Alaska Master Thread

[Fan of Dan]

As expected:

From K2 Aviation
"Unfortunately both of our TourSaver slots have been filled for the morning of July 21st.  There is one Tour saver coupon that can be used on July 20th and both spots are open July 22nd.  If you have a group of four or more, you might look into the Northern lights coupon, which you can find on google.

I need to check out other options for flightseeing.

We used K2 aviation IIRC.

[ual902]

Any DDF Friends\Singles heading to AK this summer? would like to join a group or some friends for an Alaska trip.

[Something Fishy]

Seward / Whittier is at about 62 degrees of latitude, so according to this website there's a chance of seeing the northern lights during the summer if the auroral index is 3 or more (which happens quite often). Mind you there's only maybe 2 hours of complete darkness per night, but hey, you gotta hope .

http://www.gi.alaska.edu/AuroraForecast/SummerViewing

[Something Fishy]

I had the following conversation with the Star-K yesterday regarding fishing:

I will be going to Alaska in July and was thinking about fishing for salmon (king and/or sockeye). I was wondering if there are any issues in regards to eating it, as far as worms etc.
 
Thanks,
SF

We are not recommending wild salmon due to the anisakis. Perhaps in that area there aren’t anisakis, you’d have to research to determine.
Best Regards,

Rabbi Zvi Goldberg
Kashrus Administrator
Star-K Kosher Certification
www.star-k.org
www.kosherclasses.org
Phone 410-484-4110
Fax 410-653-9294

After a bit of Googling, I found this study from 2011 taken in Prince William Sound, showing that 100% of the salmon caught in Prince William Sound were infected with anisakis, and 90% of those had the parasite in parts of the edible flesh.

No fishing for me I guess .

[yehuda S]

I had the following conversation with the Star-K yesterday regarding fishing:

After a bit of Googling, I found this study from 2011 taken in Prince William Sound, showing that 100% of the salmon caught in Prince William Sound were infected with anisakis, and 90% of those had the parasite in parts of the edible flesh.

No fishing for me I guess .

Or me 

Thanks for researching and sharing this info. Much appreciated.

[yehuda S]

On another note, do you have your itinerary put together? If so, can you share it with us?

I'm still deciding if I want to splurge another $400 to go ice climbing on Exit Glacier.

[Fan of Dan]

Just curious what the Star K told you.

[Something Fishy]

On another note, do you have your itinerary put together? If so, can you share it with us?

Somehwat... Still figuring out some options.

Land ANC Sun. 1:30PM. Pick up RV and get settled. Drive to Walmart to stock up.
Spend the rest of the day driving down to Seward, taking it nice and slow. Stop at lookouts, etc. Take the Alyeska tram if the weather is nice (2 for 1 w/Toursaver). Want to do the Gridwood hand tram hike, but it's an 8-mile RT from the last place an RV could access., so probably not gonna happen. Camp in the Seward area.

Mon. - 7.5 hour Kenai Fjords cruise with Major Marine (2 for 1). Relax and explore Seward afterwards. Camp in either Seward or Miller's Landing.

Tue. - Half day Kayaking in the Seward area. Still didn't decide on an outfitter or trip, but it'll probably be Miller's Landing Tours. Hike Exit Glacier afterwards (probably not all of it, will probably be too sore and tired). Have reservations for the Williwaw campground on Portage Lake (on the way to Whittier).

Wed. - Very open at this point. Want to do ATVing and hiking in the Talkeetna area, but still working out the timing to see if it's possible at all.

Thu. - Some more hiking and driving. Depending on what I end up doing Wed., it'll probably be something in either the Talkeetna / Wassila area, or the Chugach National Forest area. Return RV by 6pm, and depart ANC at 9:25.

[Something Fishy]

Just curious what the Star K told you.

We are not recommending wild salmon due to the anisakis. Perhaps in that area there aren’t anisakis, you’d have to research to determine.
Best Regards,

Rabbi Zvi Goldberg
Kashrus Administrator
Star-K Kosher Certification
www.star-k.org
www.kosherclasses.org
Phone 410-484-4110
Fax 410-653-9294

[Fan of Dan]

Thought you discussed the halacha angle, not which fish are safe to eat 

[yehuda S]

Sounds great! Have you considered going biking one day? I've been thinking about it but I read that a lot of paths are gravel, making it a hard ride.

[Something Fishy]

Thought you discussed the halacha angle, not which fish are safe to eat 

According the the above report, as long as the fish are properly cooked there is no health hazard whatsoever. The only issue is halacha then, I guess.

[Something Fishy]

Sounds great! Have you considered going biking one day? I've been thinking about it but I read that a lot of paths are gravel, making it a hard ride.

My wife won't enjoy it.

How's your itinerary coming along?

[yehuda S]

My wife won't enjoy it.

How's your itinerary coming along?

Here's what I've got so far:

Arrive: Thurs at 1am, get to the hotel in ANC. Wake up early, pick up car rental from around the corner and head to Whittier, (maybe stopping at that store that sells kosher food) for (2 for 1) PWS Surprise glacier tour. I need to book a cabin or something in the area for that night.

Fri: Still debating between an Exit Glacier hike, climb or just another activity such as kayaking or biking around Seward. Head back to ANC for Shabbos, davening and maybe eating at Chabad.

