Alaska Treasure Chest

"I'd suggest ordering something other than salmon or halibut," said Chuck Smock of Cabela's as we pondered menu options at The Flying Machine restaurant for our last dinner in Alaska. We all laughed in agreement, knowing the four huge boxes in the hotel freezer contained more than a few meals of delightful Alaska salmon and halibut.

One of many great things about spending a week on Alaska's Kenai Peninsula is the opportunity to bring home a portion of the trip in the form of fresh fish. Our treasure chests each contained nearly 50 pounds of sockeye and king salmon and halibut, all vacuum sealed in serving-sized packages and frozen by Ninilchik Outfitters. Staying shy of 50 pounds spares "overweight" charges, and allows you to fly a box of fish all the way home for the cost of an extra checked bag.
From a practical standpoint, that's a lot of fine meals. It's more than a box of meat, though. When we enjoy a meal of halibut baked with garlic butter and chives, I'll think about Capt. Al's funny lines, Colin's cod-catching prowess, the thrill of detecting a telltale halibut pump and the painful but laughable futility of reeling up 4 pounds of lead from 193 feet to learn the bait was not stolen after all. Grilling salmon "on the halfshell" will remind me of Chuck's last casts with the fly rod, Daniel's refined flossing technique, John's relaxed posture as he watched us try to conquer a king and of course the countless fishermen who back-trolled together in amazing harmony.
I'll also remember the bears on the trail, sandwiches from the General Store (incluing the one the dog stole from John), humpback whales, the great tractor launch, 11:30 sunsets, snow-capped volcanoes, stories shared around the dinner table... And as my family enjoys the contents of the treasure chest, one meal at a time, I must remember to share an added taste of Alaska in the form of trip tales.