Friday, May 28, 2010

Exploring the Kern River Drainage

The Kern River is the main draw to the Kern River Valley during the spring and summer months. However, there are many sites to visit and explore after a day or two on the river and that's exactly what I did this past week. After spending Tuesday on the Upper Kern River I grabbed my girlfriend, two sandwiches, and my camera and we began our trek to greater heights.

After passing Johnsondale Bridge the road begins a steep climb and follows South Creek to the small town of Johnsondale. Continuing up the road we reached an intersection that all of our guides here at Kern River Outfitters are familiar with: The Road to the Forks, which turns off to the right. We continued off to the left and after about 15 minutes we hit a four-way stop at the Western Divide Highway. We turned to the right and continued down the road toward the Trail of 100 Giants.

After another 15 minutes we reached the Dome Rock, which offered some spectacular views of the entire Kern River Valley and the Needle Rocks. What a great place to eat lunch too.We were trying to find the trail to the Needle Rocks but there is so much snow still up high that the side-roads were all closed. So, instead of hiking we went to the restaurant/bar in the small town of Ponderosa and enjoyed a tasty brew and a game of pool.

While visiting the Kern River Valley, be sure to check out some of the many side-adventures this great place has to offer. Our guides and staff are more than just raft guides, they know this area better than anyone and can help you have the trip of a lifetime, both on and off the river.

The reason we are going to have a great
season on the Kern River: lots of snow!

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Make Plans Today: Call 1-800-323-4234

Memorial Weekend is fast approaching and if you don't already have plans to visit the Kern River now is the time to pick up the phone and give us a ring. We still have space available on a few of our most popular trips, but not for long.

Right now on the Kern River we are experiencing better than normal river flows and with that in mind many past guests are calling and saving their seats. So, if you don't have plans, give us a call. You can reach us at 1-800-323-4234 or office@KernRafting.com.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Dwight and Ernie

These unassuming hombres are the cornerstones of our transportation division here at Kern River Outfitters. Pictured here waiting for their guests to get suited up for their trips this morning, Dwight and Ernie (and Bob and Mike who are not in the photo) are responsible for safely transporting our guests, guides, and equipment to and from the river each and every day during the spring and summer months. They are not only great drivers, they're great guys too. We all feel lucky to have these fellas on board. Join us on the Upper, Lower, or Forks of the Kern this year and you'll get the added bonus of meeting these guys as well as the rest of our talented staff here at Kern River Outfitters.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Kern River Outfitters Teams up with U.S. Forest Service and California Land Management for River Clean Up Day on Saturday, June 12th

Kern River Outfitters has teamed up with California Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service for the 2010 Upper Kern River Clean Up Day scheduled for Saturday, June 12th at 9:00am. Participants meet at Corral Creek along the Upper Kern and will spend a few of hours helping beautify the Upper Kern River. A BBQ lunch at Headquarters Campground will follow the clean up. This is a great opportunity to do something good for the Kern River and have some fun to boot. If you would like more information, please call Debbie Campbell at 1-760-376-1815. You can also call our office at 1-800-323-4234.

Monday, May 24, 2010

Extended Upper Kern Rafting Season

Due to a cooler than normal May, flows on the Upper Kern are going to be great until late July. Snow in the Kern River drainage is not melting as quickly as what would normally be expected. Yesterday's "high" of 58 degrees was a chilly surprise but what might be a sting of cold air today is a promise of great water flows in July.

The Upper Kern River is California's most accessible class II-V stretch of whitewater. For more than twenty miles the river offers up world-class whitewater and a beautiful river canyon all within a pitching-wedge from the road. With various access points, finding a river section suitable for just anyone is possible.

Our Upper Kern trips meet at our rafting center at 8:30 a.m. and return sometime between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. We serve a great lunch along the river and take you on many of the different sections of the Upper Kern. For more information about the Upper Kern, or to book your trip, call us at 1-800-323-4234.

Friday, May 21, 2010

Forks of the Kern River Video

The Forks of the Kern, the crown-jewel of wilderness class V, was where 17 Kern River Outfitters' guides and staff found themselves on Tuesday and Wednesday. Each year we hold a staff training trip on the Forks and this year the two-day trip was an absolute blast. We took two paddle boats and three oar boats, had clean lines, and got to see one of the most beautiful sections of river that we know of.

