Pool Changes for January - May in Anchorage for open kayak, polo kayak pick-up, and League Polo:

Monday : no change, $5 Rentals available at Bartlett: 1/06/09 - 4/13/09,
* 730 to 900pm Bartlett and Service are being closed as of 4/15. Public kayak time will move to East High East: 4/16/09 - 5/28/09 730 - 900 pm $5 rentals available.

*Tuesday will be open paddling : to replace the Wednesday Service High time

*Thursday will be polo : to replace the Monday Bartlett High time League: Thursday: Bartlett bring your gear, or you can rent, you need to have a PFD and a helmet with facemask, I have helmets with masks for sale, or you can rent. Series 1: 1/08/09 -2/26 8 wks... $80 for all, $15/session drop in rate. Series 2: 3/5/09 - 4/9/09 6 wks.. $60 for all, $15/session drop in rate

*H2Oasis Waterpark Tuesdays, starting 1/06/09 730 - 900 pm

Tournament: Water Polo 1/3/09 5 pm - 7 pm Bartlett High$20 entry fee (Deadline to enter is 12/20/08, we currently have 12 signed up)40 meter pitch (the pool staff is going to move the bulk heads to make 40 meters)Referee Timer: we will play the regulation 10 min qrt Scorer: we will keep score Bracket for advancement. We will mix the teams so that each team has some experienced players and some newbie's. This will be a very good time, there is still time to come on Monday and learn the basics before the holiday tournament.

For more info, contact Jim Gonski of Alaska Kayak Academy 907-746-6600 www.kayakcenterak.com

Tim,

Alaska Kayak Academy will start open kayaking and beginner kayak lessons at the H2O Oasis Waterpark on Thursday, November 6th at 7:30 pm to 9 pm. $10 admission. $10 boat rental. $15 boat rental and instruction. This continues every Thursday throughout the winter.

Also, they offer winter/summer kayaking instruction & trips, including guided inflatable trips in the class III range.

Click on the "LINKS" page to link to their site.

The only current roll clinics/open kayaking/polo sessions are at

Bartlett High School in East Anchorage

from 7:30p.m. till 9:00p.m. EVERY MONDAY NIGHT

The polo series is every Tuesday night

There are also roll clinics/open kayaking/polo sessions in Wasilla now, contact
Alaska Kayak Academy for more info!

The boys arriving for the big day. Jason, J.D., Xavier, Timmy, & Obadiah.

Xav running the 1st drop at the put-in (Juneau Falls in the background).

The typical drop (about 1/2 way into the run).

Juneau Creek, one of many, lies at the southern end of Resurrection Trail near Cooper Landing, AK. Juneau Falls (the seemingly main attraction) is a 70 ft. falls (not runnable by even immortals) and happens to be your put-in. Put in directly below Juneau Falls on river-right down a steep game trail (no ropes needed if you're a kayak carrying pro) and shove off into the river to run the 1st 6 ft. riverwide clean ledge. Another 15ft slide is run far river left immediately downstream. From there on out, several fast, bouncy, rocky boulder gardens mixed with a several fast smooth sluices make for a good bit of scouting. There is a fair amount of wood that must be portaged around. About 3/4 the way down the run you will encounter the largest drop on a left-hand bend. Run this drop far river-right up top and try to stay upright on the 20 ft. tall broken ledge (3 tiered). Immediately downstream the crux of the run is encountered. A 4 drop series back to back of solid class V/V+ awaits you. This incredible drop starts w/ a 6 ft. tall slide (run left of center) into a 6 ft. tall off-vertical ledge that can still be boofed. The creek then makes a sharp left bend and drops a 10 ft. ledge (boof right) then take the left half of the river below for the final 8 fter. After this the creek has several more nice drops. So, there's a description. A good bit of wood to portage and a bit bouncy/manky boat abusy in a few spots, but overall, the last half of the run leaves you with fairly fond memories of Juneau Creek.

- pictures coming soon (Timmy J, JD Batove, Obie Jenkins, Xav Engle, & Jason Whitman)

I RECEIVED THIS MESSAGE FROM MARK REGARDING SHIP CREEK... THIS ALREADY TABOO RUN JUST BECAME MORE TABOO:

"While making an attempt to run Ship Creek up Arctic Valley Road on Wednesday this week, I was stopped by Fort Richardson MP. They informed me that the entire Ship Creek if currently off limits to paddling.

The MP was very polite and informative. He said this closure comes from the base commander and is a result of folks running the dam spillway, as it sets off alarms via pressure sensors on the spillway. This dam provides an impoundment for Fort Richardson's drinking water (and is a backup water supply for Anchorage), so there is sensitivity to allowing any access to the impoundment, along with the liability factor of allowing folks to run the spilllway.

