The Gorge is my Gym

You windsurf and kiters are probably looking for a rest day after the last couple of big days on the river. Today is your chance to give your arms a break. Weak high pressure builds over the Northwest, setting up light east gradients across the gorge. Slack gradients mean you can be a slacker (like me) and soak up today’s sunshine.

Don’t get too relaxed, because the west winds return with a vengeance tomorrow. A cold front slams into Oregon and Washington midday, and high pressure quickly builds in behind. With that setup, we’re going to see huge gradients from Portland to The Dalles and matching huge gradients from The Dalles to Pendleton. I think upper 20s to low 30s tomorrow afternoon is a pretty safe call. Throw your small gear in the car tomorrow morning and cancel your appointments tomorrow afternoon.

Get it while you can, because high pressure seems set to rebuild over the wind tunnel Thursday and Friday, for much lighter west winds.

Coming up this week, the Wind Sports Industry has a not-trade-show in town, and that ties into a huge party on Thursday night. 2nd Wind and Area 54 are throwing the party down at the Hood River Inn so it’s bound to be a good one.

Also, today, tomorrow and Thursday you can try the brutal Crossfit workout at Children’s park in Hood River. 6:30 in the morning and 5:30 in the evening. It’s not supposed to be fun, but it is free. Go check it out!

I had a 5 sport day yesterday, and I’m feeling it this morning. Not enough sleep, and almost every muscle is sore. I probably should have done several hundred situps yesterday too… forgot about that…

Anyway, if you liked the wind direction yesterday (that would be “west”), you’re going to like it today too. It’s not going to be as windy as yesterday, but it’s still going to be plenty of wind to keep everyone happy (except maybe for spoiled me, because I like 30+ best).

The early Portland to the dalles gradient was .11, with another .10 out east. Combine that with 21/100ths north south, and you’re looking at a good day just about everywhere on the river. I think it’ll be 23-26 all day long from Hood River out to Arlington. Take your pick, ‘cause the direction should be good just about everywhere.

And you’d better get on the water today, because weak high pressure builds back over the Northwest tomorrow, bringing warmer temperatures and way less wind. Gradients will actually turn weakly offshore tomorrow, giving us light easterlies in Stevenson and at Rooster.

At this point, models show another round of west winds on Wednesday. Actually, models show us starting off with nothing and building into the nuclear range as a front approaches. Frontal approaches aren’t all that consistent about producing wind on the river (as opposed to wind in the upper atmosphere, where we can’t get at it), but I’m posting a wind warning for now.

In other news, if you’re a road biker, I have more bad news for you. ODOT has just chip-sealed the road to Cooper Spur, at least part of it (I believe it’s above Erin Creek Road… if I have the name right… it’s by a lot of rejected pears lying in an orchard) so that ride is pretty much out for now. Anyone drive up there lately and have a better idea of how many miles were sealed?

Also under chip seal warning is the BZ-Glenwood loop, where a good portion of the ride was chip-sealed within the last month.

Whatever you do today, have an awesome day!