Random Morning Thoughts
I got home from The Wall last night and was completely filled with stoke. The stoke was overflowing and collecting in puddles around my feet (stoke leaves rainbow-colored puddles, in case you were wondering, and unicorns live to drink those puddles, kinda like Hood River locals live to drink Double Mountain beer). While that was happening, I was struggling with how to share my joy with people who weren’t able to be there.
I’m not a big fan of people saying to each other, “You should have been here an hour ago,” or “You missed it today!” When we say things like that, what we mean is, “Wow, I just had the most amazing hour/day on the water, and I’m so stoked right now, and I want to share that.” Or maybe we mean, “I just had the most amazing session, and I wish you’d been here, because it would have been more fun with you on the water too.”
So, why don’t we say that? Are we afraid of gloating? Of expressing our pure joy at the perfection we just experienced? Why do we choose to express our happiness in a way that demeans and diminishes the other person in the conversation? What if we just said, “Man… we wish you’d been here too!” and brought that person into our circle with our affection, rather than leaving them feeling bummed out?
Now, stop reading this philosophical crap and get on the water, or you’ll miss it today and I’ll be sad for you! And in case you’re interested in my session yesterday, here it is on Strava. (maniacal laughter)
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Tomorrow’s forecast status:
Thank you Aaron T. and Nick C. for tomorrow’s forecast.
Um… I’ll get you guys on the list this afternoon… kinda gotta go windsurfing now!
Thank you all for using this forecast!
| Your favorite beach | Dawn Patrol |
9am- 11:30a |
11:30a- 3pm |
3pm- dusk |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rooster’s Rocks | don’t | event | think | about it | |
| Steven’s Locks | 17-20 | 20-23 | 23-26 | 23-26 | |
| Hatchery/White Salmon Sandbar (minus a few for Hood River) | 28-32 | 28-32+ | gusty 26-30 |
gusty 24-28 |
|
| Doug’s, etc. | 17-20 | 23–>27 | gusty 28-32 |
gusty 28-32 |
|
| Rufus, etc. | 17-20 | 28-32 | 30-35 | 28-32+ | |
| Roosevelt, etc. | 17-20 | 20-23 | 23-26 | 23-26 | |
| Temira’s sail: 35-40: 2.9 / 30-35: 3.2 / 26-30: 3.5 23-26: 4.0 / 20-23: 4.5 less than 20: something bigger! |
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| Tonia’s kite: 35-40: 4m / 30-35: 4-6m / 26-30: 5-7m 23-26: 7-9m / 20-23: 8-10 / 15-20: 10-12 / 10-15: 13-15. |
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Gorge Wind
Just a note on yesterday… a weak weather system went through, and I’m guessing that’s what messed up the wind in the Corridor, keeping it way lighter than it should have been given the gradients. But usually weather disturbances make for funky wind at The Wall too. So… odd day yesterday.
Today I got up around 6:30, and the (newly improved) iWindsurf sensor (which is located in exactly the same spot, and now updates every 5 minutes, rather than every 20 minutes) was reading 30mph. I guess it’s going to blow 28-32+ today. =)
The Portland webcams show zero marine clouds this morning, which is less than the “very few” clouds they showed yesterday. The 6am gradients were .15 (pdx-dls), .07 (dls-psc), .59 (E Pacific High-psc). Those are plenty big for fun today, and with those numbers, I would put money on a repeat at The Wall. Saying that should probably make it blow in the Corridor all day! One thing to note is that there’s a weak system passing to the north, and that could make the wind gusty and unreliable this afternoon, especially from Doug’s westward.
Anyway… all that talk aside… Expect 28-32 from Swell to Mosier this morning, filling in at 28-32 from Swell to Rufus by late morning with periods of 30-35 possible. Stevenson will join the mix at 24-28, and Roosevelt will come up early afternoon to 23-26. Yummy.
Tomorrow starts with 17-21, strongest near Hood River, filling in from Stevenson to Arlington at gusty 22-25 as a front approaches in the afternoon. That may do a number on the wind from Swell to Doug’s, but you’ll still find decent wind at other beaches.
Sunday sees some weather system action, giving us 15-18 early and 26-30 in the afternoon, location TBD, but most likely Lyle-Arlington.
Coast forecast (north/central/south): Today: 15/20-25/30+, 6’@8. Tomorrow: light/10-15/25-30, 3’@8. Sunday: light/10-15/20-25, 7’@11. Surf day Sunday?
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Gorge Weather
Once again, the natural air conditioning is firing this morning, so cool off your house by opening the windows and save some carbon emissions and some little fishies. We’ll see temps in the low 60’s this morning and low 80’s this afternoon. We may see a few high clouds today. Tomorrow’s forecast temps are exactly the same, but will feel warmer due to higher humidity. Muggy. We’ll see more clouds tomorrow as a warm front approaches. Sunday will also be muggy with temps in the low 60’s early and upper 70’s in the afternoon with high clouds and very, very, very slight chance of rainbows/showers.
Road and Mountain Biking
Once again, it’s a little on the windy side to be riding a road bike today. But you can still ride if you want to. Just don’t use aero wheels or bladed spokes today. Today is not the day for your TT bike. The trails, as always, are still there, and will not disappear when you get on them. The only one still containing downed trees from the winter is Gunsight. One other thing: we are at Fire Level III, meaning all local trails are closed to motorized use at this time.
The Clymb: free membership. Cheap gear.
Temira approves. Click to join.
River Levels / Cheezburger update
The White Salmon is at 2.5′. Cheezburger (a guide at Wet Planet) got trained on another section of the White Salmon yesterday, and then he watched the carnage at Husum Falls. The Klickitat is at 1030cfs. The John Day dam is putting out 168-186kcfs and The Dalles dam is reading 187kcfs. Columbia river temp is 68 degrees at The Dalles Dam.
Events – email me if I’ve missed any outdoor-related events
All that wind in the forecast is good news, because there are windsurfing races, including a stop of the National tour, both Saturday and Sunday at the Event Site in Hood River. The Hood River Sandbar hosts a pro kite exhibition and clinics on Saturday, brought to you by Big Winds. Stevenson hosts outrigger canoe races on Saturday and Sunday.
The wild woman offroad marathon is in Trout Lake tomorrow, there’s pro rodeo in The Dalles today and tomorrow, and there’s enduro racing at Cold Creek trail in Camas on Sunday. Finally, tomorrow night is Movies in the Park in Hood River, showing the classic ET!
Have an awesome day today!
Temira
