Forecast - The Gorge is my Gym

Good morning!

This week’s report is brought to you by Mosier’s best places to hang out, the Thirsty Woman, Good River restaurant, and Vine 69 wine bar. If you haven’t been to the Thirsty Woman, you’re missing out. There are about 20 awesome beers on tap, and the $7 nachos are awesome. Better yet, Thirsty Woman has a big outdoor yard with plenty of sunny or shady seating, and a great view of the beautiful Gorge sunsets. Hop on your bike and ride to Mosier this evening for a beer or dinner – it’s only 6.5 miles from downtown, and the ride can’t be beat. One of you will win $25 at each of the three restaurants this week, so head to Mosier and support our sponsor!

It was already blowing at 5am with the Portland to The Dalles gradient at .15. The gradient will build and shift east as the day goes on. Head to the Hatchery or Sandbar this morning for westerlies building into the 26-30 range. The wind will probably get gusty midday, so head east to Doug’s, the Wall and possibly Arlington late in the day for 28-32. If you want to watch some amazing kiteboarding, head to Stevenson for the Bridge of the Gods pro event and photo shoot today. Tomorrow is the amateur event.

Also today in the western Gorge is a lot of sailboat racing at Cascade Locks. Representing the windsurfing community is Simon Pearson of BC in the Fireball class (those are super-fast boats more related to spaceships than to classic sailboats). Best of luck to Simon and his sailing partner! And if you want to see some new-school sailboat racing, head to Cascade Locks and check it out!

Tomorrow looks windy too as a cold front crosses the Cascades. If the clouds make it past Hood River tomorrow morning, head to Mosier and Doug’s for 23-26 in the morning. As the clouds burn back, the wind will fill in near Hood River and at Maryhill in the 24-27 range.

Coming up tonight, it’s First Friday in Hood River, with the 2nd Wind and IPS Skate Shop rail jam on 4th Street, complete with 6 truckloads of snow donated by Timberline Lodge, and music by Sunderland! Also tonight, from 4-8, there’s a trek road and mountain bike demo at Post Canyon.

And coming up this weekend, there are a ton of events. There’s the O(regon)BRA road championships in Trout Lake (no, the irony is not lost on me), and Jackson’s Ride the Gorge in Hood River (fully supported 25/50/100 mile road ride to benefit sarcoma research), Jr. Forest Ranger day at Skibowl, the Trout Lake Fair, and the continuation of the Bridge of the Gods kiteboarding festival.

Boaters, the White Salmon’s just above 2 feet and the Klickitat’s at 950 cfs. If you want to boat with a crowd, there’s the Kayak Shed’s Saturday shop paddle tomorrow meeting at Husum (I believe) at 10:30.

Have an awesome day today!

Temira

p.s. If you find this report useful, entertaining, or just want to recognize all the hard work that goes into it, please take the time to make a donation by clicking on the button at the bottom of the page. For a suggested donation of $10, I’ll add you to the email version of this list ‘til May 2011, putting you in the running for cool prizes donated by the weekly sponsors.

Good morning!

The gradient and west wind is a little less this morning than it’s been, but it’s still blowing in the mid teens at the Hatchery. The gradient is at .08, and that should hold today for westerlies in the 17-22 range from Viento down to Hood River, filling in at Mosier midday and Lyle to Doug’s in the afternoon.

Tomorrow morning brings more wind as an approaching cold front sends marine clouds into the western half of the state. Westerlies should be in the 17-21 range near Hood River first thing in the morning, becoming gusty midday, and filling in at Arlington and Stevenson in the 24-28 range later. There is a decent chance of 30+ at the Wall and Arlington late. Just keep an eye on the sensors at iwindsurf or
Windonthewater and be prepared with a full tank of gas and a cooler of snacks!
As the front swings across the state Friday night, clouds return to Portland and high temperatures fall into the 70’s. That will set up a solid gradient across the Cascades Saturday morning, leading to westerlies in the mid twenties all day. Sunday’s still a long ways off, but it looks windy too.

Coming up tonight, it’s Post and Pint night at Dirty Fingers Bike Repair. Join a big group of mountain bikers for a lap around Post Canyon. If you’re wondering about the conditions, it’s hard, fast and dusty, with a few areas of ball bearings, but mostly just good riding.

There is a ton of stuff going on the next few days, so check the events calendar at thegorgeismygym.com for the 411. However, make sure you don’t miss the 2nd Wind and IPS rail jam, complete with snow from Timberline, on 4th Street in Hood River starting at 7pm on First Friday. And if you have kids, head to Skibowl on Saturday for Jr. Forest Ranger day with Smokey the Bear!

That’s it for today. Have a great day today!.