Class:
4CIV

Gear:
Rope: 2 @ 120’, 2 @ 60′, 30 of webbing, steel rappel rings. Self rescue and group rescue gear with head lamps. Layers for swimming

Expected Time Commitment:
Car to car for a small solid team 9 hours on high water days

Technical Obstacles:
Multiple rappels into water some directly in the water course. Swiftwater considerations when crossing the Kern River

Non Technical Obstacles:
Route finding on the approach

Recommended Time of Year:
Late Spring (depending on run off), Summer, early Fall

Finding the Trail Head:
From Bakersfield head north on CA-99 N., 0.1 mi
Take exit 26A to merge onto CA-178 E/Rosedale Hwy toward Downtown Continue to follow CA-178 E., 42.6 mi
Take exit 43 for CA-155 toward Lake Isabella/Kernville. 0.2 mi
Turn left at CA-155 W. 6.6 mi
Continue on Burlando Rd/Wofford Blvd
Continue to follow Burlando Rd., 4.2 mi
Continue on Kernville Rd., 0.5 mi
Slight left to stay on Kernville Rd., 154 ft
Turn left at Sierra Way 3.4 mi
Continue on Kern River Hwy/Mountain Rd 99
Continue to follow Mountain Rd 99 16.3 mi
Until you reach the “Johnsondale Bridge” parking area. From here is the Kern River looks like its flowing to hard for you safely swim across, turn around and go back home!

The Approach:
(There are two accepted approaches. We will list only one)
Hike over the old bridge and down the stairs then follow the trail for about 2 miles along the Kern River. You will see the Seven Tea Cups as it drains into the Kern River. You will need to find a point where you can safely swim across the river up river from the Tea Cups themselves. Swiftwater techniques should be used here including PFD’s for everyone. After you are across, climb the rock ridge up slope of the Tea Cups, traversing left after you gain some height. you can size up your route form this vantage point. If the canyon looks like the water is flowing to hard you should opt out and go back the way you came. Continue up slope carefully navigating the slabs of rock until you reach the top of the Seven Tea Cups gorge proper. Gear up and start down the canyon route from here.

The Canyon Descent:
#1 120′ two stage rappel off a granite arch canyon center, (swimming on rappel)
#2 45′ rappel through a keyhole directly in the water course off into a swim
Exit this swim just before the next poor over and traverse canyon right to a dry slide/ or down climb
#3 35′ rappel off 2 pitons (webbing may need to be used to extend for a rope pull)
#4 80′ rappel off 2 bolts down climb into swims
#5 40′ rappel off single bolt on shelf or small tree in Waco
#6 40′ low angle rappel off tree at base of #5 into Waco canyon left
#7 60′ rappel into swim, then down climb into swim
#8 (two options)
A. 50′ two stage rappel off two bolts canyon left into “the toilet bowl” (Very hazardous in high water, be prepared to self rescue from this pool back to anchor)
B. “Dry” 50′ rappel avoiding the lower pool off stout tree up on wall canyon right. (Exposed traverse & upclimb needed to reach this anchor)
#9 65′ rappel off two bolts canyon right into narrow slot. Make sure to avoid the narrowest part of this drop. You will rappel into “the champagne room” that may have you swimming rather hard if the water levels are high. To avoid this, there is a third bolt in a shallow waco with a chain and clip. The leader can swing over and clip the rappel line in to redirect the rappel past the champagne room. Also watch out for the underwater snag (small log wedged under chockstone in the water course).

Optional Write Up
There are a few points where you can skip out of the route to bypass questionable obstacles. Take care at drop #2, and drop #8 & 9.