Random Morning Thoughts
I was talking to a friend last night about how I find myself struggling to spend time with my friends. This is a bit of an introvert problem, I think. I don’t hang out with people in groups – I much prefer one-on-one, and it’s hard to find enough time to make that happen with all the people I care about. Probably because they’re all trying to do the same thing with all the people they care about. I need an app that will organize me and all my introvert friends’ schedules so we can hang out with each other one-on-one. That is all for today.
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Thank you to everyone for using this forecast. Does it save you time, gas money, or help you find more wind, powder, or just plain fun stuff to do? Please consider making a donation to keep it going! Use it here for free or make a donation and get on the mailing list for wind for the summer and Mt. Hood snow in the winter. It’s not $99/year. Not $50/year. No, just $12.34 or more gets you on the list for 12 months. Do it via PayPal/CC by clicking on my happy photo below. Don’t PayPal? You can send a check to Temira @ PO Box 841 in Hood River. Thank you for your support, and thank you for trusting my forecast. You guys mean the world to me.
Gorge Wind
Once again, I remind you of the Gorge Windsurfing Awards. Nominate people for “most stoked”, “biggest air (the Dale Cook award)”, “most selfless”, “grom of the year”, and “Gorge windsurfer of the year”. You can submit your nominations here. You have until midnight tonight to submit your nominations.
I nominated Shane Lebsack for “Most Stoked”, because every day is “awesome” for Shane. He’s the most positive person at the beach: No matter what the river looks like, it’s “going to be awesome,” and no matter what the session ended up being, “it was awesome.” If you know Shane and you agree, get ready to vote when voting opens tomorrow.
Now, on to wind. Hopefully you got some yesterday. I followed my own advice and went to the Wall, which was … gusty, to say the least. When I was driving back, I looked at Doug’s, and man did it look good. I haven’t seen waves like that at Doug’s in years. So, I guess Doug’s works well now when there’s no water in the river and no current.
Anyway, we started with good gradients today: .09 (pdx-dls) and .10 (dls-psc). You’ll find 24-27 east of Hood River this morning, fading at Arlington this afternoon but holding on at Lyle-Doug’s, Avery, and Maryhill. As the clouds burn back, Swell/Hood River will likely see the wind pick up too, and maybe even Stevenson, depending on what the clouds do.
Tomorrow sees an abrupt shift to offshore wind. Call it 22-25 out of the east at Rooster and Steven’s Locks tomorrow. Repeat that on Friday. Saturday looks like east wind, and Sunday looks like a return to westerlies.
If you want wind and waves, you can go to the coast where you will find (north/central/south), today: light/15-20/30-40, NW 7@9. Thursday: 20/20-25/30-35, NW 6@8. Friday: 20/25-30/probably not windy, NW 6@8.
| Your favorite beach | Dawn Patrol |
9am- 11:30a |
11:30a- 3pm |
3pm- dusk |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rooster’s Rocks | cold | place | this | morning. | |
| Steven’s Locks | 14-17 | 10-13 | 10-13 | 14-17 | |
| Hatchery/White Salmon Sandbar (minus a few for Hood River) | 10-13 | 15-18 | 23-26 maybe |
gusty 20-23 |
|
| Doug’s, Lyle, Rowena | 24-27 | 24-27 | 24-27 | 24-27 | |
| Rufus, etc. | 24-27 | 24-27 | 24-27 | 24-27 | |
| Roosevelt, etc. | 10-15 | 18-21 | 18-21 | 15-18 | |
| 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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Advertising Worth Reading
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Gorge Weather
It was a rather cloudy start to the day in the Hood, and I was sure I’d see a rainbow under the dark clouds when I looked out my window. No such luck. I guess the air is just a little too dry or something. Anyway, the clouds will burn back as the day goes on and high pressure builds across the PNW. Maybe we’ll have clear sky at sunset. Maybe we’ll have colors. Hard to say. Anyway, temps will be in the upper 50’s early and mid 70’s this afternoon. Thursday will be sunny with temps in the (yep) upper 40’s early and low 80’s in the afternoon. Friday sees sunshine and temps in the low 50’s early and mid 80’s in the afternoon.
White Sprinter Van of the Day
Road and Mountain Biking
No news to report in dirt land. No news to report in pavement land, other than the fact that tomorrow is going to be AWESOME for road biking. If you would like to pick up an Ellen Dittebrandt memorial t-shirt to support finishing the missing section of the Historic Columbia River Highway Trail, you can do so here.
The Clymb: free membership. Cheap gear.
Temira approves. Click to join.
River Levels / Cheezburger update
The John Day Dam is reading 66-84kcfs. The Dalles Dam is putting out 78kcfs. The White Salmon is at 1.8′. If you plan on running the White Salmon yourself, remember that there is a riverwide log about 150 yards below Cave Wave. The Columbia River is 72 degrees. Cheezburger – he’s been so quiet lately. Must be because he has a nice girlfriend.
Events – email me if I’ve missed any outdoor-related events
Tonight’s events include free Tai Chi at Wilson Park in Hood River, whitewater kayaking in Husum, and the women’s Post n’ Pinot mountain bike ride at Dirty Fingers Bike Shop (ride, get a free beer or glass of wine), all at 5:30. At 6:30, there’s ping pong at the Hood River Armory, and there’s also a running workout at the Stevenson track at 6:30. Shortt Supply folks have an interval workout tomorrow morning at 7am, meeting at Shortt Supply.
The end of this week marks the start of Pacific Crest Trail Days in Cascade Locks, with free classes and gear raffles and movies and music on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. On the same three days, Bingen has the Huckleberry Festival, with food, music, games, and of course, huckleberry milkshakes.
Sunday is both the 4 hours of Downhill race at Skibowl and the Rural Rampage adventure bike race in Hood River. The rampage benefits Hood River Middle and High Schools, so get signed up now through community Ed.
Have an awesome day today!
Temira
