Climbing Mount Cam to "hunt" for crabs and snails.

Crab fishing on Mount Cam

Going "crab fishing"

Cam Mountain crabs have a distinctive purple shell. Some, when they reach a size larger than three fingers, will have a layer of hair on their backs, giving them a rather fierce appearance. In fact, they are indeed quite aggressive. Therefore, catching them by hand requires experience; otherwise, you'll likely get hurt by their large, strong claws.

Because mountain crabs are aggressive and mostly hide in deep rock crevices, they must be caught using fishing rods. The fishing rod for mountain crabs is a curved bamboo branch with a bunch of rubber bands tied to the end. The challenge is to make the rubber bands resemble bait in order to "lure" the crabs to bite the hook.

Having lived on Mount Cam since childhood, Le Gia Giang is no stranger to mountain crabs. For him, it's a childhood favorite. Every time the rainy season arrives, the mountains and forests seem to awaken with flowers and plants sprouting, and the streams gurgling. That's when Giang knows it's time to catch mountain crabs.

“About 20 years ago, mountain crabs were very common. When it rained, they would crawl all over the gardens, yards, and into people's houses. Back then, people would catch them to boil and eat as a snack, rather than selling them. It wasn't until tourists started coming here in large numbers, and they praised the crabs as delicious, that word spread, and mountain crabs became a local specialty. In terms of preparation, mountain crabs can be boiled like freshwater crabs or stir-fried with tamarind, which is also quite tasty. Tourists especially like stir-fried mountain crabs with tamarind, because of the unique sweet and sour taste and the aroma of the crab meat,” Mr. Giang said honestly.

Currently, only the areas around Vo Ba, Vo Dau, or along the lakes and large streams on Mount Cam have abundant mountain crabs. Professional crab fishermen have to wait until the rainy season to catch 2-3 kg per day, as crabs are becoming increasingly scarce. The price of crabs at the beginning of the season is also very high, around 320,000-350,000 VND/kg, but they are always in high demand. He himself only goes crabbing when friends from afar come to visit, because he wants to preserve the number of this "specialty" species. Those who fish for crabs on Mount Cam only catch crabs that are ready to eat. Smaller crabs or female crabs carrying eggs are released back into nature...

Mountain snails are also a specialty of the highlands.

Mountain snail season

Along with mountain crabs, mountain snails are also considered a delicacy, sought after by diners from near and far when visiting Mount Cam during the rainy season. However, unlike mountain crabs, which have a similar appearance to their counterparts in the lowlands, mountain snails have a distinct "look." They have a white, slightly flattened body with black or milky white striped shells. During the dry season, mountain snails hide under the foliage of trees and in rock crevices. When the rain comes, they crawl out to bask in the fresh air and forage for food. At that time, they transform into a delicacy.

To catch mountain snails, the people of Cam Mountain wait until nightfall, then grab buckets and flashlights and head to the gardens. They search under layers of dry leaves, observe in rock crevices or water channels to find mountain snails. The plump snails, after months of lying dormant underground, slowly crawl out to forage and are hunted. On nights when the snails are abundant, catching 2-3 kg is commonplace.

According to Mr. Tran Van Giau (a specialist in catching mountain snails), this type of snail mainly feeds on plants and medicinal herbs on Mount Cam, so its flavor is very delicious, and people also believe that the snail meat has medicinal properties. Therefore, from being a simple, rustic dish, mountain snails have become a sought-after delicacy. The current price is over 300,000 VND/kg, but the supply is insufficient.

Mr. Giàu revealed that to enjoy the best mountain snails, people have to keep them fresh for a few days before cooking. Because these creatures live mixed with soil and sand, the storage process helps them release impurities. Afterward, they soak the mountain snails in rice water mixed with chili peppers to remove further impurities before cooking. Mountain snails can be prepared in many ways, but the best are boiled with lemongrass, boiled with fermented rice, boiled with pandan leaves, stir-fried with garlic, or stir-fried with chili sauce… because these methods preserve the snails' natural, delicious flavor.

Now, the number of mountain snails is limited, so the people of Mount Cam have to wait until the "heavy" rains to catch a lot, because everyone wants to save some for the next season. For those who don't specialize in catching mountain snails to sell, they only spend time finding a few dozen to have a mountain delicacy to treat friends who visit. Mountain snails have a smell similar to freshwater rice snails, with chewy and fatty meat. Through the hands of mountain chefs, they become incredibly attractive, awakening the taste buds of diners from afar. "Mountain crabs and snails are naturally occurring species; I haven't seen anyone raise them. Therefore, we should exploit them in moderation, so that we can save some for the future, so that tourists who come to Mount Cam will still have the opportunity to see these crabs and snails residing in this high mountain area," shared Mr. Tran Van Giau.

MINH QUAN

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/len-nui-cam-san-cua-oc-a423743.html