Russell Fork River Rendezvous

"Spirit of the Festival"

"The rivers are our brothers. They quench our thirst. They carry our canoes and feed our children. So you must give to the rivers the kindness you would give to any brother." As we are part of the land, you too are part of the land. This earth is precious to us. It is also precious to you! One thing I know: there is only one God. No man, be he Red Man or White Man, can be apart. We are brothers after all."

Chief Seattle of the Suquamish Tribe

Nestled in the midst of the Appalachians, the Russell Fork River runs through a deep gorge known as the "Breaks." A visit to the Russell Fork will bring memories of its past of mines, tipples, coal company communities and other signs of the rich history and culture of the Appalachians. It is a beautiful area with perhaps the "Crown Jewel" being the Breaks. The Breaks is about five miles in length and carves a spectacular 1600 foot deep gorge at the north end of Pine Mountain. It is estimated to be 250 million years old of the late Paleozoic era.

The area shows signs of pre-history human activity in the caves and rock shelters of Pine Mountain. Early this century large numbers of logs were floated down the river with releases from an old dam. The Breaks Interstate Park was created in 1954 by joint action between Kentucky and Virginia. It contains some 4,500 acres surrounding the gorge including the Towers. Since the eighties, whitewater recreation has become a significant event during the fall releases from the John Flannigan Dam on the Pound tributary. However, it is possible to paddle the gorge about 150 days a year, especially during the winter and spring.

As people have become appreciative of the area, a new level of environmental awareness of the fragile river eco-system is evident. The Russell Fork River Rendezvous is an example of this energy at work! As it grows, so can the protection of this magnificent handiwork of nature be more assured.

The Russell Fork River Rendezvous is a three day, open microphone music scene of bands, musicians, and drum circles for river runners, hikers, mountain bikers, climbers and any who are concerned about the river and its environment. The River Festival is unique...it has no corporate sponsors and no commercial vendors. The cost of the event is $10.00 for three days of camping, music and fun. No friend of the Russell Fork will be turned away at the gate. If you volunteer for a few hours of helping the festival, the fee can be waived. All proceeds go to River Conservation with the focus on the Russell Fork River Corridor. There will be almost no limit to the number of campers and festival participants that can attend due to the huge size of the festival grounds.

Even the river is unique - only at the Russell Fork do they "ride" the river, all others are paddled! The race is also a bit different...it is free. The course is an unforgiving Class V, expert only run. Even the best paddlers in the world must familiarize themselves with the river course beforehand, each assuming the risk of negotiating through the numerous deadly hazards: undercut rocks, sieves, log jams, large drops, and big powerful hydraulics. Entrants must be over 18 and waivers must be signed. Class I, II, and III runs can be boated on other sections of the river.

Mountain biking is fast becoming a popular new sport in the area. Numerous logging roads provide access to Pine Ridge Mountain and rough Appalachian terrain. Climbers will find a bolted route at the Russell Fork River take-out in Kentucky. Beyond that, climbing is mostly an unexplored sport in the area, despite the rock being similar to that in the New River Gorge. Climbers should try to develop new routes, but check with the Breaks Interstate Park before you climb inside Park boundaries.

This festival gathering is to celebrate the value and beauty of the Russell Fork River and the mountains. It is a gathering of friends, kind energy and understanding, much like the best of the gatherings of the sixties. However, whether you wear your tie-dye or poly-pro, come to have fun, hear good music, boat, hike, bike or climb in a beautiful place.

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