The Gorge is my Gym

Good morning!

This week’s sponsor is the Gorge Challenge on 10/2 – THE ULTIMATE TEST OF ATHLETICISM – brought to you by Crossfit Hood River and 2nd Wind. There are two events. One for humans, and one for superheros. Required activities may include: carrying heavy/awkward implements such as empty kegs, flipping/running through tires, pushing weighted sleds, climbing over walls, digging/filling holes, and/or carrying another person. The great part about this event is that it’s “choose your own adventure” (remember those books?), meaning you’ll have a list of activities to choose from (you’ll see it Friday night), and you can pick which to complete based on what you think will earn you the most points. And if you just want to watch, I’m betting Jeri could use a few volunteers to help out! The person who emails Jeri via her website with the best reason why they should get to enter for free gets to enter for free.

There’s a bit of an easterly gradient this morning, .08 from The Dalles to Portland, and that’s going to be enough for some sailable easterlies today. Head to the western Gorge for 22-25 at Rooster and 18-22 at Stevenson and Home Valley today.

Weather systems maneuvering off the coast tonight set up a marine push tomorrow morning. Overnight temperatures in the 50’s will make the wind light in the morning, but westerlies should pick up into the low twenties from Stevenson out to Doug’s in the afternoon, with light and gusty conditions at the Hatchery and Sandbar.

At this point, it looks like westerlies in upper teens to low twenties will hold on Saturday and Sunday.

If you want to mountain bike, the trails are still in pretty good shape, with a combination of dust and tacky sections in Post Canyon and perfect dirt and lots of delicious mushrooms on Falls Creek, Lewis River and the trails near Mt. Hood. Keep your eyes peeled – someone told me yesterday that there are so many chanterelles this year that the buyers are paying practically nothing for them.

Boaters, the White Salmon is still at a slightly boney but very fun 1.75 feet and the Klickitat’s around 750 cfs. If you want to hone your paddling skills over the next few months, get ready for kayak polo. It starts soon at the Hood River pool, and is only $40 for the season.

Coming up over the next few days, there’s free acupuncture tomorrow at Hood River Community Acupuncture, there’s the Dirty Fingers 3rd annual Campapalooza and customer appreciation party at Oak Ridge, and there’s the Gorge Challenge choose-you-own-adventure, ultimate test of athleticism on Saturday.

Have a great 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!

There’s a new sponsor starting today, and it’s a good one. There’s a new sponsor starting today, and it’s a good one. It’s the Gorge Challenge on 10/2 – THE ULTIMATE TEST OF ATHLETICISM – brought to you by Crossfit Hood River and 2nd Wind. There are two events. One for humans, and one for superheros. Required activities may include: carrying heavy/awkward implements such as empty kegs, flipping/running through tires, pushing weighted sleds, climbing over walls, digging/filling holes, and/or carrying another person. The great part about this event is that it’s “choose your own adventure” (remember those books?), meaning you’ll have a list of activities to choose from (you’ll see it Friday night), and you can pick which to complete based on what you think will earn you the most points. And if you just want to watch, I’m betting Jeri could use a few volunteers to help out!

Yesterday’s westerlies were a nice bonus session, but the wind will switch directions today. The 5am Portland to The Dalles gradient was still at .03 westerly, but we’re not going to see much wind out of that. Very light westerlies this morning give way to glassy conditions from Hood River eastward this afternoon, with a chance of light east wind in the western Gorge.

Easterlies pick up a little more tomorrow, with 18-22 in the morning from Home Valley to Rooster.

If you like wavesailing or kiting in the waves, tomorrow looks good on the coast with 25 knots or more from the north coast to Pistol with an 8 foot swell at 12 seconds.

Boaters, the White Salmon is still at 1.75 feet and the Klickitat’s around 760 cfs. If you can sneak out of work a little early tonight, the Kay ak Shed’s shop paddle is meeting at Husum at 5pm. One group will run the Middle and one will run the Lower. After the paddle, everyone heads to Everybody’s for what is arguably the Gorge’s best plate of nachos (well, the best except for Skibowl’s, but they aren’t open right now).

There’s not much going on tomorrow night, but Friday night is First Friday in Hood River. That means there’s a lot of cool art to look at and cool people to talk to, but more importantly for all of you who are beat up from using the Gorge as your gym, there’s free acupuncture from 3 to 8 at Columbia Gorge Community Acupuncture.

Also on Friday (and Saturday and Sunday), it’s the Dirty Fingers 3rd annual Campapalooza and free food and free shuttle downhill and free beer customer appreciation party at Oak Ridge. Give Dirty Fingers a call for more information.

Have a great 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.