About Us

Rafting down memory lane with Bernie

Dear Friends,

It all started when I was an unemployed college instructor in the summer of ’73 and I had a vision of rafting down the Thompson with people onboard.

I launched my “business” with a 15 ft. Avon raft, a VW van, a Raft Rides sign and a 15 ft. travel trailer parked beside the highway at Spences Bridge. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I was pioneering an industry.

My sign was up and I waited for the deluge. Nothing happened. I was charging $8 round trip for adults and $5 for students and kids, but after two weeks no customers had stopped in. Obviously my fares were too high.

So I slashed prices to $5. Finally, a brave young couple stopped in and I took them down the river from Martel to Spences Bridge.

Every day for the next two and a half months I waited beside the highway and slowly my passion turned some revenue - $1160 in gross sales that first summer.

The next year I bought two more rafts and for the first time offered trips all the way to Lytton past The Frog and through the Jaws of Death. Because I was the first to run the river I named the rapids based on my experiences during high water in ’74.

Kumsheen has been my life’s passion ever since that first run down the river. I met my wife Lorna on a raft trip in ‘78 and she has shared my passion and commitment to the business ever since.

From the beginning, mine and Lorna’s priority has always been to employ good people. Today, 35 years later, our team (now consisting of over 60) is better than ever.

There are more stories to tell and experiences to relate but our raft guides tell the tales now. Come for a visit, plan on taking a raft trip, and help us celebrate 35 years of running the Thompson River this summer.

Enthusiastically yours,

Bernie Fandrich, Kumsheen’s Founder