Cordova, Alaska — Ben McBee Photo

Cordova

A reminder of whose land it really is.

A fish wheel, modeled after the traditional ones constructed by the Eyak and Ahtna peoples.

QO7A5670+copy copy.jpg

The mighty Copper River winds its way through the Chugach Mountains in Southern Alaska.

Harbor seals live and even thrive on the Copper River, following the migrating salmon over 30 miles from the ocean.

For "the Real Alaska Experience", you do your business in an outhouse in the forest.

Warm days dry out the top layer of the silt flats, and when the afternoon winds whip up, the result is massive silt storms.

Southern Alaska is rich with numerous species of wildflower.

Crew Jimmy Paley pulls a walloping king salmon out of the holding trough.

The crew prepares for the final leg of the journey to Baird Canyon.

After a safe trip, smiling faces abound.

A Chinook salmon is released after it's tagged and its information is recorded.

Chinook aren't the only species captured in the fish wheels. Here, a pair of sockeye salmon fall into the holding trough. A slit at the back of each trough allows these smaller fish to escape, while holding the larger king salmon.

When the sockeye salmon don't escape on their own, they are manually released.

Baird Camp headquarters.

Tenzi, the camp dog provides a little entertainment for the crew during some free time.

Because of the constantly fluctuating level of the Copper River, the crew often has to adjust the shoreline anchors to keep the wheels operating in the sweet spot. Too far from the shore and the wheel will miss most of the fish. Too close and it wil

A Chinook swims in the holding trough.

Jimmy Paley and Michael Orr prepare to load a Chinook into the handling trough, where a rubber basin and flowing water keep the fish secure and calm.

Electronic ID tags are inserted below the Chinook's dorsal fin. If the fish is recaptured upriver, its data will contribute to the success of the population monitoring program.

A particularly large Chinook is released after being tagged.

Tenzi stabilizes herself as the boat revs its engine.

Max Best gets a feel for the frigid glacial runoff.

The crew goes for a hike at the swimming hole during some free time.

A stretch of warm weather causes a glacial stream to rise quickly, flooding a goose's nest and its eggs.

Safety is always the utmost concern for the crew while they work on the fish wheels. The temperature of the Copper River and its swiftness would make falling into the water almost certainly fatal.

The crew unwinds on the beach with a fire and a "cuppa" after a long day of work.

Jimmy Paley does a little target practice at the silt flats.

Jimmy Paley enjoys a book while his rifle cools down.

The guys fish for a fresh sockeye salmon dinner.

Feast preparations courtesy of the Copper River.

Michael Orr and Max Best navigate the labyrinth of sand bars and treacherous waters of the Copper River during a silt storm.

Michael Orr sits where likely no one has ever sat, at the top of an uncharted mountain in the Chugach Range.

Where clear water streams meet the sediment laden Copper River, beautiful patterns swirl about.

A fish wheel, modeled after the traditional ones constructed by the Eyak and Ahtna peoples.

QO7A5670+copy copy.jpg

The mighty Copper River winds its way through the Chugach Mountains in Southern Alaska.

Harbor seals live and even thrive on the Copper River, following the migrating salmon over 30 miles from the ocean.

For "the Real Alaska Experience", you do your business in an outhouse in the forest.

Warm days dry out the top layer of the silt flats, and when the afternoon winds whip up, the result is massive silt storms.

Southern Alaska is rich with numerous species of wildflower.

Crew Jimmy Paley pulls a walloping king salmon out of the holding trough.

The crew prepares for the final leg of the journey to Baird Canyon.

After a safe trip, smiling faces abound.

A Chinook salmon is released after it's tagged and its information is recorded.

Chinook aren't the only species captured in the fish wheels. Here, a pair of sockeye salmon fall into the holding trough. A slit at the back of each trough allows these smaller fish to escape, while holding the larger king salmon.

When the sockeye salmon don't escape on their own, they are manually released.

Baird Camp headquarters.

Tenzi, the camp dog provides a little entertainment for the crew during some free time.

Musings.

Because of the constantly fluctuating level of the Copper River, the crew often has to adjust the shoreline anchors to keep the wheels operating in the sweet spot. Too far from the shore and the wheel will miss most of the fish. Too close and it wil

A Chinook swims in the holding trough.

Electronic ID tags are inserted below the Chinook's dorsal fin. If the fish is recaptured upriver, its data will contribute to the success of the population monitoring program.

A particularly large Chinook is released after being tagged.

Tenzi stabilizes herself as the boat revs its engine.

The crew goes for a hike at the swimming hole during some free time.

A stretch of warm weather causes a glacial stream to rise quickly, flooding a goose's nest and its eggs.

Safety is always the utmost concern for the crew while they work on the fish wheels. The temperature of the Copper River and its swiftness would make falling into the water almost certainly fatal.

The crew unwinds on the beach with a fire and a "cuppa" after a long day of work.

Jimmy Paley does a little target practice at the silt flats.

Jimmy Paley enjoys a book while his rifle cools down.

The guys fish for a fresh sockeye salmon dinner.

Feast preparations courtesy of the Copper River.

Michael Orr and Max Best navigate the labyrinth of sand bars and treacherous waters of the Copper River during a silt storm.

Michael Orr sits where likely no one has ever sat, at the top of an uncharted mountain in the Chugach Range.

I've visited the remote fishing village of Cordova, Alaska, three times in total and each and every time, I was awed by the beautiful world we live in. From standing in crystal clear streams teeming with spawning sockeye salmon to scaling a mountainside, where likely no human has ever set foot before, the memories I made and the people I met in the far north helped make me who I am today.