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quenyaistar
Since 21 Oct 2011
416 Posts
Cougar, WA
Obsessed
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Wed Aug 10, 16 5:29 pm |
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There is also a saweet disc golf course in and around the mountain bike course. Its a great recreation spot
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luke
Since 06 Jul 2005
399 Posts
Obsessed
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Wed Aug 10, 16 8:22 pm Oregon Windsports State Park |
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The plans for an Oregon State Park for windsports was on the table back 10 years ago when an opportunity came up to acquire the largest river front property in the Scenic Area. Ameri Ties owns the property at Wyeth (including a beautiful bridge to cross the RR tracks) and was in negotiations with the DEQ to sell the property to the State of Oregon Parks for $1 in exchange for minimal clean-up of the old RR tie manufacturing property.
This site is upwind of the narrows and immediately across from Wind Mt. Those that have done the Blow-Out know how good this section of the river is.
Like other “cleaned-up” sites in the area, a paved parking lot and 3’ of imported sand covers up the toxic contaminants to a level that is relatively safe for kiters and windsurfers. It was a win-win, but as property values in the Region continued to go up, Ameri Ties decided to not sell and hang onto the liability. (probably figuring that taxpayers will fund the clean-up at some point in the future). That plus our good buddy Dan, who was spearheading the deal, suddenly died of a brain tumor.
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Wyeth.JPG |
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HRnico
Since 22 Mar 2008
260 Posts
Da Hood
Obsessed
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Wed Aug 10, 16 8:51 pm |
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Wow , looks like a natural spot PDX peeps would love this. Would save them 13 miles x2
Would want to try this spot as well
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Windian
Since 28 Apr 2008
880 Posts
Newport, OR
NEWPORT OG
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Wed Aug 10, 16 9:04 pm |
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The plain and simple truth is a safe location to launch and land kites determines whether it is a kiting spot. The Columbia River has tons of kiteable water, but most of the shoreline is rocky or tree lined so safe access to the water is limited. Environmental regulations will probably restrict what can be developed into kite launching areas. Thus, there is probably not going to be many new spots popping up in the near future. This is one aspect that sailboarding has over kiting in that they have way more safe access to the river than kiters will ever have in comparison. Good luck with the search more kiting expansion on the river as the demand is certainly exceeding the supply.
Some of the more ingenious kiters might want to return to the idea of yesteryear's reel bar or some variation of it and rethink that design. That would certainly open up many spots which are currently not considered safe to launch and land kites.
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Jonpnw
Since 22 Jul 2010
1322 Posts
Pacific Northwest
XTreme Poster
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Thu Aug 11, 16 6:56 am Reel Bar |
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Rumor has it that North is coming out with a reel bar in 2017.
_________________ Slingshot | Ride Engine |Try before you buy | PM me
Join the Columbia Gorge Water Sports Association. http://gorgewindsurfing.org/ |
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wylieflyote
Since 30 Jun 2006
1634 Posts
Puget Sound & Wa. Coast
XTreme Poster
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Thu Aug 11, 16 9:01 am Re: Reel Bar |
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Jonpnw wrote: | Rumor has it that North is coming out with a reel bar in 2017. |
Whoah!! Count me in. Between Jan-May I live on Mexico a beach filled with tourists. I can never find 20m of open sand. Can't wait to see this technology advance. Especially if it can happen under 6 pounds
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Kip Wylie |
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Sella
Since 21 Apr 2007
1794 Posts
Doin' The Dalles
FLY'IN HIGH PIE GUY
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Thu Aug 11, 16 9:34 am Re: Reel Bar |
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Jonpnw wrote: | Rumor has it that North is coming out with a reel bar in 2017. |
I still have a Reel bar from 1998 and 2-line 11M Wipika. It's the bomb for clutching out those lines.
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bobgatpdx
Since 04 Oct 2008
218 Posts
Stoked
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Thu Aug 11, 16 10:00 am |
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My kite buddy and I tried Stevenson yesterday. Fun place to kite, but the launch/landing was pretty technical and a bit intimidating. I consider myself to have solid kite flying skills, but I still had some minor problems landing (many thanks to the ground crew!).
