Explore the Life changing effects Sierra Water had on Kevin Tucker
When I met Kevin Tucker it was like so many others in my life today, we met through Instagram. A like mindedness of exploration and beautiful images of places in the Sierra. I had not spoken to Kevin and didn’t know his life story, just that he loved the water and sharing the fun places he and his friends explored in the mountains. Then one post in the new year caught my attention. Kevin was talking about following his passions and sharing the river with others, so they could discover what he found. I needed to learn more. What I discovered by conversation is a man who has battled in life, that by a simple act of exploring around the next bend, discovered a passion of discovery, then by committing to that passion he regained purpose, direction and now a new found dream to serve. Let me introduce you to Kevin Tucker.
Kevin is a local tile contractor in Tuolumne County and is a father of 5. He moved from the concrete jungle of San Jose some 20 years ago and for much of his time was like most of us, raising a family, battling marital issues, focused on building a career and paying the bills etc. He spent several weekends in the year at Pinecrest lake with friends and enjoyed the outdoor lifestyle in the region, dabbling a bit with Kayaks, hiking etc, but never really exploring.
Covid Shuts down the World
“ Until Covid I believed all family vacations were supposed to be some expense once a year trip to hawaii or something like that..”
Then on one fateful afternoon he allowed a friend to talk him into a trip up to Cleo’s Bath above Pinecrest lake. This is where life took a turn to the exciting.
Cleos Bath
Cleo’s Bath is a popular hiking destination and swimming hole for locals and tourists looking to escape the heat of the summer months in the Stanislaus National Forest on the South Fork of the Stanislaus river which flows into Pinecrest Lake. The hike from Pinecrest is approx 6.5 round trip from the marina.
Explore Upriver
Kevin, on this beautiful day, would enjoy a fresh swim with friends in the pool, but couldn’t help to wonder what was above this amazing location on the river and started to explore further up the river canyon. What he found is what many of us find while exploring the water flows of the Sierra. A continual chain of cascades, waterfalls and clear swimming pools that were out of this world. The next week Kevin bought his first Stanisluas national forest map.
Working Monday – Thursday on most weeks as a contractor, allowed him to leave on Friday and not come home until Sunday on most weekends. In 2019 he discovered the Clavey River and the Emigrant Wilderness experience and his life has been filled with exploration ever since.
In the past few years he has explored just about every forest service road in the stanislaus and among friends is now the go to guy for adventure tips.
“ I would spend all weekend following the water, I needed to see every inch of the river and know where it came from and what it offered.”
Exploring the Emigrant wilderness on backpack trips he found some of his favorite places. A little place he and his buddies call “Little Hawaii’ is his favorite location, but places such as Haypress Meadow have captured his interest over and over as he pondered how this bowl of a meadow feeds the rivers and streams year round from snow melt.
Learning the Water
In 2017 when the Oroville Dam, Kevin first heard the term “CFS” in explaining water flow. This little fact seemed to change his adventures a lot as he discovered a Dreamflow.com and started studying river flows. “You never want to take your friends deep into the forest for a swimming hole, only to find a pool of stagnant water” says Kevin.
His obsession with river canyons have driven deep into places such as Lyell Glacier in Tuolumne and deeper into the emigrant wilderness. Backpacking 8-16 miles a day at times just to see where the river would go and what it offered.
“ A buddy of mine finally said you know the only way you are ever going to see the entire river is to figure out how to kayak or raft the river” This simple fact drove Kevin to find Sierra White Water rafting outfitters on the American river.
Discovering a Love for guided river trips
Kevin is a self proclaimed “Big Man” ( then at a weight of 327 lbs) so in May of 2020 when he talked with Sierra White Water rafting he was uncertain of his physical qualifications for rafting a river. “The team at Sierra White water was great and convinced me that even at my weight, my core strength was plenty to run the river.” “ what an incredible blessing that was”
Kevin was hooked from the first trip. Coming back for multiple runs with the Sierra White water team, Kevin learned to self arrest out of the water , how to run the river with just him and a guide and discovered that he was a strong paddler.
Kevin understands the challenges in becoming a guide and doesn’t know what the future holds but is willing to put in the work. Deciding that summer that he needed to do this more and wanted to share his experience with others so they could also learn to love the river canyons as he has. He hired a personal trainer and started committing to a routine of exploration, and fitness. To date he has lost 60 pounds and feels as strong as ever. “If you really are passionate about something you will do the work to make it happen. Fitness for me was important”
He started watching rafting videos and following articles on guiding.
Kevin plans to complete round one of certifications for becoming a guide in April of 2022 with the Sierra White water team. He and a friend purchased a small raft already so they could train and test in the rivers near home, and of course see more of the rivers locally when the flow is high enough. The first Certification is the Swift Water Rescue Course and self rescue and proper gear.
I asked Kevin what the dream is? He said to keep it simple, seeing more of the river with some confidence that he knows what he is doing and then sharing with others and possible get on with a guide company to guide guests on amazing river experiences. “ I can’t imagine not sharing what I love. And at this time I love being on the water and discovering something new on every trip.”
Meet Kevin Tucker, A Sierra Explorer and future White Water Guide.
