Dustin Smith served as principal guide and leader of our journey to Kern River. As you can see in the second photo in this gallery, he focused often, after making sure everyone was well-cared for, as the yarn spinner about the "dreaded alligator", which he claimed was 20-feet long. There are images of him actually riding the "alligator," although no known sightings of alligators have been made in California waters. Other images are of family and friends negotiating the rapids. There are also shots of complete strangers who came within camera range.