Just stumbled onto a newly reporting wind sensor on NWS Interactive Obs map. Called "Bam Bam Maryhill " . at 1154 ft above rt 14 on the Wa side of Rufus. Readings every 7 minutes showing all the data needed to figure out conditions on the water( the old " went north" ) Check it out, VTI
Mark
Since 20 Jun 2005
3677 Posts
I need my fix because I'm a
Naishaholic
Tue Feb 15, 22 6:25 pm
At the paragliding spot. Named for Jon "BamBam" Malmberg. RIP brother. _________________ Cleverly disguised as an adult...
Used to fly the site north of Rufus. Originally called Pollution Point due to the effluent of toxic fumes from the old aluminum plant below but it was changed to the more politically correct name of Cliffside about 20 years ago. It is much nicer to fly without headaches since the plant shut down. Now pilots have to contend with wind turbines along the rim of the gorge as well as behind launch were some cross for XC flights.
Found a video of Jon Malmberg flying Cliffside with a buddy doing a swing off his tandem then dropping to free-fall for a BASE jump. Still enjoy paragliding and kiting takes up more of my interest lately but BASE not in the slightest. Miss seeing Jon in the community as he was a really unique guy.
As for wind sensor- might be good for direction and timing but not so sure about velocity. I recall seeing wind absolutely ripping along the river by Rufus while we were enjoying moderate 12kt winds at Cliffside and along SR14
Thatspec
Since 17 Mar 2008
115 Posts
Ptucky
Stoked
shred_da_gorge
Since 12 Nov 2008
1257 Posts
Local, not Low Cal
XTreme Poster
Wed Feb 16, 22 7:37 pm
Good find! There are plans in the works to build a large pumped storage hydro plant there.
bambam_big_tuesday_2_137.jpg
IWantToFly
Since 29 Jul 2019
145 Posts
Stoked
Wed Feb 16, 22 7:49 pm
jwnd wrote:
Found a video of Jon Malmberg flying Cliffside with a buddy doing a swing off his tandem then dropping to free-fall for a BASE jump. Still enjoy paragliding and kiting takes up more of my interest lately but BASE not in the slightest. Miss seeing Jon in the community as he was a really unique guy.
Well, this morning that sensor is not reporting and it's windy at Rufus, has been for days. I look at the real time data from NWS Interactive Obs page for LePage Park(mp115, on I 84 just east of the dam). It'd be nice to compare all available sensors in that corridor, and co ordinate the data to what that means to the actual QUALITY of the wind at RUFUS, not 2 miles west at The Wall Marker 44, or up on the road at LePage park. The Hatchery is 2 miles west of HR, and they certainly have different conditions at the same time, same for all corridors in the Gorge.
ALL wind is thermodynamically generated, and very much more local than any and all of the current forecasters realize. I've been on a mission for 37 yrs to try to figure all this out, a work in progress! The more real time data the better, that sensor (BamBam Maryhill) on line at all times would certainly help. Who's in charge? I kitesurf is now owned by the Spanish energy company Iberia Corp, and owns all those private, "for profit", sensors.(I kitesurf customers). Iberia put all those I Windsurf sensors on the NWS Portland Interactive Obs page for 2 days following their buyout, I caught it, made a post here on NW kite, 2 days later we never saw those again... hmmm Why? They were threatened by the idea that you would no longer have to pay for all the real time obs at those beaches, so the value of subscribing would shift to the their "forecast." LOL! And we all know how shaky those have been! Post whatever info might help about this topic and let's figure it out for all for FREE! thanks, VTI :D
that_guy_stu
Since 22 Sep 2012
27 Posts
Mon Feb 21, 22 9:34 am
"I kitesurf is now owned by the Spanish energy company Iberia Corp, and owns all those private, "for profit", sensors.(I kitesurf customers)."
Not a true statement. Otherwise, much respect Victor.
- Stuart
bigjohn
Since 13 Mar 2012
663 Posts
Addicted
Mon Feb 21, 22 11:42 pm
Not sure if this is the same meter Victor is referring to, but IKITESURF has a new meter listed that appears to be located above hwy 14, just above The Glass Factory.
It will be interesting to see what this meter tells us compared to the wall marker 40 meter.
