The Gorge is my Gym

So, it’s officially mountain biking season, with the trails all tacky. Timberline had their first fresh snow of the year yesterday, so it’s officially ski season. Speaking of T-line, they’re closed for a month or so now, but passes for the winter season go on sale today!

It’s a good thing it’s perfect mountain biking and road biking and hiking today, because windsurfing and kiting isn’t looking promising. We’ll have light east winds, under sunny skies. My pick of the day is hiking anywhere you can see Hood or Adams or St. Helens, because they’re beautiful with the new snow. I hiked around at Meadows yesterday, and it was awesome.

The wind scene looks better tomorrow. A weak front pushes into the Norhtwest midday, starting up Gorge westerlies again. It’s not going to be spectacular, but it’s going to be 18-22, maybe a bit better, tomorrow evening.

High pressure builds n Thursday and Friday, causing east winds to build. It’s hard to say how strong it’s going to be, but it’s worth watching the sensors on Friday.

In road biking news, the twin tunnels trail remains closed, as 400 pound boulders, set free by the fire, continue to tumble onto the path. Please don’t try and poach it, because you will be cited. Also, Mosier Kris emailed me to let me know that the BZ-Glenwood loop was chipsealed recently, so give it some time before you head there for a road ride.

Enjoy the sunshine, and whatever you do today, have an awesome day!

Good morning and happy Labor day! Mother Nature’s going to cooperate today with better weather than we saw over the weekend. With a drying trend in place, my pick today is mountain biking, again.

As of yesterday afternoon, Seven Streams was getting muddy, Mitchell ridge was slick, and Knebal and 8 Mile were in epic, almost-dust-free shape. With the snow level at 7,000 feet last night, the most beautiful ride today is probably going to be Ape Canyon, if St. Helens can pull out of the clouds. If not, maybe tomorrow.

I was actually all set to go skiing at T-line this morning (by the way, Fusion passes go on sale tomorrow… that’s T-line and Skibowl together for one low price), but it’s raining up there. I was hoping for 6 inches of new, but it wasn’t to be. How cool would that have been?

On the windsurfing and kiting scene, a high pressure system moves into the Gorge today, keeping gradients from amounting to much. On top of that, forecast highs are 69 in Porltand and 70 in The Dalles, meaning we’re not going to get much help in that department either. So, I think we’re looking at a light wind day, maybe 10-14 through the central and near east Gorge at best later today.

Tomorrow’s looking like very light east winds through the Gorge as high pressure holds over the northwest. That will be shortlived – a front hits the Gorge on Wednesday for a return to west winds.

In other news, if you were hoping for free Tai Chi and Chi Gong this week, you’ll have to wait until next week. There’s no class due to the holiday today. Mountain View Cycle’s alternative ride is also cancelled today, due to the twin tunnels being closed.

Whatever you do today, have an awesome day!