wind forecast - The Gorge is my Gym

Good morning!

Please, people, wear helmets when you’re windsurfing in nuclear force winds.

The snow level is down around 2,000 feet, and it was snowing in Parkdale last night ( I have no idea if there’s snow on the ground up there now) so that means powder on Mt. Hood. I say powder because yesterday was employee ski day at Meadows, and although the snow was sludge at 9:15am, by 11am it was falling as powder, and there were a few powder turns at the top of Mt. Hood Express.

If you’re headed to Timberline, here’s the report: it’s 19 degrees, with 10” of new snow and moderate wind. If you’d like to backcountry ski, NWAC has issued an avalanche forecast for today due to significant snow accumulation and windloading. So, the skiing’s going to be great, but be careful if you’re in the backcountry!

I’m trashed from windsurfing yesterday, but if you’re not exhausted from windsurfing or kiting in yesterday’s nuclear winds, you’ll get a chance for lighter conditions today. It’s blowing in the twenties in the desert now, but it’ll back off to 17-22 from The Dalles eastward today, with gusty conditions in the Corridor. Tomorrow starts of with light wind, and then afternoon westerlies build into the low to mid twenties from Stevenson down to Doug’s.

Speaking of yesterday, it was one of the windiest days I’ve ever sailed. Victor the Inflictor and were about ¼ mile upwind of the launch on our 3.2’s when the wind turned on. Neither of us thought we were going to be able to get back downwind… I could have been on a 2.5, or even something smaller! May we please have more days like that this summer, preferably when I’m in windsurfing shape, not skiing shape!

Anyway, moving on, The Dalles Wastewater plant hasn’t cleared Doug’s, Rowena and Lyle from the E. Coli warning list. However, river water samples tested negative for e. coli, meaning concentrations are in the undetectable level, so sail that section of river at your own risk.

In biking world, there’s not much that’s rideable after yesterday’s rain. If you’re desperate, you could try the Deschutes River trail or possibly Tower of Power, but that’s about it. I’m thinking Post and Pint will not happen on Thursday. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaah. The Pint and Pint is a poor substitute for bike riding, at least in my book!

If you’re a boater, the rivers are up. The Hood’s at 4.9ft, the White Salmon’s at 4.5, and the Little white’s at 831 cfs.

That’s it for today. Whatever you do today, have an awesome day!

Temira

Good morning!

I just received some information at 9:40am that The Dalles wastewater plant is exceeding E. Coli levels in their discharge and will be posting “Do not enter the water” signs downstream of The Dalles. So, I suggest staying out of the water at Doug’s, Rowena, Lyle and Mosier for now… Yuck… Update @8:30pm: it is recommended that you stay out of the Columbia between Dallesport and Lyle, so Rowena and Doug’s are off-limits this weekend.

The ski report this morning has more snow for Timberline, where it’s 23 degrees with 2” of new overnight. Meadows reopens tomorrow, and they’ve had 12” or so this week, so the skiing should be quite good.

If you’re a kiter or windsurfer, you’re stoked today. Westerlies continue, and with less clouds blanketing the Great Columbia Ditch this morning, and gradients at .13 and .10 the strongest, steadiest wind will be from Hood River to Maryhill, likely best at Doug’s, maybe the Hatchery. Expect 24-27 by mid morning, holding til evening, at the Hatchery, Mosier and Doug’s, with a little less at the Sandbar and Lyle, and gusty teens under the clouds at Stevenson.

If you’re heading to the Hatchery, there’s one lane open on 14, so you won’t need to do the White Salmon detour dance.

Westerlies continue tomorrow, but a passing warm front will make it gusty. 10-15 in the morning builds to gusty 22-25 in the afternoon, from Hood River out to Arlington, with a chance of rain. Expect steadier westerlies, in the Corridor, on Sunday.

If you’re a mountain biker, I have great news: The trail that shall not be named or described is open, and I’d like to say thanks to Marc, Steve, Wayne, and all the others who put in the hard labor to get that trail up and running again. I’d also like to say thanks to SDS for working with CAMBA to let us rebuild this trail on their land. I’m so excited that all I can say is… Whoopee!!! Dog River is also open, but there’s race practice today and the Fluidride Enduro all weekend, so wait ‘til Monday for that trail.

Boaters, the Hood’s at 4.2 feet, the White Salmon’s at 4.1 feet, and the Little White’s at 727 cfs.

Have an awesome day today!