Mike Spradlin shot video, edited it, and then recorded his own music to put together this sweet clip of runs at West Wall (aka Confusion) and Carson Falls.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Everything is new here - except the guides

Things are exciting here at Kern River Outfitters' headquarters. Each day the nice UPS man drops off another shipment of something new for the 2010 season. First came the lifejackets and helmets. That's right: fresh, new, brightly colored, and high-floating jackets coupled with brand-spanking new helmets are now ready in the gear shed to hit the water.

Next came umbrellas for our Lower Camp. These shade-making machines are ready to be plopped into place. They were followed by new silverware, new table cloths, new t-shirts, and new throw-bags. Each day a new surprise.

At KRO, we believe the smallest details of every trip deserve attention. And that's why we start with new gear and equipment. No other outfitter knows service like we do here and that's precisely why our guests come back year after year.

The big new touch for 2010 is our Rafting Center: bigger, newer, and better than any river trip meeting location in California.

The only thing that's not new here at Kern River Outfitters are our guides. Our guides are the most experienced river men and women you will find anywhere. And that's the most important detail of your trip. Oh, and Jason has a new dog named Banjo. Come join us on the river - everything's new you know, well, except our guides.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Packing into the Forks of the Kern

Yesterday our crew packed into the Forks of the Kern in preparation for our Forks training trip. We're launching this morning and will be taking out tomorrow afternoon. Things are looking great for the trip: beautiful weather and great water flows.

Gary (many refer to him simply as "Starter") drove some of the crew up and was able to snap some photos from the pack station. The Forks is one of the most isolated multi-day trips in the United States and mules are necessary to carry all of our heavy equipment down to the river. It's one of the few rafting trips on earth where the task of getting to the river is an adventure in itself.

We still have spaces available on many of our Forks trips for 2010. With a good snow pack, our Forks of the Kern rafting season will extend into late July. Give us a call today to begin planning your trip, 1-800-323-4234.

Here are some shots Gary was able to get yesterday:






Monday, May 17, 2010

Kern River Rafting Company Adopts Brigade Customer Service Standards

Kern River Outfitters is "raising the bar" for customer service in the whitewater rafting industry.

Bridgade-style service is a standard of performance and care defined by a select group of river outfitters in Idaho and Oregon offering multi-day rafting vacations. It recognizes the need to provide exceptional service to clients who have a myriad of family vacation choices. Today’s successful adventure travel providers have elevated their service standards to compete with cruise lines, destination resorts and other vacation choices.

For Kern River Outfitters, based in Wofford Heights, California, adopting a brigade style service philosophy was an easy step. Already recognized as the premier rafting outfitter on the Kern River, the company queried guests and guides to determine what standards needed to be defined and implemented. Reservations manager, Dawn Jordan, summed it up, “It is a company wide effort to provide memorable and exhilarating rafting trips that feature exceptional customer service, acclaimed meals, gracious and welcoming guides, and a desire to introduce guests to the secrets of the Kern River Valley.”

The company set standards for a variety of trip elements. Boating safety, environmental interpretation, food handling & meal preparation, equipment inspections, guide training, and office staffing all were reviewed to set a level of service beyond what is typically expected on a rafting trip.

Will Volpert, Operations Manager, believes the effort pays big dividends for guests and guides. “We’ve set the bar for guest satisfaction at a very high level. We have always been committed to running the highest quality trips possible and in this economic downturn it is more crucial than ever to continue on this trend.”

For information on rafting the Kern River, contact Kern River Outfitters at 1-800-323-4234. Idaho & Oregon River Journeys is another outfitter that has adopted this level of service. Learn about their trips at http://www.IdahoRiverJourneys.com or http://www.RogueRiverTrips.com.

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Is it Saturday? Looks like it!

It's been a busy Saturday morning here at KRO headquarters but now it's 9:30 a.m. and each bus has left the rafting center headed towards the river. There are a few highlights for today:

1) Our first Lower Kern trip of the season is hitting the water in about, well, half an hour.
2) We have a lot of folks on a Thunder Run trip. As I write this they are doing a swim test at the park.
3) We're celebrating a 50th birthday on today's Thunder Run. Happy Birthday Steve and have a great day out there!

We have space on tomorrow's Big Five and Upper Kern trips. Give us a ring if you'd like to join in on the awesome whitewater and crystal clear skies: 1-800-323-4234.

