RiverPhoto Gallery

HPC 5-day Precipitation Forecast - 10/16/04

Winter returned to the Sierra in mid-October. As forecast a series of three increasingly potent systems produced a total of 4+ inches water equivalent in areas of the Northern & Central Sierra, and from about 1.5 to 3.0 inches water equivalent in the Southern Sierra.

Sierra Cup Winner Keith Kishiyama at Miracle

The Sierra Cup Slalom Series started with the T.J. Slalom at the Kern River Festival in April, and ended last week with seventh race in the series, the Mokelumne River Races. More than 150 paddlers competed in at least one race. Keith Kishiyama placed first in Men’s Masters  in six of seven Sierra Cup races, finishing well ahead of second place finisher Gary Valle, also in the Men’s Masters class. Bill Triffet’s win in the Men's K-1 Novice at the Mokelumne pushed him to third place in the Series, just ahead of Charlie Albright. For all the results, see the Sierra Cup Final Standings (Adobe PDF).

Congratulations from the Miracle Race Course! - 08/22/04

Yeaaa Rebecca! That's what all the paddlers are shouting in this photo taken at the 2004 KVRC Miracle Hot Springs Slalom. Much of Rebecca's on-the-water training in the year leading up to the Olympics was on the new slalom course. The inaugural race was a celebration of Rebecca's dedication to the sport of kayaking, exemplary Olympic spirit, and Silver medal win.

2004 Olympian & Silver Medalist Rebecca Giddens

Rebecca Giddens is one of the top-ranked women's slalom kayakers in the world. The 2002 World Champion, and five time National Champion competed in her second Olympic Games on August 17-18, 2004 in Athens, Greece, winning the Silver medal in Women's whitewater slalom.

Surf Wave on the Dam Run

Gary Gunder surfs a nice wave on the Dam Run, with about 1000 cfs in the reach. The Borel Powerplant relicensing process will determine the water released to this section for the next 30 years.

2004 Olympian, Rebecca Giddens

On June 12 Sierra South and the Kern Valley River Council sponsored a benefit barbecue for Olympic paddler, and Kern Valley resident, Rebecca Giddens. The 2002 World Champion and five time National Champion in women's whitewater slalom will compete in her second Olympic Games on August 17-18 in Athens, Greece. She will leave the Kern Valley on June 15 to compete internationally and train on the Olympic course.

Limestone Run, below Joe's Diner, Upper Kern

A view of the Betty's Bakery section of the N.F. Kern downstream of Joe's Diner rapid.

Kern River Flow & Isabella Reservoir Data - 05/05/04

According to preliminary COE data, the Upper Kern at Kernville peaked at 7.29 ft. the afternoon of May 5th at 2074 cfs.

2004 Kern River Kayak & Raft Festival

Sierra South instructor Andrew Bell, paddling his C1 to a first place in his class, with one of the faster times in the slalom. Andrew also competed in the Pro Freestyle event.

2004 Kern River Kayak & Raft Festival

Sierra South's very own Paul Armes, in a Liquid Logic Space Cadet, got the biggest air of all the Freestyle competitors, consistently sticking Loops, Air Loops and Space Godzillas, and winning the Men's Expert class.

CNRFC Isabella Inflow Forecast for conditions as of 03/16/04

NOHRSC Sierra Snow Temperature - 03/04/04

With the California Cooperative Snow Surveys March snow course measurements nearly complete, the Kern River basin snowpack is reported to be at about 108% of normal for the date, or about 96% of the April 1 seasonal total.

HPC 3-Day Precipitation Forecast - 02/24/04

More than 5 inches of precipitation was forecast by the HPC over a large area of the Sierra. The 18z ETA forecasted about 3 inches (water equivalent) for the northern Kern River basin for the storm, and this was about the amount received.

New 2004 Boats from Dagger & Liquid Logic - 02/16/04

New for 2004! Liquidlogic has come up with what we feel are the best river running boats since the RPM The Hoss and Lil' Joe offer great river running predictability, simple & elegant outfitting, and a playful, roomy hull.

New in '04 from Dagger are the all-around freestyle/downriver boat, the Juice, and the new creek boat, the Nomad. The Juice 6.9 and Juice 7.1 are the best outfitted boats Dagger has ever produced.

Precipitation Outlook Feb. 11-16 - 02/06/04

Snowfall in the Kern River basin in 2004 has been remarkably similar to that in 2002 and 2003, with well above average totals at the beginning of January, followed by an extended period of (generally) dry weather. This Precipitation Outlook forecast the dry pattern that persisted well into February.

NOHRSC National Snow Analyses - 01/05/04

This Snow Analysis from the National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center provides an excellent overview of the Sierra snowpack at the beginning of January. Snow data used to update the model include observations from the NOHRSC's Airborne Snow Survey Program, NWS and FAA field offices, NWS Cooperative Observers, the Natural Resources Conservation Service SNOTEL and snow course networks, the California Department of Water Resources and Canadian snow pillow networks, and snow cover observations from NOAA's GOES and AVHRR satellites.

ETA 48hr Precipitation Forecast - 10/31/03

The first snow of the season fell in the Sierra. Kern River basin snow sensors at higher elevations generally recorded about 0.7 inch snow water equivalent.

NOAA Winter Precipitation Outlook - 10/16/03

NOAA released its 2003-2004 Winter Outlook for the U.S. The forecast was very similar to that issued in September, with equal chances for below average, normal, or above average precipitation for the West and much of the country.

Kayak Polo Action

Kayak polo action near the goal at a tournament at Jack London square in Oakland. The paddlers are Scott Ostrem (blocking) of the San Diego Kayak Club, and Rob Logan (#2) and John O'Donnell of the Richmond Plungers. Photo by by Krisztina Peterfy. For more info about kayak polo see the October 6, 2003 Rivernotes.

Big Whitney Meadow (9700') - Kern River Basin -09/29/03

Big Whitney Meadow, at about 9700' in the Sierra southwest of Mt. Langley looks big, but it is just a small fraction of the huge, 1000 square mile drainage area of the Kern River upstream of Kernville. In an average Winter snow course measurements here will record the water equivalent of about 200 cumulative inches of snow. The mountains of the Mineral King area can be seen in the distance.