“The Alaska Discovery staff that participated at theWilderness Fest on Sunday all came away with the feeling that the event was a huge success! We estimate at least 75 kayakers jumped in our boats, many kayaked for the first time of their lives! They were thrilled for the opportunity to get out on the water and paddle amongst the bergs and experience the wilderness firsthand. We had a really wide range of age groups and abilities. The lack of wind and rain definitely helped us to attract a nice mixture of boaters. I talked to Juneau locals, cruise ship passengers, RVers and many others. All of them were thankful for the generous offerings made by the local businesses and organizations as a way to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Wilderness Act. I really enjoyed being a part of the special day! Thanks to everyone for coordinating a tremendously successful event!! Just imagine the music, activities and food we'll be able to offer for the 50th anniversary!! Yahoooo! I'm excited already!! “
Andrea Reynolds, Alaska Discovery
Alaskans celebrate wilderness with a walk
This was but one testimony to the success of Wilderness Fest, held last Sunday (June 13, 2004) on the shores of Mendenhall Lake in Juneau, Alaska. There were many similar compliments from other organizers and participants. We celebrated the 40th birthday of Wilderness on a nice summer day with music, hiking, paddling, food and information. Probably 200 or more people were involved.
Web posted Monday, June 14, 2004
Michael Penn
Juneau Empire
Juneau residents and visitors return from a short kayaking trip Sunday afternoon on Mendenhall Lake during Wilderness Fest, celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the passing of the Wilderness Act. Hiking, an afternoon concert and trips on the lake offered by Alaska Discovery and SEARHC were part of the celebration. The festival was sponsored by the U.S. Forest Service with help from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Alaska Discovery, Discovery Southeast, SEAAC, SEARHC and ORCA.
The day started at 0930 with a kayak and canoe armada across the lake that attracted about 50 paddlers, then an 1100 hike along Crystal and Moraine Lakes by an enthusiastic group of about 35 walkers. Food and informational booths were provided by the Juneau Raptor Center, the Forest Service, Alaska Fish and Game, Discovery Southeast, and SEAWEAD from noon until 3PM. Beginning at 1 PM there were paddles on the lake in double kayaks provided by ORCA/SAIL and Alaska Discovery, or in a traditional style Tlingit canoe provided by SEARHC. Also beginning at 1 PM we had music provided by four different Juneau bands, and a dance on the beach by the Children of All Nations Tlingit dance group. It was a day packed with options, all fitting within the normal bustle of one of the busiest Visitor Centers in Alaska.
The musicians were wonderful, volunteering their Sunday time to play three hours of hot tunes in the cool glacial air. Special thanks to Cheryl and the Saloon Boys (Cheryl Bschor, Denny Bschor, Martha DeFreest, and Alan Michaels), to Jim and Martha Stey (on the front cover of the June 14 Juneau Empire), to Terri Tibbett, and to Odin and Aldyn Brudie. The music floating over the lake lent a festive air to the entire event. Thanks also to the Children of All Nations who performed some dances on the lakeshore near the SEARHC canoe.
SEAWEAD’s Cheryl Van Dyke talks with Wilderness Fest participants (Andrea Reynolds of Alaska Discovery is behind Cheryl signing up paddlers)
Thanks go to the organizers of this event, Alaskans Celebrating Wilderness, represented by Karla Hart, Kristin Romanoff, and Mike Turek of ADF&G, Butch Carber and Andrea Reynolds of Alaska Discovery, Rebecca Strauss of SEARHC, John Neary, Kevin Hood, Marti Marshall and Linda Christian of the USFS, Larry West of Discovery SE, and Sierra Kaden of ORCA/SAIL. Also assisting that day were USFS employees Ken Post, Kevin Hood, Jon Horn, Jen Gessert, Don MacDougall, Larry Musarra and his staff, other kayak guides from Alaska Discovery and ORCA/SAIL, Judy Neary of SEARHC, and Arn Albrecht (USFS retired), Cheryl VanDyke of SEAWEAD, and the excellent hot dog grillers from the Juneau Raptor Center.
USFS Regional forester Denny Bschor and his wife Cheryl, JRD employee Martha Defreest, and Alan Michaels on guitar crank out the tunes.
SEARHC brought their traditional style canoe for rides
John Neary, US Forest Service, Juneau
For more information about 40th anniversary events occurring across the nation, log onto for a calendar of events and information about organizing a Walk for Wilderness in your community.