Random Morning Thoughts
Sometimes I get these random thoughts in my head, and I think, “No, T, that’s not a good one to share with thousands of people, and it might be taken the wrong way by the person who inspired the thought stream.” And then my fingers start typing, because the thought wants the solidity and permanency of existing. Maybe I should keep a journal or write therapeutic letters for submission to my shredder instead…
Anyway, on to what I am thinking about this morning: the concept of distance. Folks in Portland think the Gorge is a world away, when it comes to dating. I hear this a lot: “You live too far away,” when the same person will consider dating someone in the Metro area, which could be an equal time distance depending on the traffic. I wonder what it is that makes people see the Gorge as so far? Is it the number of miles? The difference in climate zones? The fact that you access the mid-Columbia via traveling through a scenic area, leaving the city, making it feel like a vacation rather than a commute?
That’s one part of this. The other is that the Gorge is close enough for many folks to drive out each weekend, each day, to participate in the things that bring them joy (kiteboarding, windsurfing, whitewater kayaking, skiing, etc). Sometimes people drive out here after work to play and then drive home! But the Gorge is too far away to drive to date someone. This, I find really interesting, because it sheds light on people’s priorities.
Or maybe there are other pieces here – the fact that the distance reduces spontaneity. No unplanned lunches. No last-minute sleepovers. No nooners. Anyway, this was on my mind this morning, and now it’s not on my mind any more. Have a nice day, however far you live from the Gorge!
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Gorge Wind
We really are not in a great setup for wind here in the Gorge, which means if you want to use the Gorge as your gym, you’ll probably want to pick a non-wind-sport. Expect light west wind this morning, becoming light and variable (LTV) to glassy midday and maybe picking up to W 5-8 this afternoon.
Wednesday starts out LTV. As a weather system moves through in the afternoon, we’ll see up-and-down, gusty west wind pick up. Expect 10-13 or less from Steven’s Locks to Mosier with gusty, up-and-down, maybe-maybe-not-worth-driving westerlies at 25-29 east of Lyle (or maybe east of The Dalles).
Thursday sees another deep low pressure system off the coast, and that will set us up for east wind. Gusty. Up-and-down. 15-18 or so.
Out on the coast, it’s all south wind, all the time for the next few days. Today (north/central/south): 5-10/15-20/20-25, W swell 9@12 seconds. Wednesday: S 25-30 everywhere, W 11@14. Thursday: S 15-20 everywhere in the morning, S 30-40 everywhere in the afternoon. Wind waves 9′, swell SW 6@12.
| Your favorite beach | Dawn Patrol |
9am- 11:30a |
11:30a- 3pm |
3pm- dusk |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rooster’s Rocks | It’s the | end of | naked | season | |
| Steven’s Locks | W 1-9 | LTV | LTV | W 5-10 | |
| Hatchery/White Salmon Sandbar (minus a few for Hood River) | W 1-9 | LTV | LTV | W 5-10 | |
| Doug’s, Lyle, Rowena | W 1-9 | LTV | LTV | W 5-10 | |
| Rufus, etc. | LTV | LTV | LTV | LTV | |
| Roosevelt, etc. | LTV | LTV | LTV | LTV | |
| Temira’s sail: 35-40: 2.9 / 30-35: 3.2 / 26-30: 3.5 23-26: 4.0 / 20-23: 4.5 less than 20: something bigger! |
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| Tonia’s kite: 35-40: 4m / 30-35: 4-6m / 26-30: 5-7m 23-26: 7-9m / 20-23: 8-10 / 15-20: 10-12 / 10-15: 13-15. |
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Gorge Weather
As you may have noticed, the pavement is wet this morning. That means it’s either been raining or is raining currently. The rain status will fluctuate between yes and no this morning, becoming more yes, more of the time, this afternoon. In other words, if you want to get outside and stay dry, your best chance is in the morning. Temps today will be in the mid 50’s early and low 60’s this afternoon. Snwo level today will be 8000′ early and 6000′ overnight. Chance of rainbows is 58%.
Tomorrow looks rainy/showery all day as a low pressure trough moves through. Temps will be in the upper 40’s early and low 60’s in the afternoon. The snow level tomorrow will be around 5500-6000′, and we’ll see .3-.4” water value with this system, for 2-3” of snow above 5500′. Now you’re really going to see the ski areas freaking out and posting photos. Anyway, the rainbow chances tomorrow are 99%.
Thursday may start off with some showers, but will likely dry out. If the ground is wet from all the rain, there’s a pretty good chance we’ll see a low cloud hang over the Gorge for the morning before sun appears in the afternoon. Temps will be in the mid 40’s early and upper 60’s in the afternoon. The snow level will be at 6000′ early, rising to 8000′ in the afternoon and even higher by Friday. Rainbow chances on Thursday are 9%.
White Sprinter Van of the Day
Road and Mountain Biking
The rain that’s coming today should be just enough to take us from dusty to tacky. Enjoy! Tomorrow’s rain may take Post past the point of perfection, in which case you’ll have to find places that are sandier (44 Road and Falls Creek) or further east (Syncline) or rockier (Gorge 400).
Don’t forget that we have the FREE IMBA trailbuilding school next Saturday, a must-do for anyone who shows up for work parties. If you don’t have all day, just show up for the classroom portion at the Hood River Fire Station in the morning. Sign up now so HRATS knows how many lunches to provide. Then next Sunday, there’s a fundraiser for trails happening at the Whoopdee (all day) with music, food, and Trek demos. On the following Saturday, the 25th, there’s a Kleeway fundraiser at Dirty Fingers. Costumes, karaoke, and fundraising for what’s going to be the most awesome (and most safety-promoting) trail in Post Canyon!
The Clymb: free membership. Cheap gear.
Temira approves. Click to join.
River Levels / Fish Counts/Cheezburger Update
The John Day Dam is reading 62-82kcfs. The Dalles Dam is putting out 56kcfs. There are two river-wide logs on the White Salmon: one just below Cave Rapid on the Middle and one below Cave Wave on the Lower. The White Salmon is around 1.7′. Yesterday’s fish counts: Chinook, 1539. Coho, 2395. Steelhead, 310.
Events – email me if I’ve missed any outdoor-related events
Tonight is Tuesday, and that means you can eat Prime Rib for $12 at Cebu at the Hood River Inn. Before you do that, you can play pickup touch rugby at the Hood River Marina at 5:30pm.
Coming up tomorrow, the Columbia Gorge Running Club has a track workout in Stevenson at 6pm. Kayak Polo happens at the Hood River Pool at 8pm. Fall season has started for ping pong, so that’s at 5:30pm at the Hood River Armory tomorrow night.
Next weekend is the big mountain bike festival, BikeToberFest, with the IMBA Trail Care Crew in town on Saturday for the free trailbuilding school (see biking section) and a fundraiser for HRATS at the Whoopdee on Sunday with free Trek demos. Also next weekend, it’s Harvest Fest in Hood River, meaning you will be very, very happy to be in the woods and not anywhere near downtown.
On Saturday afternoon, it’s the Vampires and Victims 5k/2k at Hood River Valley High. Show up in costume (or not) and be assigned to the vampire or victim crowd. All proceeds benefit the anti-concussion program.
Have an awesome day today!
Temira
