wind forecast - The Gorge is my Gym

Good morning!

I want each and every one of you to get down on your knees and start praying to your favorite gods, or get up and dance to your god, if that’s your thing, because I need a little help with the snow levels over the next few days.

Snow levels look fine today for a few inches of snow. Tomorrow, though, they look questionable. If snow falls on the mountain tomorrow, it’s going to be heavy, but at least it will be snow. 50/50 is my call at this point. I think by tomorrow night, it will be all snow, all the time, meaning Thursday night skiing might be the best call this week.

A little more snow falls on Friday, and with colder temps, that should be good snow. I think it will be a decent day at T-line and Meadows on Friday. Saturday does not look good at this point, with rising snow levels and a good chance of rain. I need all of you to do your sacrifices and dances and prayers for Saturday. Please.

If nothing else, do you dance for Skibowl, because they are going to get hammered with rain during this system. Poor Skibowl. They have such fun terrain and so little snow. We might have to make a pilgrimage just for the nachos, if this lack of snow at low elevations continues.

In the mountain biking world, you have Syncline, Hospital Hill and Columbia Hills available and rideable right now. Get them today, because the rain over the next few days will ruin the riding for a bit. Mitchell from Dirty Fingers told me last night that he has more riding to tell about, but I didn’t get the details. Today…

Don’t forget that Ranger Jimmy T presents an avalanche awareness clinic at Dog River tomorrow night. 7pm. Free class. Beer is not free, but can be purchased there.

In the wind world, speed sailors get there chance at the coast on Thursday and Friday, with high winds blasting through during the daylight hours. Gorge winds will blow Thursday night, but that doesn’t help the crazy winter windsurfers and kiters much at all.

I almost forgot… Meadows is doing speed dating on Blue on Valentine’s Day. I think it’s a cute idea, so if you’re single and need a ski buddy of the opposite sex (I think they should have a same-sex line too, but I’m not in charge), head up there!

That’s about it in the recreation world for today. Pray for snow!

Temira

Good morning!

It’s lucky for us that the cold air in the desert isn’t that cold this morning. We’re dodging the snow and freezing rain bullets today. If only we could dodge raindrops as well…

Right now it’s raining from Hood River to the top of the Cascade lift at Meadows. That means it’s raining at Skibowl and T-line as well, depressing news for skiers. It doesn’t mean the snow is bad; rain-soaked snow is fast and fun and slippery. It just means that you’d better own nice outerwear if you’re headed to the slopes. Either that, or you might want to pack a Hefty bag…

Can’t say I’d recommend heading to the mountain today, unless you have no choice. Snow levels won’t drop, we’ll get .75” of rain, and winds will increase to the 20-30 range by afternoon. If you have some work to get done, today would be a good day for it.

We’ll see more rain on the mountain tomorrow, another .25” or so, with less wind. If temps stay above freezing on the mountain tonight, tomorrow should actually be a good day of skiing, if you can deal with light rain showers. I am not seeing any powder days in the near future, so make the most of your season pass and hit the slopes in the later half of this week when we’ll see dry weather.

Coming back to sea level… on Wednesday, cold air makes its way back into the desert. Combine that with some huge offshore gradients, and we’re looking at a big east wind day for insane windsurfers and kiters. I think gusts into the 50’s are likely Wednesday, with averages in the 30’s. The only catch is that we’ll likely see sub-freezing or near-freezing temps in the Gorge, along with a few snowflakes or freezing rain. I’m pretty desperate, so I might go windsurfing.

Finally, my birthday is Friday. We’ll be going out Thursday night to celebrate. Come join us… not sure where or when yet, but it’s going to be an early night…

Have a great day today!

Temira