Temira - The Gorge is my Gym

Author: Temira

Temira Lital is a recreation and travel weather forecaster based in Hood River, Oregon. Temira uses they/them pronouns. They're also a mental health counselor. Temira bikes, skis, windsurfs, paddles a SUP, swims in mountain lakes, and loves gardening. Most recently they've taken up SUP foiling. Temira is powered by La Croix, protein, and beets.

It’s the weekend! Yippee!

That means it’s time to do what you do all week, only you’ll have more time to do it!

So, let’s get to the meat of what you can do on Saturday and Sunday. First, Saturday is 350 day. A series of studies shows that Earth faces both human and natural disaster if atmospheric concentrations of CO2 remain above 350 parts per million. We are currently at 389 ppm. Basically, if we don’t do something soon, we’re screwed. For more info, check out 350.org.

To show your support for reducing atmospheric CO2, walk or ride your bike (do not drive) to the Hood River News at 11am or the Hood River Middle School at noon for a photo shoot. Honestly, I’m not sure what a photo shoot will do to thwart climate change. So, if you really want to do something, don’t drive your car today. Turn off lights when you leave a room. Turn down your thermostat. You know the drill…

I feel guilty about telling you to do the next activity after telling you to do the first. Saturday is the Bottle Prairie work party. If you ride trails (I know you do) and if you like New York City Subs (I know you do), meet at Little John sno-park at 9:30 for carpooling to Bottle Prairie. Bring your bike. Bring your tools. Earn bike karma (you’ll crash less if you help build trails).

Also on bike radar is the Freedom Riders movie (google it, okay) at River City Saturday night.

If you’re a windsurfer or kiter, you know that the best wind from Friday’s frontal passage happened late at Arlington (and overnight, I’m sure, with 8pm gradients at .17/.11/.35). We’ll see leftovers Saturday morning, fading quickly and turning to glass by afternoon. So uncool. Next chance for good wind is (grr) Sunday night, and if we’re really lucky, Monday morning.

Sunday is the Columbia Gorge Marathon. In the rain.

Have a great weekend!

Hello there,

I know you’ve all put your windsurfing and kiting gear away for the winter, but you may end up breaking it out again late Friday. After half an inch of rain falls Friday morning, the responsible fronts flies eastward and high pressure builds in behind. This could end up being one of those crazy smoke-on-the-water, super gusty, super crazy wind days. Or it could just fizzle away into nothing. I’d like to see the first, so that’s what I’m forecasting. It’s hard to say exactly where the best wind will be, but I’m thinking Hood River to Maryhill. If the models hold (and they really don’t handle frontal passages all that well), we’ll see upper twenties (maybe stronger) after the front passes, starting around 1:23 pm. I’m really crossing my fingers for this one.

(sorry Dave, but if it happens, your house will have to wait a day)

This is our best chance for wind in the next three days, so it better happen. If you’re at the beach and your hands are cold, find me. I have a selection of DK winter sailing mitts for you to demo.

Now, on to the mountain biking report. On Saturday, there’s a work party at Bottle Prairie with Ranger Jim and free lunch from New York City Sub Shop. If you want to support a food provider who supports your trails, eat there. It’s yummy. To join the work party (and get lunch), meet at Little John sno-park at 9:30am. Bring tools and your bike. The weather should be mostly dry on Saturday, so you have no excuse not to help out.

Here’s the trail report as of 5pm on Thursday: Seven Streams is slick, but rideable. 8-track is good. GP is no-go. Hospital Hill is a little muddy, but good to go. Syncline is great, but it’s hunting season. Please wear blaze orange, leave your dog at home, and do not ride up to the hunters’ camp below the brown house.

Keep in mind that we’re supposed to get .5″ of rain on Friday down here, and 1″ or more at higher elevations. Your short list will be very short for the next couple of days.

If you’re desperate for skiing, Arapahoe Basin and Loveland (in Colorado) are open.

Have a great day today!

Temira

p.s. Don’t forget about Freedom Riders at River City on Saturday!