Salmonstock: Woodstock with an Alaskan Twist

Anders Gustafson had vision. He wanted to raise awareness about the potential destruction of one of Alaska’s most valuable, natural, renewable and most fragile resources – salmon. He also wanted to do it in a way that was positive and fun. The result of his vision was a three day music festival combining not only great music but also education and just plain ole’ fun.

Now, I have only been in Alaska for two weeks. Prior to crossing the border two weeks ago, my knowledge of Alaska was limited to the fact that it was the 49th state, it is approximately 4500 miles from my hometown of Charleston SC and Sarah Palin is from here. I hate to admit my ignorance but, I have been on the East coast most of my life and Alaska always seemed as far away as Neverland. 

I have traveled all over Asia, been to Canada and the Caribbean, Mexico and the Dominican Republic, driven though 47 states (now 48) and Alaska still seemed like a far off, frozen, dark, uninhabitable place. So I was determined to take the time on this trip to see it for myself.

Oh, how one’s views change once you have some information, some exposure and a little experience. I still don’t doubt that the winters are cold and dark but the small portion of Alaska that I have experienced so far, in the summer, in two short weeks are incredible. The mountains, the glaciers, the wildlife, the untouched natural beauty is something to cherish, something to care for –  something to protect with as much vigor as you can possibly muster.

Gustafson, Executive Director of the Renewable Resources Foundation and a group of local concerned citizens know the value of the place that they live and the way of life that they have. So, when a mining company threatens to turn a huge portion of this untouched beauty into what would essentially become a gigantic open pit mine releasing toxins into the water system killing salmon in the one place that provides almost half of the world’s salmon, one can understand their passion and their plight.

We didn’t know about their plight or about the Music festival until serendipity stepped in. I just happen to be at the playground in Seward with the Dudes when a woman just happened to sit down next to me. We just happened to strike up a conversation about seeing Alaska and I just happened to ask her about possibly catching a music festival and she just happened to pull out of her pocket a flyer for the Salmonstock Festival.

The Hippygeek and I had talked about going to a summer music festival sometime during our trip but there hadn’t been any that would work out with our schedule or our planned routes. The Salmonstock Festival just happened to be the next week and along our planned route. So, we bought our three-day passes and hit the road.

And so, our journey to Salmonstock begins. I will try over the next few posts to share with you the cause, the music and the fun.

“The probability that we may fail in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just.” Abraham Lincoln