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Dave Sperling | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> Rafting the Kern, June 29, 2005 tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Rafting the Kern, June 29, 2005

Wow - Talk about an adrenaline rush! Ben and I spent the day white water rafing on the Kern River, and it was an amazing adventure with exciting Class 3 and 4 rapids .... rapids with nicknames like Fish Trap Rapid, Bottoms Up, Surprise, Hari Kari, Horseshoe Falls, Patch Corner, and Pinball!

If you want to read more about this partticular stretch of the Lower Kern River, check out Christopher Earls Brennen's excellent description, Cataracts of the Kern. We went with a company called White Water Voyages, and you can find them online at
http://www.whitewatervoyages.com .

These photos were taken in quick succession at a monster of a rapid called 'Dead Man's Curve'. I'm on the front left side of the boat (in the tan hat), and Ben is behind me. To my right is John, and behind him is his daugher, Alex. Our guide, Kevin, is at the back of the boat.

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1. We are the last boat, so we can watch the other two rafts going through, and witness the destruction awaiting us!

1. We are the last boat, so we can watch the other two rafts going through, and witness the destruction awaiting us!

 2. Things are pretty calm in this photo, but there is trouble just ahead.

2. Things are pretty calm in this photo, but there is trouble just ahead.

 3. The front of the raft is dipping down and getting submerged.

3. The front of the raft is dipping down and getting submerged.

4. The back of the raft is now almost fully under water, as you can only see the top of the guide's head.

4. The back of the raft is now almost fully under water, as you can only see the top of the guide's head.

5. The raft is tipping over, and Ben and I are holding on as tight as possible.

5. The raft is tipping over, and Ben and I are holding on as tight as possible.

 6. I nearly fall out, but manage to hold on.

6. I nearly fall out, but manage to hold on.

7. The boat's upright again. John is nearly out of the boat, but his daughter, Alex, is missing.

7. The boat's upright again. John is nearly out of the boat, but his daughter, Alex, is missing.

8. Photo of Alex in the water. She was rescued a few minutes later, but was quite shaken from the experience.

8. Photo of Alex in the water. She was rescued a few minutes later, but was quite shaken from the experience.


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Cheryl 09-Apr-2009 22:45
I always loved the Kern River. I lived near there for many years. It is a beautiful and exciting, but very dangerous river. Congratulations for coming out alive and well. That curve is called "Dead Man's Curve" for a reason. Alex was very lucky.
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