About the 2004 Alaska State Rendezvous

Only two days before the 2004 Alaska State Rendezvous was scheduled to begin it was nearly cancelled.  Wild fires burned furiously near Fairbanks filling the air with thick, choking smoke and ash.  Visibility was reduced to less than 50 feet and public health officials had issued an air quality warning, describing the conditions as "extremely hazardous".  Public safety officials had issued a total ban on outdoor fires, even charcoal fires enclosed in grills.  Booshway Bob Hunter was only minutes away from postponing or even canceling the event when Ed Wick and the Three Rivers Gun Club of Talkeetna offered the use of their Fort Wick site as an alternative venue.  

Word was spread by telephone, Email and posted on this website.  The change of venue saved the day and the Rendezvous was surprisingly well attended.  The weather south of the Alaska Range was hotter than normal under clear skies, but we were allowed our cooking and heating fires, and were able to enjoy clean, fresh air for the week. 

Some highlights of the rendezvous were an excellent trail walk shoot along a cold stream at the base of a considerable hill, an excellent orienteering shoot that tested competitor's skills with the compass as well as the rifle, some fine pistol shoots and even some cannon matches that were popular with the gun crews as well as the spectators.

Photographs from the 2004 Alaska State Rendezvous have been posted HERE.