them to stock their freezers for winter.  In the case of dipnetting for salmon, the head of household is allowed 25 fish with each other member of the household being allowed 10.  A family of four would be allowed 55 fish.  That sounds like a lot, but I’m told it isn’t.  In addition to fish, they are allowed approximately 375 (this may not be exactly right, but it is in the neighborhood) pounds of fish and game per person per year.  People on the subsistence program use their catches and kills in every way possible–food, clothing, trading (seal oil), crafts (ivory, fur).

Dipnets can be up to 5 feet across, the bag can only be 1/2 the size of the opening, and the mesh can be no larger than 4 1/2 inches wide.  The dipnetter stands in water up to his chest and scoops out salmon. 

By now you are probably wondering what this has to do with us since we are neither Native nor resident.  Well, 92 year-old Lyle invited our 3 fearless men to join him and his gang on the Chitina/Copper River (not sure which one they will actually fish from) to watch the men dipnet and experience a tradition of Alaska.  Richard, Tom, and Jack left us this afternoon to go on a sleepover on cots in tents in 40-something degree weather.  This should be interesting.  ) 

Carole, Jeannie and I drove 25 miles to the town of Copper River to a Princess Cruise Line’s lodge I had stayed in a few years ago when we took a guided trip through Alaska.  I remember the beautiful sight from the lobby looking out at the Wrangell-St. Elias mountains.  We ate lunch in the grill, took a short walk out to an overlook.  Visited the gift shop.  We also went to a roadhouse and museum in the town of Copper River.  We came back to the motor homes and took a long nap.  We forced ourselves (believe me that is a joke) to walk across the parking lot to the campground/hotel diner for dinner.  We then did our 20 minute walk along a path and tried to recognize the wildlife feet prints along the way. 

Tune in tomorrow for my report on our big, brave fishermen’s excusion.  Until then, keep them in your prayers that they did not become FISHED men as they were pulled from the raging water of the most dangerous river in Alaska.

Until later, Dolores and Richard 

1.) Wrangell-St. Elias Mountain Range

2.)  Jeannie and Carole

3.)  More Wrangell-St. Elias Mountain Range