Friday, May 14, 2010

Kern Operations Manager Drops In on Idaho's Middle Fork of the Salmon

This looks like a pretty big raft, eh? Will Volpert, our Kern Operations Manager is seen here at the helm of our sister company's sweep boat on the Middle Fork of the Salmon. We're not sure which position has a higher degree of responsibility, running the sweep and being responsible for ALL of the gear for an entire six day trip down the Middle Fork or running our Kern operation. These sweep boats are not easy to run, but William is a master. He has a vision of finding a way to use these boats on the Kern, but, as of now they are not part of our operation. They might make a great Lickety Split craft, but we're not sure about the Forks of the Kern . . . just yet.

Our sister company, Idaho River Journeys, offer's six day trips on the Middle Fork and Main Salmon in Idaho. We love the Kern, but we have to admit that these two Idaho rivers offer a very special opportunity for friends and families to run two of the most beautiful rivers in the country. Feel free to give Bob and Mary a call at 1-888-997-8399 if you'd like more information on these outstanding multi-day wilderness rafting trips.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Opening Day Flag Flies

Every summer, we pick a day to celebrate the opening day of our Kern River rafting season. This year, we have a lot to celebrate: the remodel of our Rafting Center, the abundant snow pack, and the return of our talented guides and smiling guests for the season. With a fresh coat of paint on the pole, we raised our flag this morning in honor of the fabulous summer of rafting that lies ahead of us. Look for it when you arrive into Wofford Heights. It is not only a harbinger of the great time you'll have on the water with us, it also marks the meeting place (6643 Wofford Blvd) for your Upper, Lower and Forks of the Kern trips.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Rafting Center 2010: A Work in Progress

Kern River Outfitters' new and improved Rafting Center is under construction and expected to be completed this summer. It will feature a more comfortable check in and retail area, large outdoor patio, and improved "Photo Wall" that will allow you to see the pictures taken of your adventures on the water. Here are a couple photos of the project:



Our temporary Rafting Center is located in our warehouse lot across the street at 6643 Wofford Blvd. (at the intersection of Wofford Blvd and Woodland Drive). Although quite a bit smaller than we're used to, it offers all of the amenities our old (soon to be new and improved) Rafting Center offered and even has a room dedicated to reviewing your photographs. Trudy, Heidi and the gang have worked hard to make this facility warm and convenient and will be ready with a hot cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate upon your arrival for your Upper, Lower, or Forks of the Kern rafting trip.

Here's a couple of photos of the temporary Rafting Center:





We are all looking forward to the completion of the new and improved Rafting Center. In the meantime, we'll look forward to meeting all of you at the temporary location.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Thirteenth Annual Whiskey Flat Trail Run

The annual Whiskey Flat Trail Run was completed this past Saturday. Kern River Outfitters' guide Darby Verven started a non-profit agency called Run For A Way that has organized this run for the past thirteen years. Darby, a veteran of two IronMan Triathlons, is a retired Kern County Special Education teacher and currently is a full time Kern River Outfitters guide with over 28 years running the Kern. He started this agency with the goal of promoting "health, wellness, and fitness" for everyone in the Kern Valley. Proceeds from this race have helped to provide a swim program for kids based at the swimming pool at the South Fork Middle School, a BMX bike track in the Kern Valley, and funds to help the South Fork Middle School's track team compete in off-site competitions, among other noble efforts. It has also provided funds to members of the local community who have needed help raising funds to fight challenging illnesses.

The race has 5k and 10k events as well as a "Kids" run. The youngest participant this year was Ella Mauer who ran the race with her mom Kristina and friend Emma in tow. There is also a team award for the fastest four person team entry. This year, a group of Forest Service fire fighters won the rotating team trophy. They are entitled to host the trophy for one year as well as receive four "growlers" filled with the fine beers from the Kern River Brewery. Congratulations to these fine, fast, fire fightin' fellas.

Kern River Outfitters is proud to be a sponsor of this race and looks forward to many more years of helping with this excellent event.

Here are a few photos of Saturday's competition:

Darby Pointing the Way

Pre-Race Briefing

Stretching Out Prior to the Run

Ella Mauer. . .the Youngest Competitor this Year

A Few Gals in the Home Stretch

The 2010 "Team Trophy"Winners

Monday, May 10, 2010

Our Guides Are Going Rogue - Literally

During this summer Kern River Outfitters guides Deb Meymarian, Ryan Guy and Will Volpert will head north to work for our affiliate, Rogue River Journeys, on Oregon's famous Rogue River. The Rogue is an amazing river with fun rapids, beautiful scenery, bountiful wildlife and pleasant summer weather.

