Author Topic: Alaska Master Thread  (Read 189339 times)

Offline Something Fishy

  • Global Moderator
  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • **********
  • Join Date: Jan 2011
  • Posts: 8707
  • Total likes: 6069
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 44
    • View Profile
    • Kosher Horizons
  • Location: Iceland
Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #240 on: July 17, 2013, 01:41:29 AM »
I'm heading out there tomorrow. SF thanks for all the help. I don't know how I could have done it without you.

We are packing everything but the kitchen sink now. My packing list is a mile long. Frozen dinners, pot, electric burner, etc.

We'll be in ANC for Shabbos, as of now seems like heading to Chabad for the meals. They said that Salmon was on the menu and earlier in this thread people found that the Star-K is not recommending wild salmon bc of anisakis...how do I approach that?

Enjoy and good luck! Hopefully you'll have nicer weather than I did :'(. Don't forget the Toursaver book!

Re. salmon maybe ask them if it's wild caught or farmed? Although I can't see why they should sell farmed in AK at all.
Check out my site for epic kosher adventures: Kosher Horizons

Offline yehuda S

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Gold Elite
  • ******
  • Join Date: Jul 2011
  • Posts: 764
  • Total likes: 11
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #241 on: July 17, 2013, 02:09:30 AM »
Enjoy and good luck! Hopefully you'll have nicer weather than I did :'(. Don't forget the Toursaver book!
Denali is showing light snow for Sunday so I don't know about that..But hopefully.

Don't forget the Toursaver book!
Don't worry, It's already packed.

So, any final suggestions?


Re. salmon maybe ask them if it's wild caught or farmed? Although I can't see why they should sell farmed in AK at all.
I guess I'll have to but that will probably feel awkward.

Work is what you do between vacations.

Offline Something Fishy

  • Global Moderator
  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • **********
  • Join Date: Jan 2011
  • Posts: 8707
  • Total likes: 6069
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 44
    • View Profile
    • Kosher Horizons
  • Location: Iceland
Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #242 on: July 17, 2013, 02:16:59 AM »
So, any final suggestions?

Pack it in. You could sleep when you get home ;).
Check out my site for epic kosher adventures: Kosher Horizons

Offline yehuda S

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Gold Elite
  • ******
  • Join Date: Jul 2011
  • Posts: 764
  • Total likes: 11
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #243 on: July 17, 2013, 02:20:46 AM »
Pack it in. You could sleep when you get home ;).
Can you tell me what you did re: davening shachris? for zmanim and direction faced...
Work is what you do between vacations.

Offline Something Fishy

  • Global Moderator
  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • **********
  • Join Date: Jan 2011
  • Posts: 8707
  • Total likes: 6069
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 44
    • View Profile
    • Kosher Horizons
  • Location: Iceland
Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #244 on: July 17, 2013, 02:24:13 AM »
Can you tell me what you did re: davening shachris? for zmanim and direction faced...

Shachris first thing in the morning, usually about 7-8. Mincha right before bed (12-1), maariv I woke up for about 2:30, which was the "darkest" part of the night. For direction I simply faced east (maybe a bit southeast).
Check out my site for epic kosher adventures: Kosher Horizons

Offline Fan of Dan

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: May 2011
  • Posts: 3029
  • Total likes: 8
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #245 on: July 17, 2013, 02:26:49 AM »
Have a safe trip enjoy.

Offline henche

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: May 2011
  • Posts: 4183
  • Total likes: 447
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #246 on: July 17, 2013, 08:58:38 AM »


Re. salmon maybe ask them if it's wild caught or farmed? Although I can't see why they should sell farmed in AK at all.

no chance of farmed salmon in AK

Offline Dan

  • Administrator
  • Dansdeals Lifetime 50K Diamond Elite
  • **********
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 67598
  • Total likes: 16909
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 16442
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: CLE
  • Programs: UA GS, AA EXP, DL Dirt, Hyatt Glob, Fairmont Lifetime Plat, DD Diamond, Blocked By @NeriaKraus
Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #247 on: July 17, 2013, 11:00:03 AM »
I guess I'll have to but that will probably feel awkward.
I'd be up-front about it.  If it is wild then email them the Star-K stuff and ask them if they know otherwise or have another psak.

They wouldn't do it without a good basis.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline henche

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: May 2011
  • Posts: 4183
  • Total likes: 447
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #248 on: July 17, 2013, 02:27:04 PM »
I'd be up-front about it.  If it is wild then email them the Star-K stuff and ask them if they know otherwise or have another psak.

They wouldn't do it without a good basis.

