My Experience: Gretchen Kelley
My Experience
Off season, I’m usually sipping on a Diet Pepsi while typing out a paper for one of my IT college classes or making a TikTok video (@Gretchlyn). During the season, you can usually catch me in the VacPac department, at the end of any machine, checking for the seals. While I’m checking on seals, depending on who has control of the radio, I’m also dancing or contemplating about life.
How did I stumble upon Leader Creek? Well before I would eventually drop out of WSU for personal reasons, I saw a little recruiting flyer walking out of the WSU library. I honestly just decided to apply, as I’ve never been to Alaska and just wanted to see what it was about. I was eventually hired on for the 2013 summer, which was a time before the smocks and the hand washing station, those were dark times. I was first assigned to the packing department, and while I was rotated around, my main station was collecting the VacPac salmon fillets and portions (before the portions were eventually discontinued.) That summer, instilled a great work ethic in me. Having such a good experience with LCF, the following year I went to Silver Bay as I wanted to work in a different part in Alaska, and let’s just say I won’t bring up that experience till a few days into straight 16-hour shifts. I eventually came back in 2016 to earn some money for myself while I lived with my grandpa.
If you did the math, I’m going on my 7th summer working up in Alaska, slinging sockeye. 6th summer with Leader Creek, and if I don’t jinx myself, going on 5 summers in the VacPac department. My co-workers are always surprised on how many summers I’ve been working at Leader Creek. Why do I keep coming back? The money and the people.
Like other people who come up, the occurring overtime and the 50 cent raise every time you return, adds up nicely. Earning around 5k after taxes, allowed me to have money during the rest of year so I could concentrate on my grandfather. Although since fall of 2018, I’ve since returned back to school at Central Washington University to work on my IT degree. In combination with my financial aid, Leader Creek allows me to afford to buy avocados for my toast, without having to work during the school year.
I know money isn’t everything, but it’s also the people. Leader Creek is like a second home to me. It’s like the weird but loveable family that I’ve always wanted. I’m an introverted Capricorn, so I tend to like to keep to myself and think about the future, how to budget the money I will earn, and can I afford another trip to Vegas? I actually spent half of my earnings from LCF in Vegas in 2016…. Despite being in my head sometimes, it’s also nice that I can talk to Rose. It’s also nice to be able to dance and sing with your leads and fellow coworkers to Party in the USA.
I graduate in Spring of 2021, so I’ll be sad and probably be crying that eventually I’ll have to say goodbye to my LCF family and work in my chosen field. I don’t regret giving up my summers and 4th of Julys to sling some fish. However, I’m not going to lie, my first year was a challenge. As I wasn’t prepared to run on 5 hours of sleep during grueling peak season 16-hour shifts, for a couple weeks straight. That year though, I kept pushing and showing up to work even though my feet hurt and my back ached. It gotten somewhat easier over the years and gave me one hell of a work-ethic. I highly recommend to everyone that they should work in a fish factory, especially at LCF at least once in their life.
Can’t wait to see you up there or see you at the airport terminal if you’re on the same flight as me! I don’t bite, so feel free to come find and talk to me during meals, breaks etc... Just bit of warning, if you’re assigned in the same department as me, don’t just make small talk with me, as I will get bored easily, but engage me with some interesting convos!
I Wish Someone Told Me This
For both returners and new employees, not only do I want to leave you with my experience and the reason why I love LCF. I also want to leave you with some packing tips & advice that I wish I was told, but had to learn on my own.
Packing Tips:
1. Load your laptop, tablet, and/or phone with offline games, movies, music etc… As before fish come in and when it slows down, you’ll be wanting something to do.
I personally have Sims on my laptop, as I love Sims. Then I load my phone with my iTunes music (which I’ve collected songs for years) and games I can play offline. There is Wi-Fi, which is great but it’s severely limited and you can get kicked off for using too much data (as 400+ people, limited data…yeah).
2. Bring lots of snacks! While LCF chefs create decent food and feed you pretty well, I highly advise you to bring snacks.
