Rafting Center Grand Opening

Kern River Outfitters' Rafting Center Grand Opening was held yesterday evening from 6:30pm until about 9:30pm. The event was attended by about 75 people including representatives from local businesses, the Kernville and Kern Valley Chamber of Commerce, guides and staff members from Kern River Outfitters as well as family and friends from around the Kern Valley. It was a gala event filled with great food, drink and fun times. All of us here at Kern River Outfitters would like to thank everyone who showed up and helped us celebrate this event. We appreciated all of the wonderful wishes for the success of our new Rafting Center and the long rafting season ahead.

How to Choose a River Outfitter

A rafting vacation is a popular way for families and groups of friends to enjoy the thrill of whitewater and the serenity of the great outdoors. But how do you choose the most competent outfitter? Keith Stephens, general manager of Kern River Outfitters, suggests you ask a few simple questions. “Experience and track record are paramount when one looks for a professional outfit. Outfitters who are able to attract and hold top quality guides are in the position to offer their guests the best experience on the river.” Stephens advises to inquire as to how much experience a company’s guide staff offers. When shopping for an outfitter, here are a few a few key questions to ask:

1. Do they have a loyal customer base that returns year after year?
2. How long have they been outfitting on the stretch of river you’re intending to run?
3. Are they held in high regard by the federal agencies overseeing their permit?
4. Is their guide staff competent and family friendly?

Answers to these simple questions can shed light on the sometimes foggy process of choosing the right outfit for your group.

River trips can range from hour long jaunts to multi day adventures and rapids from easy Class II and III to more moderate Class IV and high adventure Class V outings. “An excellent rafting outfitter should have a depth of guide staff that can negotiate all of these levels of rapid difficulty with confidence,” Stephens adds. Guide personality is also a key factor in a successful, fun rafting trip. Ask your prospective outfitter the average age and make up of their guide staff. An excellent outfitter will have a good variety of men and women guides who not only specialize in technical skills on the water, but are also interesting, engaging hosts.

Kern River Outfitters has been at the forefront running trips on the Kern River in Southern California for over 30 years. They specialize in running all sections of the Kern River including the Upper, Lower, and Forks of the Kern. They offer trips from a two hour Class II and III run to three day Class V runs. Their most popular trip is the Two Day Lower Kern trip.

With more than 40 professional river guides on staff and over 35 years in the business, Kern River Outfitters is one of the most experienced and popular rafting companies offering trips on the Kern River. For more details on any of the trips they offer, visit www.KernRafting or give their office a call at 1-800-323-4234.

Upper Kern Peaks Sunday, June 6th

The Upper and Forks of the Kern appear to have peaked this past weekend. The flows were approaching 9,000 cubic feet per second (cfs). Here's a picture of "The Flume" (one of the rapids on the One Day Class V "Thunder Run") flowing during the peak. At theses flows, we pass on running Thunder Runs and look for calmer places to take our rafts, but it is still interesting to see how the river changes with these unusually high water flows. The peak flows are beginning to diminish and the river will slowly decrease revealing crystal clear water and wonderful, steady flows throughout June and July for our Upper, Lower, and Forks of the Kern trips. Interested in taking advantage of one of these great vacations? Give us a call at 1-800-323-4234.

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.

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

The Resurrection of the Rafting Center

Those of you who rafted with us the afternoon of July 23rd, 2009 might remember this harrowing site. While all of you were out playing on the river, the Rafting Center was experiencing it's own little adventure via a motorhome, a vehicle in tow, and a set of defective brakes. Although causing quite an obstacle to overcome for the balance of the 2009 season, the good news is that no one was injured and it provided an undeniable motivation to remodel the building for the upcoming rafting season. Plans are being finalized as we type for a new and improved Kern Rafting Center to accompany the big water we expect this summer.


Stay tuned for details of our new and improved Rafting Center. With the promise of a bountiful snow pack, the 2010 season is sure to be one of the best years for running the Kern River with Kern River Outfitters, Southern California rafting at it's finest.

The 2010 Snow Pack is Building

The high country in the Southern Sierra took a pounding last week as three moisture laden storms slammed into the areas comprising the Kern River snow pack. These photos were provide by Dwight and Trudy Pascoe. In the summertime, Dwight is one of our key drivers. In the winter, he drives a snowplow keeping the roads passable around the Kern Valley. His work has been cut out for him this winter and we expect he'll be busy moving snow until the spring.

These past storms and the systems promised to come this winter should make for yet another stellar season rafting the Kern River. We are all hunkered down and waiting for a spring run off that will again prove that Kern River rafting is the best part of a summer vacation.

We will keep you posted as the storms roll in.

Until then, stay warm and keep your paddles crossed for summer fun in 2010.