Deb Meymarian has guided since 1994, splitting her time between the Lower Kern and the Rogue. This summer she will be our lead guide on a Rogue River
wine tasting trip that will pair vintages from the southern Oregon region with wines from the Mediterranean regions of France and Spain.

Ryan Guy has guided on the Kern for seven seasons. In 2009, after enrolling in a Master's in Communication Studies program at Chico State University, Ryan worked on the Rogue River Journeys crew. This summer he'll be paddling big water on the Kern into July, and then will head to Oregon to work three Rogue trips before school starts in August.

Kern River Outfitters operations manager Will Volpert has grown up on rivers, first rafting the Rogue with his parents at the age of six months. This August, he'll be back on the Rogue to lead our kayaking instruction trips with DeRiemer Adventure Kayaking.

Click here for more information about Rogue River rafting vacations, or give Jim Ritter a call at 1-866-213-7754.

Saturday, May 8, 2010

A Mother's Day Tale from the Forks of the Kern

"Mamas don't let your babies grow up to be boatmen..."

Last summer was my first year down on the Kern. Prior to the 2009 season I had heard a lot about this river. In fact, the Kern is where my mother trained to become a guide and having grown up in the whitewater outfitting business the phrase "how's the Kern doing?" was a probably off the tip of my tongue more often than "what's for dinner?"

Having worked with many former Kern guides I heard mixed reports of what the Kern was actually all about. However, one thought always resonated from everyone: The Forks of the Kern is just about the best multi-day trip anywhere. And with that in mind I headed south.

At the end of April we decided to run a Forks training trip. The date was set for May 12th. The cost of getting equipment down to the river is expensive so I wasn’t expecting my own boat. The trip continued to grow and at some point we discovered that we would need another oar boat and, yes, I would be taking it.

That was great news – for me (at the time), the only thing scarier than running big water was being someone’s passenger. Then, it turned out that my girlfriend wanted to go. Then, it turned out that my mother wanted to go. So I was left wondering exactly what the hell I had gotten myself into. They would be my paddle-assist and I now realized that the only thing scarier than being someone’s passenger is rowing your mother down class V.

Running Lower Freeman Creek Rapid:

Mom arrived into town on Mother's Day just in time to help pack for the trip.

The Forks is something incredibly special. When you’re not focused on the whitewater you have a chance to catch a glimpse of a very dramatic and beautiful river canyon. The whitewater is, of course, one of the main draws to this section of river. The thing that is most impressive about the whitewater is how continuous it is.

From a statistics book, one probably wouldn’t predict the Forks to be as great as it is. The gradient is only 65 feet per mile and the run is only 18 miles. There are lots of rivers and creeks that match up and exceed both of these numbers. This is a great thing about rivers and creeks – they aren’t machines, you can’t just look at numbers, they’re dynamic and sometimes you just have to be there to see what they’re like. As guides we like to look at rapids and say “this one’s class III, this one over here is class IV-, and so on…” and I could do that for every rapid I’ve seen, but what I would prefer and what is more meaningful to me is to just say that it is “big” water and - when your mother is in the boat - it is “bigger” water.

Confusion Rapid on the Forks of the Kern River:

The peak of the trip for me was reaching the lead-in to Carson Falls (the last "big one"), pulling over, and walking down the scout trail. The drop led into a huge lateral hole, which, if you hit it correctly, you would punch. Otherwise, you would end up going into “The Thing” – a large nasty pour-over covering the right side of the river. I picked out a marker and knew we could hit it. We did, but we did not have enough left-angle and the monster hole zipped us straight to the lip of The Thing.

Luth had hiked up from the road to take photos of the boats dropping Carson. He snapped a photo of our boat on the brink of The Thing. There is a look of horror on my face as I try to straighten the boat out, Dana looks shocked that we ended up where we did, and my mom… she’s giggling. I guess she knew we would end up just fine.

About to drop into the Thing:

To all you moms out there:

Happy Mother's Day!


Interested in rafting the Forks of the Kern?

Kern River Outfitters is proud to be one of only a few outfitters permitted to run this impressive stretch of river. 2010 promises to be a great season on the Forks. The Kern River drainage is now up and over 140% of normal which all but guarantees a fabulously long Forks of the Kern season. Participants on our Forks trips must be in good physical shape and will be put through a swim-test. Prior paddling experience is a must. Trips are three days in length but two-day trips are available for charter groups.

