The Gorge is my Gym

Good morning,

It’s only 57 degrees in the Columbia River right now, and your body isn’t designed for that. Promotion wetsuits are. With thousands of wetsuits in stock and all sorts of not-so-stock sizes (and alterations on site), you’re going to find the perfect suit if you stop by. Promotion isn’t just wetsuits: it’s rashguards, booties, hoods, beanies, shorts, vests and PFDs. Cold water suits are on sale now. Protect yourself from the chilly river the local way: Promotion, based here since 1985. Two short-sleeve rashguards are up for grabs. If you’re interested in winning, sign up for the email with a donation of $10 or more and you’ll have a chance to win.

Well, it’s definitely a wet one out there this morning, with the Hood River Weather rain gauge already showing almost a quarter inch of precipitation. The big blob of moisture on the radar is coming straight out of the south with no signs of stopping. I knew I shouldn’t have watered my garden last night. Ah well. The garden will be extra happy, and it always seems to grow better with rain than with hose water.

Looks like we’re in for a couple of cold, wet days, as a strong storm system cruises along the Oregon / California border. The heavy rain will continue through much of today, with a slight break in the early evening, and then more heavy rain tomorrow. With the rain today, we’ll see the snow level around 8000′, but tomorrow afternoon, it drops to 4000′ or so, so be aware if you’re headed out hiking or mountain biking or climbing.

The wind through the Gorge starts off light today, not picking up until late in the evening, probably too late to be useful. Tie your garbage cans down tonight, because it’s going to 30+ sometime after midnight, with very strong wind through the Gorge tomorrow. It’ll probably be wet in Hood River, with gusty upper teens, but east of The Dalles (and maybe Doug’s / Rowena) will see 30+ or maybe 35+ tomorrow.

Another storm system off the coast limits the westerlies on Wednesday to 10-15 in the morning and 21-23 in the afternoon.

Coming up this weekend, more than I can mention. A quick rundown: The trailbuilder appreciation dinner, Mt. Hood Cycling Classic, the Black Dog Dual Sport, a family-friendly bike campout in Cascade Locks, a work party at Doug’s Beach and Cascade Locks’ easyCLIMB trail, and the Tour de Hood. Oh yeah, and surfer and shaper extraordinaire Gerry Lopez at Big Winds on Saturday.

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 link below. For a suggested donation of $10, I’ll add you to the email version of this list for a year, putting you in the running for cool prizes donated by the weekly sponsors during the summer season (and the winter if I get off my bum and get some!). If you don’t PayPal, you can send a donation to PO Box 841 in Hood River, 97031.

Good morning,

It’s only 57 degrees in the Columbia River right now, and your body isn’t designed for that. Promotion wetsuits are. With thousands of wetsuits in stock and all sorts of not-so-stock sizes (and alterations on site), you’re going to find the perfect suit if you stop by. Promotion isn’t just wetsuits: it’s rashguards, booties, hoods, beanies, shorts, vests and PFDs. Cold water suits are on sale now. Protect yourself from the chilly river the local way: Promotion, based here since 1985. Two short-sleeve rashguards are up for grabs. If you’re interested in winning, sign up for the email with a donation of $10 or more and you’ll have a chance to win.

For today’s weather we’ll have a few light sprinkles early, but the bulk of the rain will hold off until late tonight and tomorrow morning. For wind, weak high pressure off the coast is keeping the westerlies going at 10-15 this morning despite an approaching upper level low. As that low and its cool air approaches this afternoon, westerlies jump to gusty 21-24 from Stevenson all the way east to Arlington.

Tomorrow starts off with east wind at 10-15, maybe 15-18, switching to west wind in the afternoon as the aforementioned strong upper level low blasts along the Oregon/California border. It looks like the bulk of tomorrow’s wind will be late and very far east. So, west wind picking up to 15-18 through the whole Gorge around 2pm, picking up to the 24-28 range in the far east after 5pm.

Tuesday starts off very windy as high pressure off the coast combines with that exiting low pressure system. It’s probably going to be east of Hood River, and it should be 24-28.

For events today, White Salmon’s Spring Festival continues, as does the Bend Enduro mountain bike race. The Gorgeous Gals ride is going on in The Dalles, with proceeds benefitting HAVEN. At Hood River’s Event site today, from 10-2, you”ll find free Jimmy Lewis standup paddle demos courtesy of Windance.

Once again, next weekend is a busy one. It starts off with the Trailbuilder Appreciation Dinner for everyone who’s worked on Post Canyon trails or wants to thank people who’ve worked on the trails. RSVP now! It’s a potluck at Family Man at 6pm on Friday. Next Saturday is the White Salmon Riverfest with $25 whitewater rafting for locals through Wet Planet. Along with that $25 raft trip, you get a tour of Condit Dam. $25? Why wouldn’t you?! Also next weekend, all weekend long, it’s the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic, where you can learn how bike racers pee during a long mountain stage.

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 link below. For a suggested donation of $10, I’ll add you to the email version of this list for a year, putting you in the running for cool prizes donated by the weekly sponsors during the summer season (and the winter if I get off my bum and get some!). If you don’t PayPal, you can send a donation to PO Box 841 in Hood River, 97031.