Fall on the Kern River

After a long season, even the Kern River requires a rest from the annual whitewater run off that allows us to play all spring and summer. The river mellows, the cottonwoods, alders, and willows all swap their green foliage for bright colors and eventually relinquish their leaves altogether in preparation for a long winter nap. A brief time of reflection and regeneration in preparation for the Spring of 2010. Kern River rafting is California rafting at it's best. We suppose the river deserves some down time, as do we all. Kern River Outfitters wishes all of you a wonderful Thanksgiving and we look forward to seeing all of you next spring, when the river and Kern River Outfitters, renewed, will again provide the most exciting whitewater action in California.

Friend of KRO: Dave Derr

This is a time of transition for Dave. On Monday after 30 years of service he retired from the fire department. Dave is married to Dawn Jordan, KRO’s top notch Office Manager.

Dave was 21 years old and working as a union carpenter in Los Angeles when his family moved to the Kern Valley. He’d come up and visit them on weekends and enjoy the outdoor activities and natural beauty of the area. When the weekends kept getting longer, he realized it was time to get a job in the area and move to the Kern River. Firefighting appealed to him because you have the opportunity on your calls to make a bad situation better for people.

Over the years Dave has boated the different sections of the Kern River many times. His favorite trip is the 2 -Day Lower Kern because it has a little bit of everything. As Dave says "You have your “woohoo time” interspersed with quiet sections. And then of course there is the KRO Lower Camp which is set up with a buffed out river kitchen." And it is tough to keep Dave out of the kitchen.

After seeing him at work in the kitchen and tasting his dishes at a couple of bbq’s he was recruited to make the ribs for our Annual Pub & Grub trip. These mouthwatering morsels have just the right combo of heat and sweet and unbelievably he has offered to share the recipe with us. Of course if you’d like to stay out of the kitchen just sign up for next year’s Pub & Grub on July 8-9, 2010 where Dave’s Ribs are paired with cold steins of frosty brew!

In a recent intra-company Rib Cookoff, Dave’s ribs were the clear winner over Jim Ritter of Rogue River Journeys. While accepting his 1st Place Ribbon, Dave graciously commented “I just want to say that Jim’s recipe was excellent. It’s too bad that his long drive to the cook-off put time constraints on his preparation and he had to use canned sauce.” Dawn, Dave’s assistant rib maker, sighed and added “Jim had to use Larrapins”.

Dave’s summary of life:

Favorite rapid on the Kern River: “Pinball, I enjoy its technical aspects”.
Favorite part of the rafting company: “Socializing and meeting new people”
Dave’s favorite person in the world: “ I am married to her, Dawn Jordan”.
Quote from Dave: “When Dawn is happy, I am happy.”

Everyone at KRO congratulates Dave on his retirement!



Dave's Ribs

Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Wash ribs and pat dry. Season well with black pepper and garlic powder. Roast uncovered for 1 hour.
Remove from oven. Mix 2 parts soy to 1 part worcestershire sauce and pour liberally all over ribs, making sure that liquid comes up at least _” on sides of roasting pan. Seal pan with aluminum foil and return to oven for 1 hour and 5 minutes.
Remove from oven and cut into chunks of 2 or 3 ribs. Brush on your favorite sauce and finish on the barbecue.

Upper Kern River Clean Up Day

Kern River Outfitters is proud to team with the Sequoia National Forest, California Land Management and other great sponsors in this years Upper Kern River Clean Up Day slated for Saturday, June 13th. If you are interested in lending a hand to help keep the Upper Kern River corridor litter free, feel free to join us at the Corral Creek Day Use Area at 9:00am on the 13th.

Trash bags and a hearty lunch will be supplied. For more information, contact Cheryl Bauer with the Forest Service at 760-376-3781 ext. 630 or Debbie Campbell with the CLM at 760-376 1815 for more information.

Let us all pitch in to keep the Kern River the pristine Southern California Rafting destination for everyone to enjoy.

2009 Guide Training is Fast Approaching

Kern River Outfitters 2009 Guide Training is scheduled to launch on April 18th and run consecutively through April 23rd this year. With California rafting summer outings becoming more and more popular every year, increasing numbers of intrepid folks look to our guide training course to either improve their existing skills, or develop new ones from scratch. If you have an inclination to become a competent Southern California rafting guide, you still have an opportunity to sign up. In short order, you’ll be rafting the Kern River in style. Learn about Kern River rafting on the Lower Kern, Upper Kern and Forks of the Kern with the best in the business. Give our office a call at 1-800-323-4234 if you have any questions or would like more information.

Dwight and Trudy Pascoe

Dwight and Trudy Pascoe are two treasures whose contributions help make Kern River Outfitters one of the best whitewater rafting outfits in the business.

Dwight is a genuine Kern River native. He was born in Bakersfield (by the way, yesterday just happens to be Dwights birthday) and raised in the Kern River Valley. He spent a good portion of his formative years on a cattle ranch in the South Fork country.

