Kernville rafting fly in tomorrow

[Tommooney]

Hi: I'm flying into Kernville L05 tomorrow for an early 11:00 lunch and then river rafting for the afternoon.

Anyone been lately? Do you still call the van lady for a ride to town and back? Runway, restaurant still the same? I don't get an answer on their telephone...

Thanks

[Tommooney]

Flying into Kernville L05. Lake Isabella is full and surrounds airport. Runway / Taxis in great shape. They have fuel at good price!

Restaurant open breakfast / lunch. Rents crew van $25 / 4 hour.

Campgrounds looked very nice between runway and lake.

There is record water flow in Kern river and rafting is full throttle now.

[PhateX1337]

Nice! Thanks for the report, may go check it out soon. Does rafting company come pick you up? 

[Tommooney]

The rafting company said they could pick up but I would suspect a long wait. They answer their phone and seem happy to talk. You'll probably want to talk to them anyway about the rafting trip.  Sierra South rafting Co. Google it to find. There are other companies next door too.

The airport restaurant crew van is $25 / 4 hour or $40 / day. i used from 11:00 to 5:00 and they charged $25. Ok to bring back late and leave keys where they tell you. There used to be ( 2019 ) a town van lady for $10. / load each way but didn't see it this time. Maybe still there? Its all really laid back casual.

A restaurant guy offered a ride free but didn't know if he could pick up. 5 years ago I used this method and someone did come pick up. Its only 2 miles each way. There's usually people ( old pilots ) hanging at restaurant that can give ride to town. I didn't check to see if they have Uber? A fold up bike would be an easy level ride each way. The town / raft Co is just past the left end of first photo where river comes in.

The raft company offers an 2 day overnight camping option on lower Kern that I'm going to try next month. We did the upper Kern this trip. $150.pp. I only booked it the day before going. 

I left my house at 9:00, flew there, had lunch, rafted 4 hours 12:30 to 4:30 and was home by 6:30 for dinner. I've not seen this much water flow in flying  there for 40 years. 6000 cfs today, most years its below 1000 cfs. They call it class IV but didn't seem like class IV compared to American river near Placerville ( it was mellower on the Kern ). At the start, they have everyone jump out of raft in relatively calm water ( 2X2 ) into very cold river and swim upriver and float back and get hauled back in raft to verify people can swim enough for class IV which was unique to me but seemed like a true test for safety. No BSing. It won't work for very old, weak or heavyweights. They said they had class V further up river but flow was too big today. Come back next week.....

The water in Lake Isabella is at the dam top / over spillway so should not flood airport anymore than in first picture. In the third picture, you can see distant runway behind the Mooneys is 5' above water. Water was all around but no problem landing / taxi / park. Airport was engineered for full lake. Excellent pavement. Also in first picture , you can see camp ground between middle of runway / lake . Looked nice with trees and sprinklers going on the grass. Port a potties and looked like maybe showers. And a separate ramp to park plane next to camping. No one using it on a beautiful week end. Landing is usually rwy 17 so a long final is over town and river ( nice video if you have go pro mounted ).

It was a perfect 90F yesterday but often over 100F in summer. Water is melted snow and waves regularly in your face rafting....nice combination ( they lend you a free wetsuit farmer john ). A really nice day trip from my overcast OXR. If you want some company when you go, let me know.

[PhateX1337]

Amazing, thanks for the detail - I may try to get there in the next month or so. Will let you know when we are planning on heading that way, sounds like a great day trip.