Also, I love the greenbergs. Almost as nice as my chabad at harvard.

Offline yehuda S

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Gold Elite
  • ******
  • Join Date: Jul 2011
  • Posts: 764
  • Total likes: 11
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #249 on: July 17, 2013, 03:33:59 PM »
Thanks. I'm going to get in touch with them about the salmon.

Work is what you do between vacations.

Offline yehuda S

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Gold Elite
  • ******
  • Join Date: Jul 2011
  • Posts: 764
  • Total likes: 11
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #250 on: July 24, 2013, 11:40:21 PM »
Well, I'm back.  ;D That was fun!
Work is what you do between vacations.

Offline Achas Veachas

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jul 2012
  • Posts: 4399
  • Total likes: 114
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
    • View Profile
    • Torah && Tech
Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #251 on: July 25, 2013, 08:34:15 AM »
TROIDH ;D

Offline yehuda S

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Gold Elite
  • ******
  • Join Date: Jul 2011
  • Posts: 764
  • Total likes: 11
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #252 on: July 25, 2013, 12:22:11 PM »
It happened. Trust me, it happened.
Work is what you do between vacations.

Offline Achas Veachas

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jul 2012
  • Posts: 4399
  • Total likes: 114
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
    • View Profile
    • Torah && Tech
Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #253 on: July 25, 2013, 12:35:15 PM »
Lol I'm kidding! Good to have you back and I'm sure you had a blast. :)

Offline yehuda S

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Gold Elite
  • ******
  • Join Date: Jul 2011
  • Posts: 764
  • Total likes: 11
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #254 on: July 26, 2013, 04:50:43 PM »
I'd be up-front about it.  If it is wild then email them the Star-K stuff and ask them if they know otherwise or have another psak.

They wouldn't do it without a good basis.

Here's what happened about the fish. I contacted Rabbi Greenberg who sent us this email from Rabbi Levi Feigelstock of the BCK Kosher in Vancouver Canada:

From Rabbi Feigelstock: "All Major Hechsheririm OU, BCK, Hisachdus, Volver, MK don't feel it's a shaila. We all eat salmon here. It is not only salmon that has this issue."

We weren't sure what to do so my wife asked a Rabbi from Brooklyn who advised us not to eat the wild salmon.

So we didn't. But there was plenty of other food to eat. We definitely did not go hungry. The Greenbergs were wonderful hosts and made us feel very welcome. They also had delicious food!

Subsequently, I emailed the cRc about the shaila and they responded: "The cRc has no halachic concern about those worms."

I guess you can take your pick.  :)

Here is an article on the subject: http://www.star-k.org/kashrus/kk-OpeningACanOfWorms.htm
Work is what you do between vacations.

Offline henche

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: May 2011
  • Posts: 4183
  • Total likes: 447
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #255 on: July 26, 2013, 05:07:25 PM »
Here's what happened about the fish. I contacted Rabbi Greenberg who sent us this email from Rabbi Levi Feigelstock of the BCK Kosher in Vancouver Canada:

From Rabbi Feigelstock: "All Major Hechsheririm OU, BCK, Hisachdus, Volver, MK don't feel it's a shaila. We all eat salmon here. It is not only salmon that has this issue."

We weren't sure what to do so my wife asked a Rabbi from Brooklyn who advised us not to eat the wild salmon.

So we didn't. But there was plenty of other food to eat. We definitely did not go hungry. The Greenbergs were wonderful hosts and made us feel very welcome. They also had delicious food!

Subsequently, I emailed the cRc about the shaila and they responded: "The cRc has no halachic concern about those worms."

I guess you can take your pick.  :)

Here is an article on the subject: http://www.star-k.org/kashrus/kk-OpeningACanOfWorms.htm

+1

Offline yehuda S

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Gold Elite
  • ******
  • Join Date: Jul 2011
  • Posts: 764
  • Total likes: 11
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #256 on: August 15, 2013, 12:58:01 AM »
Hi Everyone,

I wrote up a nice trip report but first:

There wasn't a ton of info on Alaska in this forum when SomethingFishy and I started planning our trips so I took some time to write up some technical notes about my trip. These are for people who want to or are planning to go to Alaska. I hope they help and feel free to ask me about things I may have missed. For the trip report, just skip the intro.

A very important note about the cost of this trip:

Soon after deciding on Alaska as a destination, we discovered one relevant factoid: Alaska is a VERY expensive trip to make. The airfare is (or can be) expensive, the hotels are expensive, the food is expensive, the rental cars are VERY expensive, the activities are expensive. Since places are very spread out the cost of gas (which is expensive) can quickly add up.

