Kings Rivers
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Whitewater Voyages - 2013 KINGS RIVERS TRIP MEETING TIME: LOCAL WEATHER 1-Day Joy Ride 9:30 a.m. www.weather.com Zip Code 93657 2-Day Ride The Glide 9:30 a.m. Mega 1-Day Joy Ride ** WATER FLOWS: Ultra Mega Ride the Glide ** www.dreamflows.com ** Please arrive between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. to camp the night before your rafting trip. A pre-trip breakfast is Reservations Office served in the morning. You will be advised of the time to assemble for rafting. P. O. Box 2004 Kernville, CA 93238 TRIP MEETING SITE: Whitewater Voyages’ Base Camp Phone: (800) 400-7238 Fax: (760) 379-4511 Trimmer Springs Road Kings Canyon Email: [email protected] (Approx 1 ¾ hours east of Fresno) Website: www.whitewatervoyages.com TRIP AGENDA 1-Day Trips 2-Day Trips . Arrive and check in at meeting site/time specified above Same as 1-day, with the addition of the following: . Turn in your signed, completed Release Form at trip check-in . At conclusion of 1st day rafting—change clothes, square away camping gear, hike, play volleyball, read, relax…your choice . Rafting gear provided (life vest, helmet, wet suit if needed) . Approximately 6:00 pm enjoy happy hour snacks followed by . Safety talk administered by Whitewater Voyages’ lead guide a hearty BBQ dinner around 7:00 pm. Transported to river put-in . After dinner visit, tell stories, play campfire games or . Rafts launch onto river; each raft has own professional music…enjoy the stars and night air guide . Retire to your campsite . Enjoy midday lunch along river’s edge . Wake up…enjoy coffee and a big cookout breakfast. Raft to take-out (meeting site) . Hit the water for 2nd day of rafting with lunch midday . Cold beverage provided at take-out Mega Trips -- Same as 1-Day or 2-Day Trip, Plus: . Arrive evening before rafting start date . Camp overnight . Enjoy cookout breakfast before rafting CAMPING GEAR Sleeping bags and tents are available for rent. Please see separate chart for rental information. Rentals should be arranged in advance through the reservations office at 800-400-7238. Whitewater Voyages - 2013 KINGS RIVERS MEALS A granola-type snack is provided on the raft. Please bring a personal water bottle with you…a gallon water jug is provided on each raft. 1-Day Trips: Make-your-own-sandwich buffet lunch consisting of variety breads, deli-meats, cheeses, vegetables, fruit, cookies and punch 2-Day Trips: Day 1: Lunch as described above, happy hour snacks and sodas, BBQ dinner with beef and chicken or fish, salad, potato or pasta, vegetables, French bread and dessert Day 2: Hearty cookout breakfast and deli-style sandwich buffet Mega Trips: Pre-trip cookout breakfast in addition to regular trip meals as described above Vegetarians usually find sufficient accommodation however special needs requests are accepted through our main reservations office. You are welcome to bring your own cooler while camping if you wish to have specific food or beverage items with you. ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES Clients are welcome to bring alcoholic beverages of their choosing for personal consumption in camp (preferably non-breakable containers). We recommend alcohol in moderation in consideration of others on the trip. Please understand that alcohol is strictly prohibited while rafting. WET SUITS Wet suits are provided for use as needed on a complimentary basis. Wet suits are typically required through May. Occasionally, cool weather occurs after May in which case a wet suit may be needed. Wet suit size requirements are determined at trip check-in. Wet suits provided are 3mm neoprene “Farmer John” style . Nylon paddle jackets provided with wet suits—however booties are not—please wear sturdy, secure fitting shoes and wool socks . Wet suits should be worn over bathing suit, lightweight non-cotton shorts or polypropylene long underwear . We recommend wearing shorts over your wet suit to help prevent slipping on the raft PLEASE DO NOT TAKE CAR KEYS OR VALUABLES WITH YOU ON THE RIVER! You may leave your car keys in our Kern office at check-in. Whitewater Voyages cannot be responsible for items left in your car. PLEASE DO NOT PLAN ON WEARING FLIP-FLOPS OR THONGS FOR RAFTING. You must wear shoes that securely stay on your feet—such as tennis shoes, water shoes, water sandals that strap on completely, etc. Whitewater Voyages - 2013 KINGS RIVER DIRECTIONS TO MEETING SITE Please DO NOT GPS directions—you will end up in the wrong place. It is crucial that you follow the directions exactly as outlined below. Whitewater Voyages’ base camp for the Kings River is remote and nearly 20 miles from the nearest source for gas, ice or pay phone. Be prepared to drive seemingly endless curves around Pine Flat Reservoir