9th Annual Six Mile Festival

SK Malone
Staff Writer

Every year for the last nine years, there is a white water and bluegrass festival on Six Mile Creek. It is free festival, but donations are greatly appreciated. Tim Johnson, owner and coordinator of Six Mile Festival, pays out of pocket for this event. Donations go to help with some of the overhead cost and to pay the bands and musicians who perform.

“I started the festival because I felt there was a need to gather together all the whitewater paddlers in the state to connect with and meet each other. It’s difficult to meet other paddlers up here,” Tim Johnson remarked. “The purpose of the Six Mile Creek Whitewater & Bluegrass Festival is to bring the whitewater paddling community, the music and arts community, and the general public together to share a unique weekend of athletics, entertainment, the human connection and nature on the beautiful shores of Six Mile Creek.”

The event usually takes place the second Saturday in August. Six Mile Fest starts at 1 p.m., with a series of races down the biggest out of the three rapids (a class 3-4 rapid) in the first canyon on Six Mile Creek. This area of the creek is located about 1 mile before the Hope Junction Highway cut off.

The first race is a downriver mass-start extreme race. There are three heats, one for kayaks, canoes, and inflatable kayaks. The second event is the packraft mass start extreme race, followed by the inflatable pool toy extreme mass start race. Yes that’s right. Pool toys are ridden down class 3-4 rapids. Standard whitewater gear is required for all the races and safety precautions are taken.

Spectators watched from perches along the cliffs of the canyon or from the foot bridge located approximately 40 feet above the creek. The racers shoot down the canyon riding the rapids in a mass sprint, then turn the corner at the bottom of the canyon out of view.

This years winners are as follows:

Kayaks
1) Trip Kenney
2) Paul Schauer (crossed finish line upside down)
3) Tyler Dyer

Pool Toys
1) Tim Johnson (rode a sea turtle)
2) Gerard Ganey (rode a banana)
3) The Stingray Man (rode a stingray)

Worst Carnage Award went to Scott Rich, who swam the entire canyon.

There were no packraft times or winners due to technical difficulties with timekeeping during the race.

Participants that were competing or had already competed in the race joined spectators on the bridge, and a few racers took a plunge off the bridge. One unidentified race participant said it’s a 40-foot drop into approximately 20-30 feet of water.

After the races, everyone heads back down to mile 3.4 of the Hope Highway. There is a small dirt road which leads to a big grass field overlooking Six Mile Creek, where many festival goers set up tents. A few trails lead down to a gravel beach, located right next to the river, surrounded by forest and alpine mountains. It is here where the second half of Six Mile Fest takes place.

Set against the tree line is a covered stage and sound booth, all run off generators, as there is no power there. Around 6 p.m. the sounds of bluegrass begin to echo throughout the surrounding valley. This area makes for a perfect natural amphitheater. People gather along the shores, next to the stages and around a bonfire where they enjoy the nature and music that surrounds them. Even the bouts of rain ranging from downpour to showers and the muddy wetness of the trails couldn’t dampen everyone’s spirits.

Donnie Wiggins, started the night’s music off, his gravely voice and bluegrass creating just the right mood for the festivities. Up next was the talented Angeline Moore, accompanied by Nessa Marie, sweet and beautiful bluegrass played to the notes of a ukulele. The Shoot Dangs then took the stage with their down home boot stomping bluegrass.

The nights final performance was the amazing Orion Donict. A one man band, he played the banjo while placing one foot on drums and another on a symbol. His upbeat bluegrass had the whole festival dancing. Some of the Shoot Dangs, and a few unnamed musicians joined him on stage later in the evening. The twangs and beats from their instruments could be heard till 1:30 in the morning. Three of the bands scheduled to perform didn’t show up.

The AK Fire Circus put on a performance while the Shoot Dangs were playing. Flaming Hula hoopers, fire spinners and eaters were creating amazing visual art to the music. There was going to be an aerial show, on silks connected to a tripod, but it was rained out.

During intervals from the live music, awards were handed out to the winners of the races. The traditional “Bootie Beer” award is also handed out and goes to the first person to bail out of a kayak or pack raft. After receiving the award, the winner has to chug a dry suit bootie full of beer. This year’s award went to Scott Rich from Girdwood. A drawing was also held for a variety of prizes, some of which included: hoodies from Chugach Outdoors Center, a guide book to the best Alaskan white water, Shoot Dangs’ CDs and much more.

Six Mile Fest was definitely a romping, boot stomping, down home, good time. It’s a festival that brings people together, and for some it’s a time to see family or friends they haven’t seen in a while. It’s a heartwarming event filled with excitement, love, music and friendships.