Trip Dates:

May 26, 31
June 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30
July 5, 10, 15

For additional information about the Forks of the Kern River, please call us at 1-800-323-4234 or visit our Forks of the Kern web page.

Join us on Thursday or Friday

Next Thursday and Friday (May 13th and 14th) are going to be prime days to raft the Kern River. We've got a few different trips going out and weather is supposed to be absolutely perfect. According to forecasts, we'll be enjoying mid to high 80-degree days, plus flows on both the Upper and Lower Kern are going to be spectacular.

If you've been holding off on booking an early-season rafting trip, it's now time to hit the "go" button and give us a ring. Call us at 1-800-323-4234 to book your trip right now and lock-in a seat for one of the best days of rafting for the year.

What do we have going on?

Thursday, May 13th:
Two-Day Lower Kern - $348/adult
One-Day Upper Kern - $158/adult
Half-Day Upper Kern - $115/adult
Two-Hour Lickety Splits - $50/adult

Friday, May 14th:
Two-Day Lower Kern - $378/adult
One-Day Upper Kern - $158/adult
Half-Day Upper Kern - $115/adult
Two-Hour Lickety Splits - $50/adult

Call us for youth prices and group discount information, 1-800-323-4234.

Friday, May 7, 2010

Ladies and Gentleman, the First Thunder Run of the Year is Now in Progress

They're off and running. The first Class V Thunder Run of the season is shown leaving the grounds and heading out for a day of rafting under crystal skies and warm weather. With the Upper Kern River running in excess of 2,600cfs, these folks are in for a fabulous day of playing on the river. If you would like more information on the Thunder Run or any of the trips we will be offering this summer, feel free to give our helpful office staff a call at 1-800-323-4234. We're happy to answer any questions you might have and help you plan your visit to the Kern River. You too could soon be having as much fun as these folks heading up to the river in anticipation of a day filled with fun and adventure.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Ben's First Run on the Lickety Split

After completing our 2010 Guideschool, and being checked off to run this portion of the Upper Kern, Ben Woodruff is seen guiding the first Lickety Split trip of his career. It's not every guide who gets his first trip immortalized in digital pixels. Ben's hitting the wave at Ewings straight and everyone is in the boat. Good job Ben, There's nothing quite like having your first year as a guide be a Big Water year. Go Ben. It's going to be a great year on the Kern. Ben's a lucky guy. . . and so is everyone else fortunate enough to get on the water this summer.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Kern River rafting with mom on Mother's Day offered by Kern River Outfitters

"Paddles up" for mom on Mother’s Day

Paddling down a class IV rapid with mom by your side may sound like an odd gift for Mother’s Day, but on the Kern River one outfitter is working to make it a reality. Kern River Outfitters, a 30-year veteran company on California’s most popular whitewater river, has developed a special “Mother’s Day” trip aimed at those who would rather give mom life-long memories and a thrilling experience rather than a dozen roses.

The trip, which features two days and 20 miles of class III and IV whitewater, takes place on the Lower Kern River outside of Lake Isabella. After the first day of rafting, Kern River Outfitters has a private camp that their guests stay at located about half-way down the river. “This trip is a mother’s dream come true,” commented Will Volpert, operations manager for Kern River Outfitters. “Mom gets to experience the world-class whitewater of the Lower Kern River and, while at camp, she can kick back, relax, drink a glass of wine, and let our guides take care of everything.”

Camping on the Lower Kern River is not your everyday camping experienced, explains Volpert. “Our camp includes sleeping decks, thick sleeping mattresses, shade tarps, picnic tables, and a full kitchen,” he says. “Plus, our guides take care of all the meals and always make sure our guests are comfortable. We take a lot of people who think they will be ‘roughing it’ and when they return from their trip they are always pleasantly surprised.”

As an incentive to choose their two-day Mother’s Day Lower Kern rafting trip as a gift, Kern River Outfitters is offering a “mother discount” of 10% off for her space. Gift certificates are also available but, as Volpert points out, “Mother’s Day only comes once a year and this trip is designed specifically with that in mind.”

Kern River Outfitters has been rafting on the Kern River since 1980. With a staff of over 50 professional river guides and support personnel, the company and its affiliate, Idaho & Oregon River Journeys, run one- to six-day river trips in California, Oregon and Idaho. For more information, visit http://www.KernRafting.com or call 1-800-323-4234.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Lower Kern River is Roaring

Update: Lower Kern River reaches 2,000 Cubic Feet per Second.

