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Random Morning Thoughts
Ugh. I had the worst nightmare about my family last night. I woke up all stressed out, not in peaceful-happy writer mode like usual.
Hood 2 River Relay
The Hood 2 River Relay is a one-day event on May 31st. This fun and all-inclusive event is designed for almost any level of skill and fitness, yet competitive enough for the hardcore athlete where participants compete in teams, pairs, or individuals to race from the high slopes of Mt. Hood down to the mighty Columbia River. There will be six Legs that consist of; Alpine ski, nordic ski, mountain bike, road bike, road run, boating (kayak/canoe/SUP) and a 500 meter sprint to the finish line after boating. Open to individuals and teams. Visit their website by clicking above for more information. And Pole-Pedal-Paddle, eat your heart out. You got nothin’ on the Hood 2 River!
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Mt. Hood Snow Forecast
I’m getting a little frustrated with the inconsistencies in the models right now. Not only is it affecting my plans for tomorrow, it’s affecting someone else’s plans, because I keep vacillating on an appointment I’m supposed to have at 8:30am tomorrow. I don’t like jerking people around. It’s not nice, and I’m doing it.
Anyway, today looks cold and snowy on Mt. Hood, with some sunbreaks this morning before the next weather system moves in this afternoon. The snow level will be 2000′ early, 3000′ midday and 3500′ overnight. We’ll see maybe an inch or two more this morning, light snow and sunbreaks midday, and then the next system moves in around 2pm, giving us .6-.8” water value (WV) overnight, for 4-8” of new snow. Yeah. Wind today will be WNW 30 early, 35 midday, and W 30 in the evening.
Wednesday is the tricky forecast. It’ll start off snowy, but the next system is slated to come in, depending on the model run, between 8am and 2pm. The snow level starts around 3000′, rising to 5000′ mid-morning and 6000′ by early afternoon. This is a really tough call – this is a warm front, which tends to come in rainy, but it’s spring, and it tends to snow at above-freezing temps. Argh.
Okay, let’s start with numbers: We’re expecting .7-.9” WV between 5am and 5pm. I think it’ll come in as wet, heavy snow, for the most part. Call it 2-5”. After 2pm, I think we’ll see alternating rain and snow. Another system comes in early evening with .8-1.2” WV overnight (gosh, the models are going crazy – this would be a surprise if it pans out). That system will come in with 6000-6500′ snow levels. Argh again. Mixed rain and snow? Anyway, wind on Wednesday will be WSW 35 early, rising to WSW 50 midday and swinging to W 35-40 in the afternoon and SW 30 overnight.
Thursday starts off wet, becoming clear in the afternoon. Again, we have borderline snow levels: 6000′-6500′ early, falling to 5000′ midday, 4000′ in the evening, and 1500′ overnight. We’ll see .5-1” WV in the morning, which will likely fall as rain. But maybe it will fall as sloppy wet snow. Wind on Thursday will be SW 35 early, 40 midday and 45 in the afternoon.
Friday looks partly cloudy with snow flurries and light wind.
Gorge Wind
A weather system moving through this morning combines with high pressure off the California coast for a brief shot of strong wind in the eastern Gorge midday before an upper level low approaches our coast. Expect 27-31 from Maryhill to Arlington from 11-3 or so. We’ll see 20-24 before and after that in the eastern Gorge with gusty, up-and-down 17-21 near Hood River, Mosier and Lyle. Tomorrow looks very wet, with unreliable westerlies at 15-18. Ditto on Thursday, but the wind might be a bit stronger in the eastern Gorge in the afternoon.
Gorge Weather
We’ll see partly to mostly cloudy weather this morning with a chance of rainbows before the next system moves in around 2pm with heavy rain. Temps will be in the mid-40’s early and low 50’s this afternoon with strong west wind. Tomorrow looks wet in the morning and showery in the afternoon, with rainbows possible after 2pm. Temps will be in the mid-40’s early and mid-50’s in the afternoon with light west wind. Thursday looks like a carbon copy of Wednesday: rain-showers-rainbows-west wind.
Road and Mountain Biking
Oh yeah. The road biking was spectacular yesterday. Flowers everywhere. No wind. It was so fun and so beautiful that I rode all day! Oh, and there is that 12 hour race I’m training for. That’s really why I rode all day. As for today’s bike news, well, I’d say the trails are going to be too muddy, except for maybe Syncline this afternoon or Dog River if you want to chance the downed trees. Maybe Surveyor’s will be good? Someone go find out, please. For you bike racers, this Saturday and Sunday is the Bear Springs Trap at McCubbins Gulch. Short Track on Saturday and XC on Sunday.
River Levels
The Hood is at 4.8′, the Klickitat is at 2100cfs, and the White Salmon is around 4.25′.
The Clymb: free membership. Cheap gear. Temira approves. Click to join.
Events – email me if I’ve missed any outdoor-related events
There’s pickup rugby at the Hood River Marina at 5:30. Also tonight at 5:30pm, there’s a vigil for the freedom to marry at Overlook Park in Hood River. After you support everyone’s right to get married, head to Cebu for $12 Prime Rib dinner. At Cebu, you will find lots of ski area people who are attending the Pacific Northwest Ski Area Association’s annual conference, happening at the Hood River Inn.
There’s sailboat racing at the Hood River Marina on Wednesday night and there’s ping pong at the Hood River Armory at 6:30pm.
Have an awesome day today!
Temira
