The Gorge is my Gym

Good morning!

There are more clouds in the western Gorge today than we’ve seen in a couple of days, and that’s always a good sign for wind. The 5am gradient was at .11 from Portland to The Dalles, and that’s going to build today as high pressure fills in at the coast. With the clouds this far east, strongest wind this morning will be at Mosier, filling in from the Hatchery out to Biggs by mid-morning. 17-20 this morning and 23-26 this afternoon is the call today.

The weekend looks windy too, with low clouds pushing inland and weak high pressure holding at the coast. Saturday brings upper teens to low twenties. At this point, Sunday looks a little lighter on the graphical models, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see a repeat of Saturday, with the wind blowing in the upper teens in the afternoon.

If you’re looking for fun stuff to do this weekend, the western Gorge has dueling events, with Sternwheeler days today through Sunday in Cascade Locks and Brews, Blues and BBQs in Stevenson on Saturday. In the central Gorge, there’s Windfest at the Hood River Event Site all weekend, with $10 windsurfing demos, and an all-sports swap meet at the Hood River Expo Center on Sunday morning.

And if you happen to be out late on Saturday night, look up at the sky to see a partial lunar eclipse.

If you’re a mountain biker and you’re headed to Knebal or Bottle Prarie, plan on taking it slow on the trails. The ranger and his crew are doing trail work, so please slow down if you can’t see what’s ahead of you. If you don’t, you might find yourself entangled with a shovel, a chainsaw, a Mcleod, or worst of all, a pissed-off ranger.

Anytime you’re out hiking or biking in the next few days, keep an eye out for wild strawberries. They’re in season, and they’re delicious!

Have an awesome day today!

Temira

Good morning!

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The wind isn’t super strong this morning, but the west winds will be around today for you windsurfers and kiters. 17-20 from Viento to Mosier this morning gives way to 21-24 from Stevenson as far east as Biggs this afternoon.

Tomorrow starts off a little stronger as a low pressure trough crosses the Cascades and a weak ridge of high pressure starts to rebuild at the coast. Early morning westerlies should be in the upper teens just east of Hood River, building into the 24-28 range from Rowena to Arlington tomorrow afternoon. Even though Hood River will be under the clouds on Friday, it’ll still be windy enough to kite at the Sandbar.

It looks like we’ll have west winds this weekend, but it’s not clear yet if it’s going to be stronger than the upper teens. However, any wind is good, because the windsurfing blowout happens either this Saturday or Sunday, with sailors making the trip from Stevenson downwind to Hood River.

Mountain bikers, Post is still really good, but it’s starting to get dusty. If you want to ride with friends, tonight is the Post and Pint out of Dirty Fingers at 6:30, and the Disco Divas have a women’s only ride meeting at the bottom of post at 9am tomorrow.

Boaters, the Hood’s at 3 ¾ feet, the Klickitat’s at 2070 cfs, and the White Salmon’s just below 3 feet, almost low enough for rafting Husum Falls!

Coming up this weekend is the fully supported Mt. Adams Country Bicycle Tour on Saturday, Windfest at The Event Site on Saturday and Sunday, a swap meet at the Expo Center on Sunday, and of course, the windsurfing Blowout.

If you want music and food, Brews, Blues and BBQs goes off in Stevenson on Saturday, all day long.

That’s it for today. Whatever you do today, have an awesome day!

Temira