If you haven't already heard, the Lower Kern River is roaring at an unseasonably high 2,000 Cubic Feet per Second. There has never been a better time to see the Lower Kern River. We have space available on this weekends trip ~ what better way to celebrate Mother's Day than spending two days creating unforgettable memories?

Give us a ring today to book your two-day Lower Kern rafting trip at 1-800-323-4234.

Monday, May 3, 2010

Photography 101 by Tysun McMullan

Kern River Outfitters' photographer Tysun McMullan writes about a photography tip that will make your friends ask, "how'd you do that?"

Have you ever seen one of those photographs of a river, stream or ocean with surreal looking blurred water and thought, "How did they do that?" I am going to give you a short explanation of how this works and let you run with it.

Those of you who understand cameras and how they work will already know how this is done. It’s not a big secret and it is extremely simple. That said I am amazed at how many people come up to me and say “how did you do that!”

First off, there are only three factors that you need to think about. Shutter speed, Aperture and ISO. The most important factor is shutter speed. You want to tweak the ISO and Aperture in order to achieve the desired shutter speed. The speed of your shutter stipulates the amount of time that your camera shutter is open. Anything below 1/60 of a second will show blur if your subject is moving. Anything that is in front of your lens while your shutter is open will be recorded, including light. On the contrary 1/800 of a second would be a good speed to shoot rafting pictures at. The shutter is open for a shorter amount of time so there is no chance of a blurred subject. Capiche?

For this type of photography you will need a tripod (or a handy rock) Whatever you use, the camera cannot move during your exposure. The goal is to capture the movement of your subject and in order to do that your camera must be completely still for the length of the exposure.

Once you have found your subject, in our case moving water, set your camera to aperture priority mode “A”. An aperture in a lens is the hole or opening through which light travels onto the image plane. The size of the Aperture controls your depth of field but it also controls the amount of light that reaches your image plane or sensor. The higher the number f-stop/aperture means a smaller hole. Therefore, less light.

Now you need to think about your current light. The less light allowed into the camera the longer the shutter will need to stay open to get a proper exposure. Allowing limited light into the camera can be achieved in a few different ways. Today we are only going to think about natural light without filters. Without filters you will have to shoot at dusk or dawn and adjust your ISO and aperture to achieve your desired shutter speed.

So...There you are on the banks of the mighty Kern. The sun is going down and you have found one of your favorite riffles to shoot. First Set your ISO to the lowest setting. Probably ISO100. ISO denotes how sensitive the image sensor is to the amount of light present. A low ISO will require more light and your camera will compensate with a longer exposure. Depending on what kind of depth of field you are looking for you can balance between the ISO and Aperture to effect the length of your exposure. I usually start with the highest number aperture F/22 - F32 depending on your lens so that the least amount of light will be allowed into the camera. If it is starting to get dark and your ISO is set low and the aperture is set high your camera should require at least a 1-second exposure, probably longer. Think about how much movement you are going to get in that 1 second of moving water. At this point you can just play with the different aperture and ISO settings depending on the amount of blur you desire.

Reading that back it sounds a bit complicated. It’s not. The beauty of digital is that you can see what you have done right away and make adjustments accordingly. Back in the dark ages with film we would take multiple shots of the same subject at different shutter speeds and see what we got after developing the film.

With a 5 second exposure you can turn a rapid into a silky blanket running through a garden of rocks. Play around with it, have fun, and don’t drop your camera in the river!

written by Tysun McMullan

Check out Ty's website gallery at: http://www.tysun.net

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Cinco de Mayo on the Lower Kern River

Join us May 5th on the Lower Kern River for our first ever "Cinco de Mayo on the River" trip. Fantastic whitewater and tasty food are what makes the Lower Kern the place to be for this years party. Our camp is in and we're waiting for the first group: give us a ring at 1-800-323-4234 today and we'll plan the fiesta for you.

Cinco de Mayo on the River

Meeting Location: Kern River Outfitters' Rafting Center
Meet Time: 9:30 AM on May 5th
Return Time: Between 4:00 and 5:00 PM on May 6th
River Miles: 10 the first day, 10 the second day, total of 20
Difficulty: Class III and IV
Price: $348 adults / $313.20 youth