He attended high school in Bakersfield. In those days, the bus ride to high school was a little more complicated that it is today. In fact, he would leave Sunday evening and return Friday evening, spending the entire school week in Bakersfield. When he wasn't in school, he was busy fishing, hiking, riding horses and punching cattle all throughout the Southern Sierra Nevada and Owens Valley. In the midst of all of this, Dwight managed to log in 30 years with Cal Trans. He still operates snow plows in the winter keeping the roads open and safe for all of us here in the Kern Valley. Dwight is a fountain of local and regional historical knowledge. Ask him about the days prior to the Isabella Dam or driving cattle to market on horseback and he will gladly dispense all kinds of fun historical tidbits.

Trudy hails from Tulare, California and has operated a number of successful businesses including a busy photography studio. Here at Kern River Outfitters, she manages our Rafting Center making sure our guests arrive with a smile on their face, have a hot cup of coffee in their hands, and questions and last minute concerns addressed. She also looks after the guides offering sage advice when the need arises.

Trudy found Dwight 22 years ago and they've been happily riding the range ever since. We all hope they will be saddling up with Kern River Outfitters for many years to come.

Let It Snow

Wow. The Kern River Valley and the Southern Sierra Snowpack got hammered by an Arctic Gorilla the first part of the week. Although the weather might indeed have been frightful, it looks like Kern River Rafting in 2009 is gonna be delightful.

The storm essentially closed the Kern Valley for two days and the snow is still covering the mountains with a blanket of promise for bigwater boating in 2009.

Below are a few photos of the aftermath on the Upper Kern after the roads were cleared and access was allowed:


Corral Creek


Entrance to the Gorge



Upper Kern




Ant Canyon


The Mayor and First Lady of Bigwater's Residence

The Flag Flies

This year, we unveiled our flag to signify the opening of the Kern River rafting season. The flag will fly proudly throughout the 2008 season, which this year should be through the weekend of August 23rd. Come join us on the river while the flag and the water are unfurled and running strong this year. The weather is beautiful and the water is simply outstanding!

The Lower Kern is Running for the Summer

The Lower Kern is Up and Running.

One of the most anticipated weekends of the summer starts first thing tomorrow morning. The Watermaster has cranked up the water flow on the Lower Kern. The rafting season on the Kern River really gets underway when the Lower kicks in. Our two day trips on the Lower Kern are the best part of summer for families and groups of friends looking for the finest multi day river trip in California. If you’re looking for warm water, tons of great rapids, and smiles galore, Kern River Rafting on the Lower is the ticket. Give our office a call at 1-800-323-4234 and we will see if we can find an opening for you and your friends.

See you on the River!

La Vida Verde

The Green Life. This year, in addition to concentrating on running great river trips on the Forks, Upper, and Lower Kern, Kern River Outfitters is paying special attention to the environment and what we can do to improve it. We figure it is high time for all of us to help Mother Nature out a bit. so, for all of our guests this year, we have reserved a complementary green tote that we hope will remind you of all the little things you can do to help the environment as well. In addition to being a great place to store your wet clothes and goodies when rafting, we hope these totes will allow you to use fewer disposable bags when shopping and always be a reminder not only of a fabulous rafting trip, but of our collective responsibility to this wonderful place we call Earth. Kern River Rafting has never been more fun, and together, we can have a blast running the river and doing our part to care for the Earth.

Forks of the Kern Guide Trip Summary

Kern River Outfitters completed its annual guide training trip on the Forks of the Kern this past week. The trip had its usual mixture of beauty and adrenaline and many lessons were well received by all of our guide staff. The trip is a great refresher for our Forks guides and also an excellent learning tool for training Forks guides or just any of our guides who want to see big water.

Oops. Catching some air on class V Carson Falls, Forks of the Kern:




The Forks season will be short this year, but we hope to get up there at least a couple of times before we switch our focus to the Lower Kern for the duration of the summer. So... if you want to do a Forks trip reserve your spot ASAP!

-Posted by Luth

Kern Trips featured in LA Family Magazine

Check out the great article by Mark Smith that ran last week in the Los Angeles Family Magazine. Mark joined us last summer on a Lower Kern River trip. His article can be read here.

With recent storms, the Kern River snow pack is improving daily and we're looking forward to another fun season of rafting on the jewel of the Sierra, the Kern River. Visit our website at KernRafting.com for information about all of our trips.

See you on the river.
The Staff at Kern River Outfitters

The "Pub and Grub"

Introducing... "Pub and Grub". What do you think of this for a 2007 theme trip: A two day Lower Kern trip along the lines of a wine pairing trip dedicated to the fine art of brewing quality micro beer? This might be one of the best ideas the Kern’s seen in some time.

After a full day on the water, what could be better than arriving at camp and spending the evening being educated on the nuances of micro beer by a pro? Complete with a couple reps from the brewery, icy cold samples, and a specially prepared barbeque?

I suspect this trip is bound to become a Kern tradition.

Any guides request working this trip?


Posted by Luth