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the gorge in winter

 
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tomctaylor



Joined: 02 Jun 2006
Posts: 8

PostPosted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 9:37 pm    Post subject: the gorge in winter Reply with quote

Just curious as to what the Gorge is like in the winter months. Is there snow in the town? what kind of temps? How far are the Mt Hood ski areas?
does everyone trade in their summer toys for winter toys?

thanks for the info
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cgoudie1



Joined: 10 Apr 2006
Posts: 2597
Location: Killer Sturgeon Cove

PostPosted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 12:31 pm    Post subject: Re: the gorge in winter Reply with quote

I usually avoid the Gorge in winter, but I have been there during winter.
It's rare to get snow all the way down and stuck to the ground, but it does
happen (It did last year). Much worse are the rain turned to ice storms
(more prevalent around Stevenson), which can make driving a real
challenge. High temps typically run in the low 40s, but typical lows
don't get much below 28. Timberline lodge is about 1 hour and 15 minutes (on dry roads) from HR. In a good year, you can ski/board
Mt Hood year round, in a bad year (where it rains instead of snows),
you might get in 30 days on the mountain.

HR is sort of the dividing line between grey and rainy, and just grey
(out in the desert).

Not everyone trades in their Summer toys. There are a number of
year round dedicated sailors, but Winter winds are fickle, and considerably
more rare than summer winds. They can also be really strong, and more
desert oriented on Westerlies, or more west (Stevenson to Rooster Rock)
on Easterlies. A lot of the locals head for Mexico, but plenty
snowboard also. It tends to be a little muddy for mountain biking
in the winter. Oh, did I mention the river water is none too warm either.

I should also mention that my primary residence isn't in HR, I just
spend most of my free time there, so take the above for what it's worth.

-Craig



tomctaylor wrote:
Just curious as to what the Gorge is like in the winter months. Is there snow in the town? what kind of temps? How far are the Mt Hood ski areas?
does everyone trade in their summer toys for winter toys?

thanks for the info
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isobars



Joined: 12 Dec 1999
Posts: 20935

PostPosted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 4:41 pm    Post subject: Re: the gorge in winter Reply with quote

tomctaylor wrote:
Just curious as to what the Gorge is like in the winter months. Is there snow in the town? what kind of temps? How far are the Mt Hood ski areas? Does everyone trade in their summer toys for winter toys?


Let's see ... PENGUINS come to mind. Cold, dark, wet and/or slushy, sometimes very icy, but usually with snow sports roughly 1.5 hours south. Some nuts like WMP and Temira sail all winter under the delusion that they're having fun, but then the only weather that counts is the weather inside your dry suit and delusion often beats reality, so maybe they're on to something. Wink

The wx is much better out east, but so what ... 40-degree air and water is still for PENGUINS, penguins who prefer thick neoprene dry bots, gloves, and hood to dry snow gear. Water is best enjoyed at >45 or <30 degrees, IMO; YMMV. Wink

The biggest difference between Hood River WSing and Mt. Hood snow sports in the winter is the heat conduction of air vs that of water. The biggest general difference between HR WSing and eastern Gorge WSing in late fall and spring is sun and wind, but strong fall east winds narrow the gap.

One dedicated PacNW outdoor couple (e.g., WSing, snowboards, hiking, mountain biking) puts it this way: just accept getting wet all year and you'll love it.

Mike \m/
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WMP



Joined: 30 May 2000
Posts: 671

PostPosted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 6:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It all depends. Some winters are good for windsurfing, others are better for snow sports in the Gorge.... there's even been some good winter dry spells for mtn. biking. Always best to mix it up with all three.

Last year was not often windy, but it did blow 7-10 sesh's solid 3.2 shore-to-shore nuke style at Stevenson late fall / winter with way too much wind to even consider sailing Rooster. If you enjoy blasting around in liquid spray... this is your opportunity!! Sure, water gets cold so it helps to learn to stay out of the water (live to jibe, jibe to live). Just need to find your water temp # that you feel confident in taking on, don't go below that. Also consider the air temp and sunshine (or lack thereof) and the quality of the wind. Sailing east winds in winter here is an exercise in mind control.... you really need to find a place of relaxation or blood flow will stop and you will not last.

Try contrast hydrotharapy this time of year to get ready for winter. It's easy, just take an extremely COLD shower for a few minutes, then turn up the heat for 5 minutes, then back to cold water..... lots of great health benefits with this and your body learns to manage extremely cold temperatures quite well.
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billgfc



Joined: 20 Aug 2006
Posts: 226

PostPosted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 12:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have been sailing the Gorge since 1980, full time since 84 and living here year around since 84. Before that it was 13 yrs in Utah (Snowbird)

The ski season in a slower year might start early Dec and dump like crazy, then Mt Hood Meadows (40 minutes away almost 3,000 vertical , 5 high speed quads) may clse in late April or stay open weekends into June if demand and weather allowing demand is there.

An avg season is open by Thanksgiving (earliest was 3rd week October) and closing end of April (usually lack of demand, not snow). Avg snowfall is around 450 inches a year. Last year we got around 850 inches!

Bases may be from 85 inches or so to 250", usually well over 100.

Snowfall avg about same as Snowbird, but higher water content. The new skis really make skiing heavier powder here lots of fun (it s fun at Whistler and Crystal with similar snow type)

We did have crap year a few years ago when we did not open until Jan or early feb and season ended in march or early april

Snow and season length at Meadows is as long as any in USA for practical purposes. Timberline is open 12 months a year and is an hr away.

There is great backside skiing in Heather Canyon. It s first class steep and trees when open

www.skihood.com

A new general manager was hired last year whose last job was ceo of Jackson Hole.

I still miss Snowbird, but luck to have good skiing so close with lots of snow
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tomctaylor



Joined: 02 Jun 2006
Posts: 8

PostPosted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 8:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

cool. thats exactly what im looking for.
Thanks everyone!
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