Fortunately, a number of ranking military officers are also whitewater boaters, so they are working to reopen the stretch of river from the Arctic Valley put-in to just above the dam. The takeout will be different than now, which is currently the bridge over Snow Hawk Cabin Road. Instead, the take out will start where the dam is now portaged, and will require a hike up the Biathalon Range Road to where it intersects Arctic Valley Road. It is a long uphill hike to Arctic Valley Road from here, but it is on a road. Small price to pay for being able to paddle this stretch.

Anyway, the MP stated that it would help to have paddler support to provide backup for opening this stretch of whitewater(ie. Prove there is a community of boaters that would use this stretch of whitewater).

They also stated people need to get a recreation permit from Fort Richardson before boating this stretch (assuming and hoping they open it up again). This is just like the recreation permit needed to paddle lower Eagle River thru Fort Rich. Very east to get, takes 15 minutes(assuming no line), good for two years, and you get a rec pass and a vehicle pass, and you'll never need to stop at the shack again to get a day pass (while the passes are still current anyway). To get the rec pass at the guard shack, you just need license, veh registration and insurance. They want people to use and recreate on military land, they just want it done in a responsible manner.

I have the MP's contact info, and I plan on calling him and asking what specifically he needs for boater support (a signed petition from us?, etc). Once I find out, I'll repost and let folks know how they can help. In the meantime, do NOT run Ship Creek until this issue is resolved, or else we could jeapordize future access to the stretch of river, and spread the word to other boaters that don't use this forum. Those that have boated this stretch know it is way too valuable a stretch of river to lose (high quality class IV and very close to Anchorage, convenient when gas prices are so high). Also, if you have any interest in helping in this effort, get in touch with me.

Attached are the online river descriptions that will need to be changed for takeout directions.

http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River_detail_id_4131_
http://www.eddyflower.com/RunDetail.aspx?RunId=29

And finally, he mentioned the stretch of Ship Creek below the dam and through military base is also off limits, and will likely remain so. He did state that if folks feel this is a stretch of river people would like open, they can ask. However, a private drowned on this stretch 2 years ago, and it has been closed since. Lots off wood in bad places on this stretch, and it goes past two golf courses, there are a couple of dangerous structures on this stretch, etc. I'm not inclinded to fight for this stretch. Once Ship Creek leaves Elmendorf at the Fish Hatchery, it is open to boating again, so the playspot downtown is not affected by this closure.

Mark Corsentino

Montana Creek has been looked at & ran in sections. The 1st complete 1st descent was by Jason Whitman, Tim Johnson, and J.D. Batove on June 1st, 2008. The level was medium (about 250 cfs) and perfect for a 1st time down the creek. The quality of this run is unbelievable! Around 9 to 10 high quality class IV-IV+ rapids on set in a nice, solid bedrock canyon. There are not many runs in Alaska that have smooth bedrock as this run does, definitely kayak plastic friendly! Most of the rapids are ledge drops in the 6 to 8 ft. range and have small pools at the base. The highlight of the run (about half way through the run) is a mini slot canyon that makes a 90 degree bend to the left and drops off a perfect 8 ft. riverwide waterfall. About a 1 hour hike in (or 20 minutes on an ATV). This run is just outside of Talkeetna, AK.

Also check out John & Paul Schauers video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otOTI9EEmyg

Check out more pictures of the run taken by JD that day at http://picasaweb.google.com/JDBatove/MontanaCreek#

I would like to thank all of you that attended Six-Mile-Fest this year! It wouldn't have been a festival without you! Another huge thanks to the sponsers that made everything free and gave awesome prizes out! (Mooses Tooth, Bill's Distributing, Alaska Raft & Kayak, American Whitewater, Werner Paddles, Jackson Kayak, Alaska Kayak Academy, NOVA, Susitna Sled & Kayak, Chugach Outdoor Center, Saturn, Tons of Fun Entertainment, Great Harvest Bread Company, and Knik Canoe & Kayak club). The tradition will continue next year and the 2nd Six-Mile-Fest will be bigger & better! Check out the pictures below. The professional photographer Kelly Moon took over 600 pictures at Six-Mile-Fest! Click on the link below to see photos of yourself and order them from her!

www.kellymoonphotography.printroom.com

CARNAGE!!! 19 kayakers compete in the Head-to-Head Extreme Race (short boat series) through the 3 largest rapids in the 1st canyon. Winners: 1st- Jeff Sheldon, 2nd- Tim Johnson, 3rd- Dale Madill (ahead of the carnage)

Rob's yellow Riot playboat (old school Riot Glide looking boat) was stolen at the Six-Mile-Fest after he swam in the short boat race. His boat was saved and placed near the Seward highway and was taken before he reached it. Spread the word to all the paddlers you know and if you see this boat on the water... well... you know. Email kayaker35@hotmail.com with details if you see or claim it back.