8/8 Gorge wind and events

The Clymb: free membership. Cheap gear. Temira approves. Click to join.

Before you read on, please remember that this report (wind, snow and events, year round, almost every day – WOW!) is brought to you free of charge. It’s my hobby, but it’s valuable to you, and I put it out here free so you can make the most of your free time. But there are five times as many people using the forecast for free as there are making donations. We all know windsurfers and kiters and skiers can make a small donation to keep a good thing going. So we’re trying something through Labor Day. You can get this forecast as an email for $12. That gets you in the running for a few prizes here and there, and from now on it’ll give you consistency (on the 98% of days I write a forecast. Admit it, that’s pretty amazing for one chick working by herself!). Here’s the scoop: If I get donations totaling $15 or more on a given day, I’ll post a forecast the next day. If not, only the people on the mailing list get the forecast. Thanks for understanding that I have to make a living, and thank you for your support!

Tomorrow’s forecast status: 8:38am. Thank you for making a donation! Now, if only that damn low pressure trough moving east would stop messing with our wind!

Today’s sponsor: The Trek Dirt Series for Women. On August 11-12, the Trek Dirt Series and Mountain View Cycles will team up to host a two-day women’s specific mountain bike instructional camp right here. You’ll learn all kinds of mountain bike technical skills so you can be a better, more confident rider. It’s a super inspiring and supportive environment, the coaching is individualized and professional, and the weekend is just plain fun. I’ve never heard a bad thing about the Dirt Series, and I’ve heard tons of great things. If you have the time and can afford it, you should sign up. The deadline is noon on Friday.

Now here’s something we don’t see often: DAWN PATROL!

The gradients are massive this morning, at .15 PDX-DLS and another .12 out east with .29 north-south. Those numbers mean it’s already blowing 26 at the Hatch (at 5:30 am… no, I don’t know why I’m up this early), and it’s probably blasting in Mosier. With the clouds already this far inland, and the forecast suggesting they’ll push even further, it’s likely we’ll be on the water east of Hood River today (although I’m holding out hope I can sail near home).

So, more numbers: 28-32 at Mosier and Doug’s today. 26-30 at Maryhill and Arlington. If the clouds burn back, 28-32 at the Hatchery and White Salmon Sandbar. If not, gusty 23-26. One thing to note today: there is a low pressure system moving east, and that could make the wind quite up-and-down (despite the perfect visual setup that I see out my window this morning.

Tomorrow sees the marine layer move back just a bit, giving us low to mid-twenties near Hood River. Friday looks like mid-twenties. Saturday and Sunday bring onshore flow of some sort, but models keep changing on how strong it will be. Basically, we’ll have wind of some sort and seasonable temperatures (and humidity) for the extended forecast period.

For you kiters using the White Salmon Sandbar, there’s a cleanup from 2-5pm on Sunday. The organizer will have a pony keg as added incentive for you to help. Please byob on top of that, maybe a grill, and whatever else you need to make it fun.

Speaking of grilling, the fish guys are back at Windance. I got some Steelhead yesterday, and it was yummy. Yesterday Steelhead was $7/lb. Chinook was $12.50/lb. It’s cheaper and fresher than your local grocery store. Now, that is shopping locally.

It’s the busiest day of the week for outdoor events, and tonight starts off with the Big Air Bonanza kayaking ender contest, at Top Drop Rapid at the BZ put-in. Wander up there around 6:30 this evening to watch some crazy whitewater tricks by our local boaters. Also this evening, it’s the Post and Pinot women’s mountain bike ride, a 2-hour fast-paced road bike ride leaving Mountain View at 5pm, Family-friendly mountain biking at Family Man and sailboat races at the Hood River Marina,

Coming up this weekend, for you mountain biking girls, it’s the Trek Dirt Series (see the advertising above), where you can become a ripping good rider in just two days. On Saturday, it’s the Wild Woman off-road marathon, the peak of the Perseid Meteor Shower, and Toy Story 3 at Movies in the Park Hood River. Also on Saturday, you can take your kids to the Parkdale library from noon-2 for ice-cream-making. Free. If you want to catch The Wizard of Oz, it’s at Cascade Locks Movies in the Park Friday Night.

Have an awesome day today!

Temira