Bethel Comes to Life

It’s amazing how much Bethel has come to life since the breakup of the river. It makes sense, since the river is the only way to get in/out of town (except by plane), but we never imagined how much hustle and bustle would come with a few ice chunks floating away.

All of a sudden, our quiet little grocery store is PACKED with people from nearby villages. We’re talking worse than Costco. On a Saturday afternoon. The day before a zombie apocalypse.

The Costco of bush Alaska

The river has been bustling too. Hydroplanes, barges, rafts, fishing boats, and commuter boats are floating by at all hours of the day and night.

First barge of the year

How to collect firewood for the winter when you live in the tundra: 1. Drive boat upriver to the mountains. 2. Build  raft of firewood logs. 3. Float back home.

Bethel's parking lots are not so much for cars

The fishing fever has also struck. Although we are still waiting for the first of the king salmon to arrive, (word on the street is they are about 9-10 days away), nets and rods are already in the water in case a few of them are exceptionally fast swimmers.

This morning, the latest fishing buzz was that the smelt were coming in. Everyone was down at the seawall with nets in the water, so we decided to join the party.

Brandon's first catch of the day

My first catch of the day. 

And so its official – we caught our first fish in Alaska (: