Thursday: many days of wind - The Gorge is my Gym

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The Forecast

Your favorite beach	Dawn Patrol	9am- 11:30a	11:30a- 3pm	3pm- dusk
Today’s Gorge Wind – these are ranges for the average speed, not a predicted wind range. =)
Rooster Rock	OPEN!	naked	buns	rejoice!
Steven’s Locks	10-13	15-18	22-25	22-25
Swell-Hood River	21-24	23-26	25-28	25-28
Doug’s, Lyle, Rowena	12-15	15-18	21-24	25-28
Rufus, etc.	12-15	15-18	21-24	25-28
Roosevelt & Arlington	5-10	5-10	10-13	13-16

Gorge Wind Forecast

Same two announcements for today: First, the Dalles wastewater treatment plant had an “oops” Tuesday and discharged some poopy water. They’ve posted “contaminated water” signs in The Dalles, at Doug’s, and at Mayer Park. Next, the Port of Hood River will be reducing parking capacity on weekends at the Event Site starting this weekend. They are taking this step in response to park users not following social distancing rules. “Crowds Lead to Closures” is a real thing; the Port is doing their best to keep the waterfront open, but they will not hesitate to take further steps.

So, on weekends from now on: no more parking along the south curb in the Event Site. No more overflow parking in Lot 1. When the Event Site is full, the chain goes up for an hour. When 15 spots open, the chain goes down. This is very similar to how ski resorts manage parking, and seems to be the best system, so support the Port in whatever way you can. Please maintain distancing, or more drastic measures may happen. Please plan accordingly, and please spread the word. It is highly likely the Event Site will park out.

Strong offshore high pressure for the next four days (at a minimum) gives us correspondingly strong westerlies through The Ditch. Thursday starts out windier than I expected, which is a good sign for the windiness of the rest of the day. Dawn Patrol westerlies at 21-24 fill in from Viento to Hood River, perhaps at Mosier to. No need to rush about today; the wind will last. Expect a steady build to 25-28 from Stevenson to The Dalles by early afternoon. Rufus and The Wall, seeing the fun happening in the west, join in mid-afternoon. River flow is 162kcfs and temp is 64 degrees. High temp today: 86.

An approaching trough Thursday night sends marine clouds deep into the Gorge on Friday morning. Westerlies respond with zest and glee, celebrating with a dawn patrol at 22-26 from Viento to Mosier with 18-22 near Rowena. Get ready for a windy one: as the clouds burn back, we’ll see the wind climb to 28-32 from Viento to The Dalles with 24-27 at Stevenson. East of The Dalles, expect 24-27. High temp: 81.

That trough moves east on Saturday and high pressure builds in behind. Result: slightly gustier westerlies, but still plenty for whatever watersport you choose. Dawn Patrol Saturday looks like 22-26 from Viento to Moiser. By late morning, you’ll be zipping around the river on small gear: 26-29 is the forecast from Stevenson to The Dalles with 23-26 at Rufus (maybe). Current forecast for Sunday: 242-27.

Coast, Jones, Sauvie’st

Coast (north/central/south – swell forecast provided by NWS. Wind northerly except as noted).Thursday: 10-15/15-20/30-40, NW swell 5′ @ 10 seconds. Friday: 10-15/15-20/30-40, NW 6′ @ 10. Saturday: 15-20/25-30/30-40, NW 6′ @ 8. Jones Thursday: 24-27. Friday: 21-24. Saturday: 21-24. Sauvie Island Thursday: 17-20. Friday: 15-18. Saturday: 15-18.

Oregon
Rooster Rock: Open
Viento: Open
The Hook: Open
Waterfront Park: Open
Event Site: Open. Parking limited on weekends.
The Spit: Open
The Marina: Open
Boat ramp: open
Mosier: Only open for residents of 97040. Gate closed.
Rowena: Open
Celilo: Open
Rufus: Open
Arlington: Open
Threemile: Open

Mt. Hood Weather Forecast

Mt. Hood Meadows is now allowing uphill travel within the permit area. However, you will need to park outside their parking lots. Timberline is open for lift-serve skiing with exemplary guidelines for protecting guests and staff from the transmission of novel coronavirus. Please read their guidelines and rules here. Well done, T-Line! The Mt. Hood weather forecast will be on vacation unless something interesting happens in the weather up there. Some of you will be tempted to go out backcountry skiing. Please don’t – accidents do happen, and you may put others at risk. Timberline is allowing uphill access outside the permit area on the climbers’ trail ONLY.

Hood River Weather Forecast

Clear sky today sticks around. Temps will be in the upper 60’s early and mid 80’s later. Strong westerlies. No rainbows. Friday starts cloudy and ends clear. Temps will be near 60 early and near 80 later. Very strong westerlies. No rainbows. Saturday will be sunny all day. Temps will be in the mid 50’s early and mid 80’s later. Strong west wind. No rainbows. Looking for a complete Columbia Gorge forecast? Looking for more humor in your weather? Obscenities? You’re looking for my TATAS: Temira’s Awesome Travel Advisory Service on Facebook.

Cycling

The Rowena Curves are freshly chip-sealed, and so is Snowden Road. Eldorado in Post Canyon has reopened. The new Whoopdee trail is being constructed. Contact HRATS if you would like to be part of some small and socially distanced work parties. Syncline/Coyote Wall: Open. Mt. Hood National Forest: Open for day use. Everything from Gunsight Ridge down is open. Kreps/SDS: open. Sandy Ridge: Open. Nestor Peak: open. Falls Creek: open. Columbia Hills State Park: open. Syncline: open. Skamania County trails outside the scenic area: open. Ape Canyon: Open!

Sprinter Van of the Week!

Click here for the Sprinter Van map of the world!!!

Local Events

Cheno leads a workout at Hood River Valley High School every Monday at 6pm. There are sailboat races at the Hood River Marina every Wednesday evening. Dirty Fingers has a group mountain bike ride Thursday night at 5:30pm. The 1000 kilometer Race Across Oregon starts Friday, the HooptieX race is Saturday in Glenwood, and there’s a gathering of old Ford Pickups in Goldendale Saturday. Click here for the full events calendar.

Statement on Racial Justice

Black Lives Matter. I say that with no reservations and no caveats, and I stand with Black, indigenous, and other people of color against structural racism, against mass incarceration, against police violence, against unequal treatment, against outright racism, and against any other sorts of targeted behaviors or systems. In June, I donated 10% of the income from this forecast to the National Black Justice Coalition. I encourage you to find a cause and contribute too. Don’t have financial resources? Speak up!

I pledge to speak out against racism, and I pledge to be a humble ally who is willing to look at the ways that I benefit personally from racist structures in this society. I will continue to speak up and help wake up others, and I will listen quietly when people of color need me to.

I ask that all of you also reflect on the ways you benefit from racist societal structures. I recommend reading “White Fragility” and “How to be an Anti-Racist”. Don’t have much time? Read “Unpacking the Knapsack of White Privilege”. Watch the movie “13th”. When others confront you about your racism, take a deep breath, listen quietly, and attempt to quell your natural defensiveness. We have been raised in a society founded on slavery and racism. These values (and yes, some people hold them as values) remain entrenched in our society in subtle and not-so subtle ways. I challenge you to learn to see them so that you can learn to undo them. We can’t undo the damage that’s been done, and we don’t have the right to ask for forgiveness, but we can work to create a more equitable world going forward.
Have an awesome day!
Temira
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