Going up the mountain to hunt crabs and collect snails.

The rainy season arrives, and so do the people on Mount Cam, in Nui Cam commune, as they prepare to enjoy the "bounty of nature," when mountain crabs and snails enter their most prolific breeding season of the year.

From crab hunting…

Suddenly seeing a post on social media from my friend in Cam Mountain introducing the first mountain crabs of the season, I wanted to pack my bags and return to the "roof of the Mekong Delta." For me, Cam Mountain is not only a place of picturesque scenery, but also a place of exciting adventures, with specialties that are only available seasonally each year, such as mountain crabs and mountain snails.

I remember the first time I heard my friend, who lived in the mountains, talk about mountain crabs. I was half-believing, half-doubting. In my memories of the countryside, I had only seen and touched freshwater crabs or snails. I was completely clueless about mountain crabs and snails. It wasn't until my friend took me to find these special creatures that I believed they actually existed!

People in Cam Mountain go hunting for mountain crabs during the rainy season. Photo: MINH QUAN

Unlike their counterparts in rice paddies, mountain crabs have a distinctive purple shell. Some, when they reach a size larger than three fingers, develop a furry back that makes them look quite ferocious. And they really are fierce! To catch them, people need special fishing rods. Mountain crab fishing rods are curved bamboo branches 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 mountain crabs to bite the hook.

"Because of their aggressive nature, these crabs get caught," my friend said confidently. According to him, when the rubber band approaches, the mountain crabs think it's prey or some kind of enemy. They instinctively raise their claws and clamp down hard, thus being dragged out of the rock crevices and into the hands of the angler.

Having lived on Mount Cam since childhood, my friend said that mountain crabs are available year-round. However, they are especially abundant during the rainy season, when the mountain roads are filled with water. At that time, the crabs go foraging and begin to reproduce in large numbers. "About 20 years ago, there were a lot of mountain crabs. When it rained, they would crawl into people's yards and houses. The kids would catch them to play," my friend recounted.

From being a casual snack, mountain crab has gradually become a specialty of Mount Cam, sought after by diners near and far. At the beginning of the rainy season, the price of mountain crab always hovers above 300,000 VND/kg, yet it's still in high demand. In recent years, people on Mount Cam have begun to limit the harvesting of mountain crabs. They only catch those that are ready to eat, while smaller crabs or those carrying eggs are released back into the wild, reserved for the next season.

Mountain crabs are prepared into irresistible dishes. Photo: MINH QUAN

...to catch snails

Besides mountain crabs, mountain snails are also considered a specialty of the majestic Thien Cam Son mountain range during the rainy season. While mountain crabs are not much different in appearance from their lowland counterparts, mountain snails possess a distinct look. They have a white, slightly flattened body with black or milky white striped shells. Because of their plump bodies, mountain snails easily whet the appetite at first sight.

During the dry season, mountain snails hide under fallen leaves and in rock crevices. When the rain comes, they crawl out to forage. At that time, the people of Mount Cam simply bring buckets and flashlights to the gardens to harvest this "gift from nature." The plump snails are quickly scooped into buckets, bringing joy to the people on the mountaintop. During the rainy season, if one diligently searches through bushes and rock crevices, they can find 2-3 kg of snails each night. However, this also carries inherent dangers due to nocturnal reptiles that prey on the mountain.

Locals in Cam Mountain believe that mountain snails primarily feed on the grasses and herbs of the mountain, hence their meat is flavorful and, to some extent, "medicinal." Those who have tasted mountain snails will surely never forget their chewy texture and fragrant aroma. Due to their distinctive flavor, mountain snails often fetch 250,000 VND/kg at the beginning of the season, but supply is often insufficient.

Regarding preparation methods, the people of Cam Mountain usually keep mountain snails for a few days to allow them to release impurities. Afterward, they soak the snails in rice water with a few slices of fresh chili peppers to remove further impurities before cooking. Mountain snails can be prepared in many ways, but the best methods are boiling them with lemongrass, fermented rice, or pandan leaves, or stir-frying them with garlic or chili paste… to preserve their natural flavor.

Because it's a local delicacy and widely publicized, mountain snails are being increasingly over-exploited. However, the people of Mount Cam wait until the heavy rains, when the snails are large enough or have finished laying their eggs, before they begin harvesting. This is also how they preserve this special species of their mountain homeland, conserving this "gift from nature" for the "roof of the Mekong Delta." In the future, these animals need better conservation to continue being a unique delicacy served to tourists when they come here to experience the area.

MINH QUAN

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/len-nui-san-cua-bat-oc-a486897.html