Shabbos: Well, Shabbos!

Sunday: Head out early towards Talkeetna and take the Summit flight to the top of Mt. Mckinley (2 for 1). Then head up to Denali and our reserved cabin.

Monday: Take the shuttle bus into Denali hopefully up to Wonder Lake. (Something like an 11 hr drive). Then head back to ANC.

Tuesday: Nothing scheduled but probably something local as our flight is that night.

I still need to figure out how much/what type of clothing to bring. Also I was debating about the kayaking, wondering if the water might be freezing cold. Also I need to get a pair of binoculars.

[Something Fishy]

maybe stopping at that store that sells kosher food

Which store is that? In ANC?

Also I was debating about the kayaking, wondering if the water might be freezing cold. Also I need to get a pair of binoculars.

The water will be freezing cold. But you won't get too wet while kayaking (unless it's raining). Most outfitters provide rubber boots and gloves, and all provide a spray skirt, which will seal the opening of the kayak cockpit all around you. And if it rains, most places also provide rain gear, I think.

I don't think you have to worry about it.

And FWIW, Major Marine provides free binoculars on board all their cruises.

[yehuda S]

Which store is that? In ANC?

Kosher Food and Dairy In Alaska
Natural Pantry Store In Anchorage
Natural Pantry is an excellent natural-foods supermarket in Anchorage with a kosher foods section, and just a 10-minute walk from the synagogue and Residence Inn l (3801 Old Seward Hwy, near the intersection of Old Seward Ave. and 36th Ave).
Natural Pantry provides a great kosher service: You can pick up microwavable, frozen kosher dinners and a disposable Styrofoam cooler to take to Denali or other spots where it's easy to warm up meals. Call ahead (907-770-1444) to speak with Vicki, Natural Pantry's owner. She'll tell you what's available, and set things aside for you. In addition to frozen dinners, Natural Pantry usually carries:
Empire cold cuts, frankfurters, turkey, chicken, chicken and turkey pot pies, Meal Mart frozen meals, J2 frozen pizzas, Tillamook cheddar cheese, blintzes, cream cheese, smoked mozzarella cheese, puddings and snacks, frozen whole grain Pas Yisrael bread.
Frozen unbaked Kineret brand Challah (check availability).
Kedem Grape Juice.

Take from: http://www.alaska.org/advice/kosher-travel-in-alaska

[yehuda S]

Not too shabby, huh?   

[henche]

Somehwat... Still figuring out some options.

Land ANC Sun. 1:30PM. Pick up RV and get settled. Drive to Walmart to stock up.
Spend the rest of the day driving down to Seward, taking it nice and slow. Stop at lookouts, etc. Take the Alyeska tram if the weather is nice (2 for 1 w/Toursaver). Want to do the Gridwood hand tram hike, but it's an 8-mile RT from the last place an RV could access., so probably not gonna happen. Camp in the Seward area.

Mon. - 7.5 hour Kenai Fjords cruise with Major Marine (2 for 1). Relax and explore Seward afterwards. Camp in either Seward or Miller's Landing.

Tue. - Half day Kayaking in the Seward area. Still didn't decide on an outfitter or trip, but it'll probably be Miller's Landing Tours. Hike Exit Glacier afterwards (probably not all of it, will probably be too sore and tired). Have reservations for the Williwaw campground on Portage Lake (on the way to Whittier).

Wed. - Very open at this point. Want to do ATVing and hiking in the Talkeetna area, but still working out the timing to see if it's possible at all.

Thu. - Some more hiking and driving. Depending on what I end up doing Wed., it'll probably be something in either the Talkeetna / Wassila area, or the Chugach National Forest area. Return RV by 6pm, and depart ANC at 9:25.

Looks pretty good.

[henche]

Here's what I've got so far:

Arrive: Thurs at 1am, get to the hotel in ANC. Wake up early, pick up car rental from around the corner and head to Whittier, (maybe stopping at that store that sells kosher food) for (2 for 1) PWS Surprise glacier tour. I need to book a cabin or something in the area for that night.

Fri: Still debating between an Exit Glacier hike, climb or just another activity such as kayaking or biking around Seward. Head back to ANC for Shabbos, davening and maybe eating at Chabad.

Shabbos: Well, Shabbos!

Sunday: Head out early towards Talkeetna and take the Summit flight to the top of Mt. Mckinley (2 for 1). Then head up to Denali and our reserved cabin.

Monday: Take the shuttle bus into Denali hopefully up to Wonder Lake. (Something like an 11 hr drive). Then head back to ANC.

Tuesday: Nothing scheduled but probably something local as our flight is that night.

I still need to figure out how much/what type of clothing to bring. Also I was debating about the kayaking, wondering if the water might be freezing cold. Also I need to get a pair of binoculars.

cool.

Water will def be cold if you are planning to go up near the glaciers, and probably anyway. Ask the outfitters what they recommend, and they probably rent wetsuits if that is what is recommended.

[henche]

Also, have I not mentioned that I loved the chabad folks there, the Greenbergs. Although, it is definitely a tourist area chabad, and shabbos meals cost about 80 bucks a person for both meals.