The Gorge is my Gym

Enter “Temira” as your referral code

Now that the kids are back in school, the nights are cooling off, and the tourists are starting to leave the Gorge, it’s time to think skiing and snowboarding. Meadows passes are now on sale for the you-don’t-need-three-friends price of $499. Included in that price is the new Stadium Express lift (use your imagination and giggle when you realize the only possible abbreviation for that lift), eliminating the need for you to use the cattle crossing to Star (snowboarders, cheer loudly). The new lift gets you over to Star, HRM and Heather (it tops out at the same spot as Heather) without waiting in the MHX line. At this point, we’re looking at a weak La Nina or a neutral year, meaning average (450”) or better (max=830”) snowfall. I’ll do the statistical analysis and get back to you. Buy your season pass now!

I just want to say a quick thank you to Portland this morning. They’re going to be stuck under the marine clouds yet again today, while the Gorge sees strong west wind. We’ll have 24-27 this morning east of the clouds, as far east as Arlington, and then this afternoon, we’ll have 28-32 from the cloud line to Arlington, with gusty 17-19 under the clouds. Strongest wind today should be from Rowena to Maryhill, mid-afternoon.

The wind backs off tomorrow as low pressure hangs off the coast. We’ll have westerlies around 10mph early, picking up to 17-19 from Stevenson to Mosier in the afternoon.

The Clymb: free membership.
Access to super cheap gear including Trew, Zeal, Sierra Designs, and many more.

The latest model runs for this weekend are showing pretty much zero wind, and there’s also showing a good chance of rain. I don’t think we’ll see more than a few sprinkles on Saturday, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see a tenth of an inch of rain on Sunday. That’s great news for the 850 firefighters on Mt. Hood and the 720 firefighters near Goldendale. The mountain bikers are also going to be happy to hear about the rain, because it’s getting pretty dusty on most of the trails.

And for you skiers out there who are wondering, no, it’s not going to be cold enough for snow anywhere but the top of Mt. Hood this weekend, but Colorado has 2-6” in the forecast above 9000’ today. Ski season is coming. Do you have your pass?

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 ‘til August 2012, putting you in the running for cool prizes donated by the weekly sponsors. If you don’t PayPal, you can send a donation to PO Box 841 in Hood River, 97031.

Enter “Temira” as your referral code

Now that the kids are back in school, the nights are cooling off, and the tourists are starting to leave the Gorge, it’s time to think skiing and snowboarding. Meadows passes are now on sale for the you-don’t-need-three-friends price of $499. Included in that price is the new Stadium Express lift (use your imagination and giggle when you realize the only possible abbreviation for that lift), eliminating the need for you to use the cattle crossing to Star (snowboarders, cheer loudly). The new lift gets you over to Star, HRM and Heather (it tops out at the same spot as Heather) without waiting in the MHX line. At this point, we’re looking at a weak La Nina or a neutral year, meaning average (450”) or better (max=830”) snowfall. I’ll do the statistical analysis and get back to you. Buy your season pass now!

Today looks quite windy, as a weak system passes over Oregon. Generally this makes the wind pretty gusty, but it’s still going to blow 25-27 this morning near Hood River, given the .12 gradient at 5am. Then it’s probably going to pick up to 28-32 for an hour or two, before the strongest wind shifts to Stevenson and Arlington this afternoon. Or maybe we’ll get lucky, and the standard frontal passage silliness won’t happen today. I’d get on the water early, if you can, just in case.

The Clymb: free membership.
Access to super cheap gear including Trew, Zeal, Sierra Designs, and many more.

That system’s passage leaves the western Gorge buried in clouds tomorrow morning. We’ll see 23-26 near Hood River early, with 26-29 from Rowena east in the morning. In the afternoon, we’ll see 25-28 from Hood River to Maryhill, with the wind fading in the eastern Gorge. The west wind backs off a bit on Friday, but we’ll still see 17-20 in the western Gorge.

This evening’s after work entertainment includes the Post and Pinot mountain bike ride out of Dirty Fingers Bike Repair at 5:30. That’s a girls only ride. Boys, your ride is the Post and Pint tomorrow. Also this evening, for all genders, is the Kayak Shed’s shop paddle and the fall sailboat race series out of the Hood River Marina.

Coming up this weekend, on Sunday, it’s Dog Days at Skibowl, a fundraiser for Oregon Guide Dogs for the Blind. I know lots of you have dogs, so take a look at skibowl.com for all the details on this super fun event.

Also on Sunday, it’s our first chance for rain in a long while (okay, there’s a minuscule chance on Thursday night, but Sunday is our first real chance), so cross your fingers for our firefighters and for our bike trails. And for the chanterelles. And boletes.

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 ‘til August 2012, putting you in the running for cool prizes donated by the weekly sponsors. If you don’t PayPal, you can send a donation to PO Box 841 in Hood River, 97031.