However, I had booked tickets a year ago during which I did my best to cut costs wherever possible. Here is what the different things ended up costing me:

$880 for two tickets - PHL-SEA-ANC via the icelandair/Alaska air deal.

35,000 SPG points for six nights at the Sheraton Anchorage. This would have cost us $1500.sheratonanchorage.com

$400 for a one week car rental (Toyota Highlander) at Avis. I played around with the Avis website a lot and the cheapest was picking up the car in downtown Anchorage and then dropping it off at the airport.

$130 for a room at the Hotel Seward - hotelsewardalaska.com.

$110 for a room at the Denali Mountain Morning Hostel  -- denalihostel.com.

For activities, DDFer SomethingFishy and I split the Toursaver coupon book ($99 toursaver.com). I used two coupons.

$50 for the Toursaver coupon book.

$150 for a buy one get one free Prince William Sound cruise majormarine.com).

$300 for a buy one get one free Summit Tour of Mt. McKinley from talkeetna aero services (talkeetnaaero.com) (reg $600 for 2).

$258 for ice climbing on the Matanuska glacier for two with MICA guides micaguides.com

app. $90 for two seats on the 11 hour Wonder Lake bus into Denali National Park.

  --- We saved $400 using the toursaver coupon book. ---

App $300 for gas - though I think it was even more.

$150 for night and day meals for two at the Chabad in Anchorage - lubavitch.com/centers/detail.html?id=389.

Plus some money for random drinks/food/souvenirs/clothes/supplies and gear for the trip.

Total about $2,800 plus 35,000 points. Wow. Writing it up now, it just seems like a ton of money. And we tried to be frugal. The part that made it easier was buying the airfare a year in advance.

My wife and I love travelling and we trade off a lot of other things to be able to support it. I guess some couples might feel lost without a nice bedroom set, but we'd rather spend the money exploring the world.

A note about food:

The idea of bringing la-briut meals sounded less than tempting so instead my wife made several meat meals, and froze them together with their side dishes. We brought along a stick free pan and a single burner. This meant that after a long day we could come back to our room and cook up a hot homemade meat dinner. It was amazing although making sure that the food stayed frozen was an effort. She also made a big bag of homemade granola which we ate as cereal with almond milk that we purchased there. Of course the huge beautiful Safeway/Carrs supermarkets in Alaska with plenty of kosher food meant that we would never go very hungry.

A note about the pictures:

A few months ago, per SomethingFishy's recommendation, I purchased a Panasonic Lumix GX-1 along with an 14-45 wide angle lens. I almost went with just that but thankfully, in the end I rented a 45-200 zoom lens from atsrentals.com for $44. I was very happy with their service. My only regret is not ordering an even longer lens. I really needed the zoom lens, I wouldn't have gotten all my most amazing pictures without it.

A note for people going to Alaska and considering going by cruise ship:

I had a conversation with a woman recently, who had gone on a cruise to Alaska and she felt being on the cruise she had missed out on the best parts. I didn't take the cruise so I can't compare, but let's just say that I don't feel the way she did. Perhaps the only thing I regret about going was coming back  :D

If you decide to go to Alaska, think very long and hard about taking this once in a lifetime trip stuck on a floating carnival casino with a bunch of city slickers. The boat will take you on shore to the same tourist traps that exist in every touristy destination in the world. The real Alaska is beyond the shores in the rugged wilderness far outside the bubble of a floating hotel. So grab that mothballed backpack from deep in your coat closet, shake it out and strap it on. Alaska awaits.

I did it, and so can you.

And now...
Work is what you do between vacations.

Offline Racer7400

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Dec 2012
  • Posts: 379
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: Lakewood NJ
Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #257 on: August 15, 2013, 01:14:38 AM »
Sounds great so far can't wait for the actual report. Thanx for taking the time to write up all this info.

Offline yehuda S

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Gold Elite
  • ******
  • Join Date: Jul 2011
  • Posts: 764
  • Total likes: 11
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #258 on: August 15, 2013, 11:25:57 AM »
Does anyone know why the technical notes that put up last night disappeared?  ???

 >:(
Work is what you do between vacations.

Offline Racer7400

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Dec 2012
  • Posts: 379
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: Lakewood NJ
Re: Alaska Master Thread
« Reply #259 on: August 15, 2013, 02:29:02 PM »
Does anyone know why the technical notes that put up last night disappeared?  ???

 >:(
no idea, but I but I was hoping to use some of that info when I am able to set up a trip to Alaska so I hope it's not completely lost.