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

After a drenching, downpouring end-of-season pineapple express last week, the mountain bike trails are recovering nicely. Syncline couldn’t be any better, and the views of fall-colored Mosier are amazing. If you head over, please stay below the orange stake in the trail just below the brown house and consider wearing blaze orange. I haven’t heard how Post is doing, but I’m guessing it’s just about epic. Nestor is epic. The trails should stay good this week. We’re expecting a tenth or so of rain Wednesday, but dry weather for much of today and Thursday. Ride that mountain bike while you still can!

On the wind front, Wednesday afternoon looks best, with gusty16-19 the call as a front approaches.

I know your ski season radar is on. This week, we’ll have snow levels fluctuating between 7,000 and 10,000 feet. Not so great, but it is still October, so chill out already! There are plenty of ski movies this week to fuel your stoke:

On Tuesday, catch Freeheel Life, a tele movie, at Dog River. On Thursday, catch Re:Session, a Teton Gravity Research locked-heel ski movie at Andrew’s. On Saturday, watch the super-cool looking Freedom Riders (mountain biking, with a story) at River City.

Also on Saturday is a trail work party at Bottle Prarie. Meet at Little John at 9:30 for this one. And don’t forget to support New York City Subs for supplying sandwiches for lots of trail parties this summer (no, I don’t know if they’re kicking down for the Bottle Prarie work party).

Okay. I’m going back to my pie baking. Have a great day!

It seems to make more sense to do the forecasts in the evening now, as I’m not up early enough for you to plan your day around my late a.m. forecast.

First, I’d like to congratulate the winners of the “non-gym workout” contest. We have a tie.

Paul Grim submitted the following suggestion: Going up to Nestor Peak to gather a cord of firewood from the DNR firewood gathering area:

Park truck in likely spot, hike off into logged area through jungle gym of logs, branches, and general slash carrying 40 lb chain saw searching for downed hard woods like maple or birch. Cut a piece to truck bed length, put 100-150 lb piece of wood on shoulder and carry THROUGH JUNGLY GYM 50 yards (on average) back to truck – repeat 15 times = 1500 lbs of wood. Drive home. Unload truck. Fire up chain saw and cut into 16 inch lengths. Wheel barrow wood to wood shed, stack. collapse. Repeat 4-5 times until you have 4-5 cords of wood.

The second winner was submitted by a woman we’ll call M.D: That workout would be hours of hot sex with a man that can keep up with me (and you too… but not the same man and not together)!!!

So, both Paul and MD get a tray of brownies! Yay! Please contact me for your prize.

Now, on to the forecast: Monday looks like a west wind day in the Gorge, with a few sprinkles. Gradients won’t be super strong, but weak high pressure off the coast will give us 17-20 through the central Gorge (and Stevenson) Monday afternoon. Break out your 5.0 or your kite, and enjoy the gusty frontal wind.

Tuesday looks like a mountain biking or road biking day as the wind shuts down and sunshine returns.

Wednesday brings a little more rain … just a little, with some light westerly frontal winds.

On the trail scene, Gunsight/Gumjuwac is muddy, but snow-free. I’d imagine that applies to anything off the 44 Road too, but I’m looking for first-hand information. Post is slippery, but should dry up by Tuesday, I think. Syncline is the best I’ve ever seen it, but please don’t ride past the orange stake next to the trail below the brown house and please don’t take your dog above the fenceline. It’s hunting camp time, and the landowners and their wishes have the right-of-way.

Have an awesome start to the week!