Hood River sand bar...

Scribble · Since 18 Nov 2005 636 Posts NoPo Addicted

I saw it today. No wind though.

jahmbi · Sun Jun 25, 06 6:46 pm **NO WIND**

DUDE YOU SHOULD HAVE COME OUT TO THE COAST AND BEEN THE TAXI!!!!!!!ALL YOUR BUDS WERE HERE..... Twisted Evil

MILES AND HOURS OF DOWN WINDERS............

Scribble · Since 18 Nov 2005 636 Posts NoPo Addicted

I did a downwinder from Home Valley to Stevenson instead :O)

pdxmonkeyboy · Tue Jun 27, 06 11:54 am

There's a sand bar in hood river? Shocked

bamboo · Since 24 Jun 2005 165 Posts da 'chung; taiwan Stoked

is it a sliver or an actual land mass? nothing beats rigging your kite when each tip is straddling the bar and lying in the water.

Pepi · Tue Jun 27, 06 2:25 pm **Sandbar**

River levels dropped over the weekend and gave us a peak at the ever-growing sandbar.
But, now the river levels are back up again.
They probably lowered the river a bit to compensate for the extra water that will come from the snowmelt during this heatwave.

From what we did see of the sandbar this weekend, we can definitely expect to be seeing a much larger and more westward stretching sandbar once the river levels are back down.

Pepi

Hein · Since 08 Mar 2005 1314 Posts Possessed

http://www.nwd-wc.usace.army.mil/ftppub/project_data/daily/bon.txt

azazello · Since 11 Jun 2005 60 Posts Seattle

So, what's going on down there in HR for this weekend? Is it Ok to launch from the marina beach? Will sandbar be useable?

sherrybohn · Since 16 Jun 2006 71 Posts

No launching from the Marina Beach....Please see previous thread.
Corp says water will drop but when, how much and timeline is unknown and questionable.
Please note that access to "the spit" will be closed starting Monday July 3rd. All day July 4th. Reopening around 10AM July 5th for Hood River's 4th of July fireworks set-up, display and clean-up

gabe · Since 16 May 2005 479 Posts Obsessed

i thought marina was open on the 4th due to the full closure of the spit? everyone was there last year.

sherrybohn · Since 16 Jun 2006 71 Posts

No launching from the Marina Beach as per Port Ordinance.....
I believe people may have been "walking" out to the sand bar last year but unless the water level drops I doubt that will be happening this year. The Port will be enforcing all water access ordinances with the help/support of the local police and marine sheriffs.
Please DON'T launch from the Marine Beach......this will just make the access issue more difficult in the future

azazello · Since 11 Jun 2005 60 Posts Seattle

Ok so it sounds like the only beginner-friendly launch in the entire area is Sauvie for the long weekend?

bamboo · Since 24 Jun 2005 165 Posts da 'chung; taiwan Stoked

...or rather the only launch in the gorge is anywhere BUT hood river. looks like i'm taking my time and money elsewhere. [/quote]

Pepi · Thu Jun 29, 06 7:27 pm

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

A couple of us launched from the Hook a few weekends back and it worked just fine. I wouldn't say its really any worse than Stevenson, other than instead of a nice grassy area to rig you are rigging on gravel. We launched using one of the pathways that goes down from the road to the water about midway up the road to the Hook itself.

Hein · Since 08 Mar 2005 1314 Posts Possessed

The Hook is a great place to sneak out and head over to the bridge or along Wells where it is smooth and you can get some real lifty gusts that will amplify your altiitude.

It's safe because you'll get dragged out in most bad launches. But there are rocks so there is potential for injury. Be very carefull of kites blowing off the top of the berm. Strattle your kite on one of the bolders if it's really blowing. Don't trust your board to hold it down.

Be nice, and patient, and maybe a windsurfing instructor at one of the schools will toss your kite if nobody is around. They don't have much free time so they want to give you a quick launch and see you ride off. Nobody wants to be part of a launch gone wrong. And that can easily happen at the Hook.

I'd call it a more advanced launch since your kite can easily fall into the wind shadow behind the berm. It's gusty plus there is a current sweeping you upwind - if you can't get all your lines tight while you are swimming against the current you're goning have to abort - and that's ugly. If you don't have tight lines then the kite will fall behind the berm and your done. Best strategy then is to drift down wind into the wind unless you want to climb back up the rocks with a tangled mess.

There is a big wind hole behind Wells and some times its hard to get out past it. Head off downwind and if you fall consider dragging out to the wind line kind of half laying on your board.

One problem with the Hook is that is very tough to come back in. Kind of a one way ticket. Easier to just go downwind to the former sand bar and get a ride back. It's tough to judge the wind out in the river so its easy to call it wrong but you won't be coming in to switch kites.

One of the coolest things the port could do for us would be to create a lower tier off the the hook that is normally only 4-6 feet out of the water. It could stick out as little as 20 feet to allow for a better launch pad.

sherrybohn · Since 16 Jun 2006 71 Posts

[One of the coolest things the port could do for us would be to create a lower tier off the the hook that is normally only 4-6 feet out of the water. It could stick out as little as 20 feet to allow for a better launch pad.[/quote]

Interesting idea....No promises.... but could we discuss this off line??? E-mail me
I'd be interested in getting a better understanding/ grasp of your concept. A lower tier might not cause problems with the fishermen that we have heard from and help with what I see as a "hot" launch and landing situation.