Your forecaster. Click on her to donate. Thank you!
Awesome local business – please support it
Come by Riverside Grill, Cebu Lounge and the Best Western Hood River Inn over the holidays. Excellent multi-day Meadows ski packages, or affordable guest rooms (it’s off-season, and prices are totally reasonable) — plus heated outdoor pool, spas, sauna. Great bands at Cebu, plus New Year’s Eve with Lolo Motion. And don’t forget Cebu’s awesome Happy Hours from 4-6 pm, Monday through Friday and $12 prime rib on Tuesday nights (except 12/31) Happy Holidays!
Random Morning Thoughts
Butter is 2 for $5 at Rosauers right now. Not as good as $1.99/lb earlier this week, but still good. And there’s no limit. I suggest you get some butter and make these: Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes.
| Friday |  |
|
 |
 |
 |
| Saturday | |
|
|
|
|
| Sunday | |
|
|
|
|
Mt. Hood Snow Forecast
From NOAA this morning: “MOUNTAINS WILL CONTINUE TO BE SNOW-STARVED WITH CONTINUED DISMAL SNOWPACK CONDITIONS.”
Can’t say I disagree with that. There is no significant moisture predicted for the next week. That doesn’t mean the skiing is bad – I’ve been having a super fun time ripping at Meadows. But it sure would be nice to get more snow, for many reasons.
Today starts with clear sky and sunshine on Mt. Hood. Clouds move in later. We may see a few flurries or sprinkles overnight, but as I feared, the precip has mostly disappeared from the latest model run. The free air freezing level (FAF) will be 12,000′ early, 8000′ midday and 6500′ in the evening. We’ll see the snow level fall to 5000′ overnight, with a few flurries. Wind today will be SW 20 early, WSW 25 midday, and NW 30 in the evening.
Saturday starts clear, becoming cloudy late in the evening. The FAF will be 5000′ early, 3500′ midday and 6500′ in the evening. Wind will be N 10-15 early, becoming NNW 20 midday.
Sunday starts cloudy, and becomes partly cloudy in the afternoon. The FAF will be 8000′ all day. Wind will be NW 30 early and NW 20 in the afternoon.
Plain Old Local Weather
The Nothing cloud has returned this morning, and so have the below-freezing temps. I just walked outside in my PJ’s. Now my feet are cold.
We should see the Nothing break up midday, but it will be replaced by high clouds. Temps today should rise to the low 40’s. Saturday looks like more Nothing, followed by sunshine with light wind and high temps in the mid 40’s. Sunday looks cloudy to start, becoming partly cloudy, with light wind and highs in the upper 40’s.
Gorge Wind Forecast
At 5am, we had an E .09 gradient with 22mph at Rooster and 26mph at Steven’s Locks (thanks, iwindsurf/ikitesurf, for the numbers). We’ll see the easterlies fade quickly today, becoming westerly this afternoon at 13-15, and picking up to 21-24 after dark. Saturday brings light west wind in the morning, becoming just plain light in the afternoon. Sunday looks like a light wind day.
Road and Mountain Biking
I had plans yesterday to ride up Dog River, but took a detour to the north end of Surveyor’s because I was hoping for a warmer, sunnier ride. It was at least 50 degrees up there, and definitely sunny, but the trail was a freeze-thaw mess. So, Surveyor’s is no-go. I got a report that Syncline proper is a freeze-thaw disaster too. Post was apparently good yesterday – frozen solid. Dog River was great – frozen solid, but it was closer to 30 degreess than 50, although it got warmer the higher I climbed.
There were about 8 downed trees below the rocky section. I rode to where the trail splits and ran out of time, but if you’d like a climbing sufferfest and don’t mind a few trees down, I can recommend up-Dog. Bring a large pruning saw, and you’ll be able to clear all but one of those pesky trees. The road riding, assuming the clouds burn off, should be stellar again today, but ride early to avoid the west wind.
The Clymb: free membership. Cheap gear. Temira approves. Click to join.
Events – email me if I’ve missed any outdoor-related events
Coming up on Saturday, it’s the Dirty Fingers holiday party, starting around 5pm. This should be debaucherous fun. Food, drinks, and costumes in the “week after Christmas at the North
Have an awesome day today!
Temira
