On this episode of Mountain Money, hosts Roger Goldman and Kevin Kennedy speak with local author, former professional skier, and Hollywood assistant director Mark Vance about his debut memoir, The Commercial Fishermen: A True Story of Identical Twins in the World's Most Dangerous Profession - The Boom and Bust Fishery of Bristol Bay, Alaska.
Just five days after graduating from Park City High School in 1980, Mark and his identical twin brother Malcolm were shipped north to Alaska by their parents to go to work. What began as a plan to tame two rambunctious teenagers blossomed into a remarkable 45-season career navigating the unpredictable and extreme world of commercial fishing in Bristol Bay, Alaska.
Mark reflects on the high-stakes gamble that defines commercial salmon fishing, where seasons are won or lost in chaotic, fast-paced windows dictated by the tides and state regulators. He details the extreme sleep deprivation, mechanical breakdowns, and intense physical demands of managing a boat in one of the most productive wild salmon fisheries on Earth. The conversation also explores how the industry evolved over four decades, and Mark shares stories of life off the deck and the tight-knit, rustic communities that define rural Alaska, painting a vivid portrait of a unique American labor subculture.
