Kern Fest

[WaterIsGod]

Well week 2 of running the Kern out here in sunny side Califorinia. I had friday off and had to wait for a friend (still in training) to get off before we could make our 4 1/2 hour drive up to kernville.

Got up there early friday morning went to the shop and got a 4/20 to demo and headed deep into the mountians. Saw a lot of pessiabilities on the way up but the friend needed a refresher so we oped for a fairly easy run starting where brush creek meets the kern (Limestone run). After getting through the run with no incidents except the brain freezes after every roll (Dam snow melt).

We walked up brush creek to have a look, maybe think about entering the race, backed out because I didn't want to waste the 50$ entry. (EJ ended up winning who would have thought) so we headed up the mountian even more to look at what else we could get our paddles intobut because of SNOW the roads up the mountians were closed.

We scouted a couple of rapids on the way back down the mountian, the locals say that they are class 5+ but when we looked at them they had really easy lines. So I am completely lost on the whole rating system people say its harder out here but, some of the 3+ and lower 4's are harder then some stuff they were calling 4+. o well stoped at a good play wave found the week before and got a feel for the new boat. Then headed back to town.

Tried to gather people that wound run the salmon falls rapids but no one wanted to at the level the river was running. So we headed up and put in above chimese gorge ran the gorge and down to to falls rapids. After passing the last rapid of the gorge, I was just kind of putzing around went I went to boof off of a 4 ft ledge and didn't quite clear the hole. it caught me and I tried everything I had to get out but it wouldn't let me after about 5 min of tring and ensuring that the friend was in a good spot down river
I had to enjoy a good swim in 35 degree water. I liked it so much that that boat went river right and i was river left, so I jumped back in the go reunite with the boat. Then find my way down the recover throw bag, paddle, and foam.

After my dip we continued down river scouted the 3 big boys of the section because of the heavy amount of rain all night, we ended up running 2 of them.

The first was a really fun one that we thought was going to be a problem but found a sweet line right off the back side of a 3 foot roster tail.

The secound had a 12 foot drop on the right side so we took that route . and when we got to the third we looked and looked and talked and talked.
We found 3 good lines. but in the middle there was a hugh hole that we would still be in if we had ended up getting into. It was a what if call and there was only 2 of us so after talking for 30 min. about it we walked. After the section was over we went back up to run brush creek but day light soon ran out on the way back to town my shoulder started bothering me (from tring to stay upright in the hole that enevidably caused my dip in the ice water) so we headed back to San D to get ready for the following work week.

And that is the couclusion of my Trip It wasn't as highlighted as my old montors of the corn but I have had a few brain cells removed by all of the bleach and sunny dumb beach bums out here that plastic means which card you want to put it on. But I will be returing to Va this sunday and hopefully will be there untill the 13th of may,

see yall in a few.
Otter

[Paddleboy]

Thanks for posting the report. I would love to paddle out west some day, sounds like fun. What was the air temperature to go with the 35 degree water?

[WaterIsGod]

The air teamp isn't too bad two weekends ago it was in the 70's is got really burned, last friday it was overcast and drissling so i'd say low 50's then saturday it went back up to low 70's, today in San D it feels like 80's

The paddling out here is great so many nice creeks, and rivers I can't think of trips because there are so many. They only problem is getting over the cold then its game on. If you get back out here let me know. I will be in Va from this sunday until the 13 of may so I will stop by richmond almost every day in between I need a good playspot.

Later Otter

[guy66]

I will be in Va from this sunday until the 13 of may so I will stop by richmond almost every day in between I need a good playspot.

Give us a shout when you get here!