PHOTOS: Paddlers tame 'Wild Mile' Bigfork Whitewater Festival

Fifty years ago a small group of passionate kayakers and locals held the first Whitewater Festival on the “Wild Mile” -- previously known as the “Mad Mile” -- of the Swan River in Bigfork. The festival started with just a few boaters and loads of spectators and quickly grew into a world renowned event, drawing in professional boaters from all over the world.