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1970 Fairbanks-Nenana Raft Race

The Fairbanks-Nenana Raft Race was run 1969-72? on the 65 or so river miles of the Tanana River between Fairbanks and Nenana. Raft design rules were loose - use empty oil drums for floatation. Any human-powered propulsion was legal, although, it was said, the first ten rafts into Nenana would be disqualified for trying to win. Approximately 1500 people participated in 1970. It was a desperately dangerous enterprise. The race date in 1970 was May 23, only about two weeks after the Tanana ice went out in Nenana, and the water temperature must have been 32.5 degrees F. The Tanana was at flood with high, swift water, strainered sloughs were running, and many rafts were equipped with kegs and many others with hookahs.
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  • This is a photo of a rare, surviving raft race poster from the year later. What's the poster worth on ebay?

    This is a photo of a rare, surviving raft race poster from the year later. What's the poster worth on ebay?

  • Otherplanetscape. The Tanana at Fairbanks from the air.

    Otherplanetscape. The Tanana at Fairbanks from the air.

  • Building my 24-bbl raft, complete with two-holer outhouse, at the Yutana barge landing just down the Chena from my cabin. Discovery I in the background.

    Building my 24-bbl raft, complete with two-holer outhouse, at the Yutana barge landing just down the Chena from my cabin. Discovery I in the background.

  • Entrant using a kicker to get down the Chena to the start Friday night.

    Entrant using a kicker to get down the Chena to the start Friday night.

  • Milling around at the start. The 'start' was a circus. We were supposed to stage at the campground/boatlaunch on Chena Pump Road - where tha Tanana is ripping by at maybe 7 or 8 knots.

    Milling around at the start. The 'start' was a circus. We were supposed to stage at the campground/boatlaunch on Chena Pump Road - where tha Tanana is ripping by at maybe 7 or 8 knots.

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  • Novice crews had difficulty controlling their rafts below the mouth of the Chena, and those that could reach the shore at the campground crashed mightily into rafts already moored there. My 24-barrel raft displaced maybe 2.5 or 3 tons, so there was no way mere humans could affect trajectory. Many, many rafts left early.

    Novice crews had difficulty controlling their rafts below the mouth of the Chena, and those that could reach the shore at the campground crashed mightily into rafts already moored there. My 24-barrel raft displaced maybe 2.5 or 3 tons, so there was no way mere humans could affect trajectory. Many, many rafts left early.

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  • Heading down the Tanana, Chena Ridge on the right.

    Heading down the Tanana, Chena Ridge on the right.

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  • Our land lady showed up with a friend to tow us down a slow slough we got stuck in.

    Our land lady showed up with a friend to tow us down a slow slough we got stuck in.

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  • River people knew what a desperately dangerous thing this was, tried their best to stop the whole enterprise, then surrendered and escorted the flotilla the best they could.

    River people knew what a desperately dangerous thing this was, tried their best to stop the whole enterprise, then surrendered and escorted the flotilla the best they could.

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