I kited over towards Blackberry Beach, but hit a significant wind shadow as I got close to shore on the OR side, so I didn't make it all the way over to shore.
We also checked out Home Valley, which was an OK windsurfing spot "back in the day". Was pretty sad looking with some reddish slime and mudflats. Wind line was quite a ways out.
Launching on a river is a unique challenge!
Bob
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Sella
Since 21 Apr 2007
1794 Posts
Doin' The Dalles
FLY'IN HIGH PIE GUY
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Thu Aug 11, 16 10:44 am |
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bobgatpdx wrote: | My kite buddy and I tried Stevenson yesterday. Fun place to kite, but the launch/landing was pretty technical and a bit intimidating. I consider myself to have solid kite flying skills, but I still had some minor problems landing (many thanks to the ground crew!). |
Nice score Bob. The Stevie ground crew is always a "Best of the Gorge" winner.
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Mark
Since 20 Jun 2005
3677 Posts
I need my fix because I'm a
Naishaholic
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Thu Aug 11, 16 1:24 pm |
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Not to be a buzz kill but Stevenson is a advanced launch. Make sure your skills are good. If not, there are much better, safer spots to kite from.
_________________ Cleverly disguised as an adult...
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wannabekiter
Since 14 May 2015
269 Posts
Hood river
Obsessed
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Thu Aug 11, 16 3:27 pm rowena |
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This is good. This a subject that will need to be addressed. More and more are getting into kiting. Its just too fun and easy to learn.
I think Rowena Is the logical choice to focus on. It has parking, a bath room and afternoon wind for the working crowd. The more people who park there the more the state makes.
If the bushes and weeds were cut down and 3/4 minus rock was spread on the beach it would make it a decent launch for experienced kiters.
I would volunteer to talk to the right people but I am not PC enough. Somebody with a calm polite demeanor would be great. That rules me out.
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deminimis
Since 15 Jul 2014
326 Posts
On the Rocks
Obsessed
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Fri Aug 12, 16 8:11 am Re: rowena |
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wannabekiter wrote: | ...and easy to learn. |
Exsqueezeme?
Jerri mentioned you guys looked at a Waverunner last week. Once you get one of those, there are a few more opportunities.
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wannabekiter
Since 14 May 2015
269 Posts
Hood river
Obsessed
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Fri Aug 12, 16 9:42 am jet ski |
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She changed her mind when she found out I would not pay for it. LOL
Flat water right now -surfing at lunch.
Last edited by wannabekiter on Fri Aug 12, 16 10:02 am; edited 1 time in total |
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deminimis
Since 15 Jul 2014
326 Posts
On the Rocks
Obsessed
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Fri Aug 12, 16 9:44 am |
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Going to haul the Craft over tomorrow. Looks like no wind until later in the day (as best as I can tell anyway).
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markamcclure
Since 20 May 2011
164 Posts
Portland, OR
Stoked
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Fri Aug 12, 16 10:42 am |
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The wind park near the narrows sounds good although often its lighter there and would not have nearly as many days as HR and eastward. I remember lots of rocks at Rowena from windsurfing, but there are some nice swells as you go downwind towards Doug's.
I am an intermediate kiter and haven't launched at Stevenson due to the rocky launch. In the gorge I often plan to try the wunderbar launch but it's usually easy to kite there from the sandbar so it's hard to rationalize paying the toll and it's convenient and user-friendly at ES. I always mean to try Lyle but each time it's hard to pass up ES in decent - great conditions.
However I am sure things will get much more crowded over the next ten years. We will need some solutions. Maybe something at Doug's? I think a railroad crossing is a major hurdle, too.
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ldhr
Since 21 Jul 2009
1470 Posts
Hood River
XTreme Poster
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Fri Aug 12, 16 1:36 pm |
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Don't encourage your friends to take up kiting.
Don't have children.
Stop posting about semi-secret spots.
Bam!! problem solved.
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wannabekiter
Since 14 May 2015
269 Posts
Hood river
Obsessed
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Fri Aug 12, 16 7:44 pm problem solved |
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My friends already kite. I don't have any kids and not going too. And I never talk about semi secret spots kiting or mt biking or any thing else.
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