Mt. Hood snow and Gorge wind forecast | The Gorge is my Gym

Good morning!

This week’s report is brought to you by Classic Wings Aero Services in Hood River. At Classic Wings, you can go for a flight over the Columbia, around Mt. Hood, or anywhere your heart desires. And if your heart desires to learn how to fly, Classic Wings can help you out with that too. If you’ve never taken a scenic flight in the Gorge, you should. Darla took me up one day, and I was amazed. You can see your ski hill from above, your bike trails from above, and you can take awesome photos of the entire Gorge Gym from above. I know it sounds really touristy, but it’s a great experience and I totally recommend it!

It’s another light start in the Gorge, as we’re in a typical fall pattern of warm days and cool nights with high pressure holding across the Cascades. As a weak low pressure system works its way eastward today, west winds will build into the 14-18 range near Hood River early afternoon, filling in out to Rufus, and possible Arlington, late in the day.

If you need something to do this morning, the Huckleberry festival is going on in Bingen, and the Gorge Fly-in is still going at WAAAM in Hood River. If you want to see the cool planes, head over early, because many of them fly home today, like birds migrating for the winter. And… don’t forget that you can take a $20 plane ride with Scenic Wings and my friend Darla.

Coming up tomorrow, a ridge of high pressure builds over the Cascades, shutting off the west winds If you have a ski boat, it’s going to be a great day for wakeboarding. It’s also going to be perfect weather for standup paddling, road biking or anything else that’s fun on a no-wind day.

It looks like the ridge will hold through the middle of the week, giving us sunshine and highs near 80. We probably have more sunshine coming, but it’s always good to take advantage of every warm fall day. So make plans to get out in the sunshine and build up a vitamin D stash for the coming winter!

Boaters, the White Salmon is still great at 1 ¾ feet, the Klickitat’s still runnable at 730 cfs, and the Tieton is holding at 1830 cfs. I know the Kayak Shed is running the swap again this morning, so there are lots of used boats on sale. I’m not sure if there will be more delicious coffee and donuts.

I almost forgot… there’s a Gorge Constitutional Tea Party rally in Dallesport today from 2-4. No matter what political sentiments you hold, this will be an entertaining (or angering) afternoon activity.

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!

Turns out those two tickets were just good at the Fly-In this weekend, so I handed them out to Whit and Doug M. yesterday, as they were super quick on the draw (or keyboard)… they both responded to the giveaway email within 30 seconds. A close runner-up was Mark Frost, who wins a tray of brownies as a consolation prize.

It’s another light wind start this morning, but the wind will bump up a little bit today as a weather disturbance moves through Washington. Westerlies will blow in the 13-16 range from Hood River to Mosier later on today. Tomorrow looks quite light, as high pressure continues to span the Cascades and a low pressure system sits off the coast.

There are about a zillion things going on this weekend to keep you busy if the wind doesn’t blow. First off, there’s the Gorge Fly-In at Waaam in Hood River, where you can take a $20 plane ride with Classic Wings Aero Services. Also at the fly-in are all sorts of cool planes and vintage cars.

The Huckleberry Festival is going on in Bingen, the Fluidride mountain bike race is at Skibowl, and there’s a whitewater rafting race on the White Salmon this afternoon. The race starts at 3:00 at BZ, so the boaters will be coming through Husum sometime after that. Part of the deal is they have to flip the raft above Rattlesnake rapid, so there should be some good carnage for you spectators.

There’s even something for beer drinkers today: The Dalles Civic Auditorium hosts Beer Fest from 1-9pm. $10 gets you in the door, gets you a mug, and gets you 5 tokens for four-ounce samples.

And finally, the White Salmon’s at 1 ¾ feet, the Klickitat’s at 730 cfs and the Tieton’s at 1830cfs. If you’re a little short on boating gear, the Kayak Shed is having a gear swap today starting at 9am, and if that’s a little early for you, they are providing coffee and donuts to wake you up. There’s a rumor of hot dogs around noon as well. You should get your week’s fill of saturated fat by eating at the Kayak Shed today!

And if coffee and donuts aren’t your thing, remember the White Salmon firefighters fundraising pancake breakfast from 6am to 10am. Head to the firehouse and eat your fill of nutritious pancakes before you head out to play today!

Have a great day today! Don’t eat too many pancakes and donuts, and don’t drink too much free coffee!

Temira