You might want to use the earplugs

In the spring of 2015 I decided to take a sabbatical. I quit a steady IT job, traveled to Peru, and in late May found myself landing in Bristol Bay on a small plane armed with plenty of old clothes, wool socks, and my trusty Midwest work ethic to see what life on the other side of a 9-5 would hold. It was terrifying.

I was well informed about long days working in the plant, what I should bring and expect, but as a first-timer you're still gonna be a little clueless. My boyfriend at the time had worked there and I had pretty good idea, but still, this was totally new to me. Over the next two weeks I helped anywhere and everywhere needed; there was office work, scrubbing roe baskets, A LOT of painting, and I got to help demo a trailer. Who knew taking a sledgehammer to a wall could be so enjoyable? Also, do yourself a favor and pack plenty of ibuprofen :)

When it came time to where I would work in the plant, I was assigned to Shipping (which btw is one of the coldest places to be). I'm thinking, %$#@ game over, I hate the cold, my hands and feet are always freezing even in the summer so how am I going to plow through this for 16 hours a day?! Not one to complain, I quickly ordered 2 Buffs to keep my face and neck warm, plus a few weeks worth of toe warmers (thank you Amazon Prime). By changing out my socks/liners each break and supplementing with toe warmers I was able to make it come together. And I LOVED it.  Although “just above freezing” is not my ideal working environment, I discovered that I thrive in a bit of peak-season, 16 hours a day mayhem and I never wanted it to end.  

It did eventually end, as all salmon runs do, but the sweet, lingering numbness of my toes over the next two months until they returned to normal served as a constant reminder of my dedication.  Eventually back in Utah, I slipped back into the IT world like a comfortable sweater, and for the next year and a half I tried to make it work. I really did.  Side note: Surviving (and thriving) for a summer at a fishery in Alaska will bring you some major clout when applying for future jobs.

Now fast forward a few years. One summer eventually turned into four, and while my roles within the Leader Creek family have changed, it's difficult to put a thumb on exactly why I kept coming back. Part of it is having the gift of time during the off season to travel or relax. There’s also the new people you meet, and hearing music by the fire or at the Red Dog with friends. There is just something about it you can’t compare. It's a space hovering between dorm-life and reality television, chocked full of characters who have driven me mad, filled me with laughter, and changed the course of my life by simply hearing their own adventures and taking the leap for myself.  It’s never too late, so what are you waiting for?

—Victoria Kulick