The Gorge is my Gym

Good morning!

Mother Nature is still trying to convince us that it’s winter. Timberline had 4 inches of snow yesterday, and they’re supposed to get a few more inches of new snow today. It’s not exactly powder skiing, but it is fresh tracks in late may, and that’s pretty spectacular.

Although there’s new snow, the chance for the classic Gorge double of skiing and winsurfing is pretty low today. The wind was very light on the river this morning, and low pressure off the coast will keep the wind light for much of today. Best chance for anything at all is westerlies in the Corridor in the 10-15 range late in the day.

A weather system moves through tonight and weak high pressure builds in from the coast behind it, for stronger westerlies on Saturday. It’s not a great setup, but I think we’ll see 23-27 for much of the day on Saturday from about Mosier eastward, and maybe in the Corridor if we get lucky. Westerlies continue on Sunday, with low to mid twenties through the entire gorge.

If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, there’s plenty going on. On Saturday, There’s a beach cleaup at Doug’s on Saturday, a trail work party at beacon rock, and the 2nd wind season opener party at the horse and hound. On Sunday, there’s the Windance swap meet, the big winds beach bash, and Columbia Gorge Offroad Association’s work party at Kingsley.

Have a great day today!

p.s. I have a report that Lewis River is open and clear of trees!

Good morning!

It’s beginning to feel a lot like winter down here. Temps are in the 40s in the valley this morning and in the upper twenties on the hill. Timberline had an inch of new overnight, and they’re going to get a couple more inches today. The best skiing will be tomorrow and Saturday, as west flow causes orographic snowfall. I’m holding a Timberline pass in my grubby little paws (thanks Lisa Hargrave), so Denise and maybe Rick and I will be headed up there if they get a few inches of snow. Yippee! Ski season isn’t over yet!

On the river today, the westerlies were pretty light at 5am. We’ll see gusty 10-15 through the entire Gorge for much of today, possibly picking up just a little bit this afternoon at Lyle and in the Corridor. I have one thing to say to that: Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Friday looks quite light until late afternoon, when an approaching front sends the corridor into the 17-20 range. Saturday is looking windier, at least out in the desert, with post-frontal winds in the mid to upper twenties. Don’t forget to stop at Doug’s Beach Saturday morning to help out with the annual CGWA beach cleanup! If you don’t, Patrick Quigley will kill me for not getting the word out enough, so save your forecaster and go save the beach.

If you’re a mountain biker, you are not a happy mountain biker today. Post went from dusty to downright muddy in 30 minutes yesterday, and it’s a mud pit now, so respect the trail and let it rest today. That means the post and pint is off, but as always, the Dirty Fingers Bike Repair social hour is on at 5:30.

Boaters, the Hood’s at 4.7 feet, the White Salmon’s at 4.8 feet, the Little White’s at 750, and the Wind River’s at 702cfs. That’s as high as I’ve seen the Wind in a couple of weeks, so I’m hoping that gets me a trip down it with Wet Planet with my buddy Drew, as the guide… =)

Have a great day today!