I for one feel my annual payment to ikitesurf is money well spent. They seem to be adding more sites. I appreciate their services and intend to continue my membership. _________________ Kiting starts at 40MPH
kiteVT
Since 28 Jun 2010
53 Posts
Portland
Wed Feb 23, 22 12:02 pmCite?
shred_da_gorge wrote:
Good find! There are plans in the works to build a large pumped storage hydro plant there.
Can you point me to this project application? The only one I find is near Rufus Woods Lake in Bridgeport, WA.
jwnd
Since 22 Oct 2014
16 Posts
Bellingham
Wed Feb 23, 22 5:00 pmGoldendale Energy Storage Project
I heard about this a few years ago and thought the idea sounded marginally beneficial at best and not so good for flying at Cliffside. I guess they can help stretch existing power generation by acting as sort of a battery. Pump water uphill when power is plentiful and release it to lower pond during leaner times. There was talk of something like this going on a decade or two ago between Lake Elsinore(Riverside Co) and mountains to the west. Never went anywhere. I think environmental impact was a factor there as well. Something about paragliding sites attracts these things..
Looks like this project was denied permitting but first link suggests environmental study to complete mid '22.
shred_da_gorge
Since 12 Nov 2008
1257 Posts
Local, not Low Cal
XTreme Poster
Wed Feb 23, 22 10:45 pm
There are several in the mountainous regions of Europe, as well as a few in the middle east working with solar farms. In addition to storage they can also provide black start, so they augment solar and wind pretty well. (Of course at Goldendale that's already provided by the John Day).
bigjohn
Since 13 Mar 2012
663 Posts
Addicted
Thu Feb 24, 22 12:49 amRe: Goldendale Energy Storage Project
jwnd wrote:
I heard about this a few years ago and thought the idea sounded marginally beneficial at best
Funny, I heard about this a few years ago and thought the idea sounded incredibly beneficial at best.
Perspective is everything
I'm no expert! I repeat... I'm no expert!!!
I also recognize there are negatives such as potential heating of river water, security concerns etc.
But... The ability to store energy when it's not needed such that it's available when needed WITHOUT BATTERIES seems like an incredible achievement to me. I know there are other alternatives out there like essinc.com, thermal energy storage etc. but, good old pure water storage seems like a very good environmentally friendly long term solution to utilize the benefits of solar and wind, and even dams.
Seems better to me than using coal or Natural Gas. _________________ Kiting starts at 40MPH
bustingbladder
Since 12 Jul 2006
386 Posts
Seattle
Obsessed
Nice to see interest in "Environmental Engineering" from the kiting community. This sensor is the first step in a pilot project by a big money energy company that has a clue.
The ability to store potential energy in a pond... and release it through a water turbine producing electricity when the wind doesn't blow. BRILLIANT Totally renewable, safe, eco friendly power using Mother Natures energy only. I hope it goes.
In conversations at Rufus and Arlington with turbine technicians and engineers for what is now the biggest wind farm in North America, Rufus to 3 Mile, owned by an insurance company (they have all the money in our world), they informed me of the "green energy credits" that are traded daily to fulfill the contracts with BPA, to send their power where it's needed most. Most going to L.A. The future of energy production will be renewable sooner than later, everywhere in the world as fuel prices are going though the roof.
I Kitesurf/Windsurf are now a part of big time worldwide wind forecasting company, Weatherflow Tempest. They are marketing their own weather stations, (adds on their website). They are tying in all those to their data base, and have tied in every wind meter on NWS obs, and wherever they can get wind data. If you buy one, you can link to their data base, so they can use your data on their site. A win- win.
Yes I am now supported by Weatherflow. Their windmeters at the beaches we go to are fine.(totally need recalibration). Their forecasters are really lagging behind in accuracy, they predict on a chart that never seems to match the graph. I suspect Weatherflow's main interest is in these big money "renewable energy trades" the engineers told me about, and their forecasters are now young recent meteorology grads lining up for that blend of big money energy forecasting and recreational wind forecasting. I checked their bios, they don't kite, windsurf or even know what a wing is, asked them.
So... A shameless pitch to the NW Kite community. PLEASE take a look at and continue checking the daily forecast on my new website... victortheinflictor.com I'm working very hard trying to dial it in, make it simple, not confusing, and very accurate for all of us as fuel goes to $6 very soon... as gallons of clean water will soon follow in years to come if we don't take care of Mother Earth. Thanks, VTI
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