As snacks in Naknek are expensive! Like 9 bucks for a bag of the 8oz bag of Cheetos, which is normally like around 2 bucks on sale in Seattle. Since you are usually allowed 1 carry on and 1 checked bag (fees may vary, I live in Washington, so I usually never have to pay). I have been filling my carry on with snacks, as I can usually fill it for >40 bucks. The same 40 bucks, probably gets you 2 bags of chips and a couple bottle of sodas in Naknek. I also learned a trick to help save space, and add more snacks, is to combine snacks into one big Ziploc bag. Like instead of 3 bags of normal size Cheetos, combine it all into one Ziploc.
You could ship snacks and beverages to (don’t advise to bring), but it’s expensive. Carry-On is free though, just saying or an extra checked baggage is 25 bucks.
2. Bring a reusable water bottle!
I don’t recommend bringing drinks in your checked bag, as it might explode or leak… As laundry is only done once a week, unless you bring an offering of Boy Bawang or Chippys to persuade the laundry ladies to do your laundry when you arrive.
Staying hydrated is one of the keys to making through each season and not missing out on work. Trust me, while I do get a cold and cough at the end of each season, I never gotten the flu or missed a day of work.
3. Bring mosquito spray (unscented) or dryer sheets.
There are lots of mosquitoes in Naknek, and they will bite you! Can’t tell you how many times I’ve been bit each year. However, bringing unscented mosquito spray (as you’re working around food for consumption) or dryer sheets (strange but it works and I’ve gotten the tip from a former lead) will reduce the amount of bites you receive in Naknek.
4. Bring lotion!
Bring moisturizing lotion! As your feet and your hands will thank you, when you apply it before you go to bed.
5. Bring at least 8 pairs of socks, as you want socks to last you for about a week, including laundry day. You can bring more, if you want to change into dry socks midway through your shift.
6. Bring some cold medicine and vitamin c (pills, packets or gummies)!
As you are more than likely to get a cold or develop the Naknek cough, but taking vitamin C gummies throughout the season, helped so much! While I still caught the Naknek cough & cold at the end of the season, I only caught it once and it didn’t last as long.
7. Bring good hair ties!
Bring good hair ties, you can get some pretty good ones at Dollar Tree! If you have long hair, hair ties will help keeping your hair under the hair net!
Advice:
1. You are not in competition with your fellow employees. We’re all there to make money and sling fish. Don’t get injured trying to impress the anyone or feel like you have to be better than everyone.
2. You will be working 16-hour shifts, up to 3-4 weeks straight. It’s tough and it drains but what helps is:
Make friends and talk to your fellow employees!
I’m an introvert and I’m usually contemplating life choices during each shift, and it keeps me occupied. However, it also helps to talk your fellow employees as it makes the work enjoyable.
SLEEP!
I noticed if I sacrificed my sleep to go to the bar, it makes the 16 hour shifts a tad more grueling then they already are.
Forget about a diet!
One of the reasons I bring up so many snacks, is while the food is decent, I rather just go straight to my bunk and have a ho-ho or a handful of nuts, get ready for bed then sleep… So, I can maximize my sleep. However, since you’re working long hours, you need food. Don’t worry about a diet, I eat plenty and still lose weight every year. Granted I gain it back, because I go from working constantly to more sedentary. However, indulge in those cookies during break and you MUST indulge in the wonderful deserts that the kitchen crew make during dinner. Although the kitchen crew makes pretty good salads too!
3. Have your fun when you arrive and after!
Before 16-hour shifts start, please do get your rest! Yet, explore Naknek and see the wonderful beauty of the bay. Go have fun and meet your fellow workmates. Go to the break room and play some games, go the Inn (next to the Bunkhouse) and play some pool or ping pong. If you’re over 21, get a margarita or a beer at the bar while we’re waiting for the fish to come in. Don’t go to the bar when we’re in full swing, as you’ll need a good night’s sleep before straight 16s start. You’ll also be more productive if you get more then 2-3 hours of sleep.