into the beautiful Kings Canyon PART A From North of Fresno 1. Highway 99 South 2. Exit onto 180 East / Kings Canyon -- drive 4 ½ miles on 180 East 3. Exit onto Chestnut – turn right and go ¼ mile 4. Left onto Belmont – drive approximately 10 miles at which point Belmont intersects with Academy Avenue 5. See “Part B” below From South of Fresno 1. Highway 99 North 2. Exit Kingsburg / Sanger (which reads “Pine Flat Lake, Huntington Lake, Net Right, Hospital”) 3. Right onto Mendocino (in town called “18th Avenue) – drive 8 ½ miles – passing through the towns of Kingsburg and Parlier 4. Left onto Adams Avenue – drive ½ mile to Academy Avenue 5. Right onto Academy Avenue – drive 7 ½ miles to Belmont 6. Right onto Belmont 7. See “Part B” below PART B Belmont turns into Trimmer Springs Road shortly after the intersection of Belmont & Academy. From the intersection of Belmont & Academy you will drive 42 miles on Trimmer Springs Road to the meeting site. It is helpful to set your odometer to zero at Belmont & Academy and mark your progress…these are approximate (we have found variance in odometer readings when driving different vehicles…) a. At 13 miles you will pass through the small community of Piedra b. At 26 miles you will pass through Trimmer (last available phone) c. At 33 miles you will cross Big Creek Bridge at which point the paved road makes an abrupt right turn (if you find yourself on a dirt road you’ve missed the turn.) You’re getting close when you pass a power station on the right hand side d. At 42 miles you will pass Kirch Flat Campground—shortly after, veer to the right and cross the Kings River Bridge e. After crossing the bridge follow the left fork of the road and drive ¼ mile—look for Whitewater Voyages’ parking lot signs on the right and our base camp on the left Whitewater Voyages - 2013 KINGS RIVER LOCAL CAMPING LOCAL MOTELS Forest Service Campgrounds: Prior to booking room please check the cancellation policy of the facility you are considering. Some motels require a Many local campgrounds are “first come, first serve” and do two-night stay when weekends are involved. not require reservations unless a group of 25 or more is involved—in which case reservations and permit are required, Fresno and a fee is charged. For reservations and information on Forest Service campgrounds, including the following, contact Best Western Village Inn (800) 722-8878 the ranger station. Courtyard Marriott (559) 221-6000 Days Inn Fresno (559) 222-5641 . Kirch Flat Campground (1/4 mile from our base) Holiday Inn Express (559) 277-5700 . Green Cabin Flat Parkland Hotel (559) 275-7766 La Quinta Motor Inn (800) 531-5900 . Gravel Flat Piccadilly Inn (800) 468-3587 . Bear Wallow Quality Inn ’N Suites (559) 229-5811 Radisson Hotel (559) 268-1000 . Trimmer Ranger Station Ramada Inn (559) 224-4040 (559) 855-8321 Roadway Inn (559) 431-3557 Sanger Other Campgrounds: Townhouse Motel (559) 875-5531 . Island Park (located at Pine Flat Lake) (559) 787- 2589 Pine Flat . Mill Flat, Camp 4 & Camp 4 ½ Bensons Resort (559) 787-2207 www.rescentre.com Tables, vault toilets, no drinking water One-half hour from Whitewater Voyages’ base camp with limited amenities (not a modern or luxurious facility!) Additional camping information may be available through links found on our website at ww.whitewatervoyages.com If you are beach camping with Whitewater Voyages please note that the area is not well-shaded and restroom facilities fairly primitive. Thank you for rafting with Whitewater Voyages…we hope you have a wonderful time! A true California classic, the wonderful class III-III+ Kings River is the largest river of the Sierra. With a season which generally extends into late July or early August, the Kings is famous for its long, exhilarating yet forgiving rapids. as 10 feet provide thrilling roller coaster rides. Before and after high water, the Kings is an idyllic whitewater wonderland with over 40 rapids perfect for first-timers, families, and people of all ages from 7 to 77. A river of pure fun without the anxiety that sometimes accompanies tougher runs! 5,000 feet----four hundred feet deeper than Grand Canyon Just upstream from our run, the Kings moves through magnificent Kings Canyon. canyon in the entire United States. Located east of Fresno in Sierra and Sequoia National Forests, the Kings is centrally located and equally accessible from the Los Angeles and San Francisco areas 200 miles from San Jose! By the way, as well as fabulously fun whitewater, During our the two-day high water Kings typical trips of include late May and early June, wave trains with waves as high four delicious meals, happy hour, drinks and hors d’oeuvres, scintillating campfire entertainment, plus the full Kin run of our beautiful sandy-beach base camp right on the majestic Kings River.