BayAreaKiteboarding.com

Got an invite to visit friends in Portland mid-august--thinking of going if I can also kite the gorge. Reading what's on nwkite.com, looks like the HR sandbar's a good spot for a first-timer, and it should be blowing. Anything else I should know? Good places to stay or camp near HR? I already know unwatched stuff tends to disappear from the event site grass (this year)... any other places to launch if you've only got one or two weekdays to kite?

theres a 24doller a night hostel directly over the bridge from the event site. It was pretty decent

Mid-August can be tricky as heat waves cause easterlies, but this year has been cooler than usual (just like here). Check http://thegorgeismygym.com for Temira's forecasts. The Event Site or the spit (down past the gas station and Windwing) would be the place to go; launch from there and head west on the river where it's less crowded. If you're bound to Portland then Sauvie Island is close. Check out http://www.nwkite.com/guides. For easterlies, Rooster Rock or Stevenson, WA, but the latter is a tricky launch not for beginners.

If you're kiting in Hood River don't go all the way over to the Washington side, the bluffs create a wind shadow. Sometimes Mosier (5 miles east) will blow when Hood River is light.

Housing can be tricky in the on-season. Prater's Motel may be affordable. My buddy Dave runs http://vineyardviewbnb.com and can show you a good time, though tends to book up. Camping would be at Tucker or Memaloose, though neither are close to town.

Have fun!

Thanks shredman, any thoughts on Jones?

Gonna hit Lassen (for non-kiting foo) on the way up, and take the wind as it comes.

Tucker is a nice campground and getting a spot anytime Monday-Wednesday should be OK, might start to fill up Thursday and almost certainly Fri. and Sat. It's 5 miles south of Hood River town, but it's nice drive, you pass grocery shopping, and the only noise is the river - no traffic or trains.

stone wrote:Thanks shredman, any thoughts on Jones?

Gonna hit Lassen (for non-kiting foo) on the way up, and take the wind as it comes.

Jones is a gem. The sensor reads light. Big nice, long beach and it's uncrowded. It's been consistently good for a while now.

Jones is great except the barge traffic is heavy, and check into it but I think you can camp there I live about 30 min away so never thought of camping out. Also Jones has nothing around it so after hours fun is limited to drunk hicks running around on 4 wheelers " I will try to stay clear of your lines when on beach" Haha. As for Sauvie Island it hard to count on it being a viable option hardly windy maybe 1 day a week ride worthy. I say the gorge or Jones is the way to go. Hope you enjoy Oregon!