Yes very similar to the Alaska Classic in format, but unlike the Classic- not an "official" race- no entry fees, no registration, no t-shirts, etc. Each year prior to the event the organizer announces the start and finish points, how you get there is totally up to you. Each year the start/finish are changed.
It's interesting to see how many various routes are chosen; I often go in thinking everyone will take this route, but only to find out almost everyone is going a different way. Rafters obviously will often go out of their way a bit to optimize floating potential.
This year was interesting in that about two weeks prior to the start we got smoked by a large winter storm, a lot of the higher country in the Bob saw up to 2' of additional snow. The organizer changed the starting location as he was afraid folks wouldn't even make it to the trailhead.
It's definitely the pinnacle point of my training.
