Lyle sting

moondog · Mon Jul 10, 17 7:37 am

The main Lyle boat ramp facing south is for public use. The west ramp closest to the sandbar is public use, but butts up against Native American land and you drive through their property to access it. I would be uncomfortable leaving my car there for more than 15 minutes. On the Native American popularity list, kiters are at the bottom, right below windsurfers! I believe they settled here "a couple" of years before kiting was invented and the RR was right behind them. They laid their tracks her in 1851, 45 years after Lewis and Clark kitesurfed down the river.

Jonpnw · Since 22 Jul 2010 1327 Posts Pacific Northwest XTreme Poster

Bob is getting burnt out of providing the free rescue service in Hood River. Maybe he could start a water shuttle service in *&%^ . How much would you pay round trip ?

Matt V · Mon Jul 10, 17 8:05 am

FreerideWhiteSalmon · Since 17 May 2012 64 Posts **CGKA Member**

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2088 Posts PNW Bigfoot

I've kited "fight club" just once in my life; truth be told I kite in the ocean a lot (95-98% of the time) more than on the Columbia. But when I was learning back in '03 I needed shallow water, consistent winds, and no swell or waves. I'd much rather kite in other areas on the Columbia than "fight club" as it basically is a choppy section of the Columbia with some smoother areas by its sandbar. Maybe I'll kite there again when I get a foil? But right now, I want swell and or waves to ride when I ride on the river. Yes, I know where to find those areas.

So forgive me for asking this question, but I don't know the lay of the land too well over there.

I'd pay $10 for a roundtrip from North (Lyle) of the river mouth down to the sandbar area. Personally, I think a one jetski operation from Rowena would be a logistical nightmare and many scenarios on how to mess up that business plan; I think it would be better with 2. But such an operation would not really help Lyle business wise as kiters wouldn't be spending $ in Lyle.

Can one float down Klickitat from Lyle under the bridge to kite? Have a kite session, pack up, and paddle back up stream from where one originally launched?

Portland has public bikes to use for a small fee. Lyle could perhaps implement a similar program after a use and safety class was given and a waiver signed.

And of course this probably wouldn't work during the Spring with high waters and snow melt and no sandbar, but it might during the summer and fall.

Just a thought. . .

bigjohn · Since 13 Mar 2012 663 Posts Addicted

I think there are some good thoughts presented on this forum if someone is actually considering expanding their services:

1) How can kitesurfers/transporters benefit the local community of Lyle (vs. rowena where there is no commerce such as pubs, restaurants, and stores)?
2) Will a jetski suffice (I would think a boat is a much better option)
3) How/Where is available and safe parking?

I know a couple of kitesurfers that fish Lyle on a regular basis with a boat.

The first one to develop this market will own it... Better hurry!!!

moondog · Mon Jul 10, 17 8:56 am

Here the south launch access. We park along the side of the ramp, it is huge.

FreerideWhiteSalmon · Since 17 May 2012 64 Posts **CGKA Member**

deminimis · Since 15 Jul 2014 326 Posts On the Rocks Obsessed

wannabekiter · Since 14 May 2015 269 Posts Hood river Obsessed

Found a couple jet skis in my price range. Just need go look at them... Very Happy

deminimis · Since 15 Jul 2014 326 Posts On the Rocks Obsessed

Well hurry up Jim. You've been looking for better than one year. A rescue sled makes them very kiter friendly, but damn those sleds can be pricey.

skideeppow · Since 26 Aug 2011 521 Posts Addicted

Just drove by coming back from Rufus,
i saw about 10 kites out there. So are people just taking a chance or am i missing something on how to get to the sandbar.

treitz · Since 07 Jun 2016 83 Posts Hood River

Probably people who don't follow this forum closely, or just want to risk it. I'm one of the only people out of my group of friends who follows this forum, so I'm trying to inform other people as well.

I was at Lyle yesterday, and a friend was out there Friday and yesterday without issue (before I read this thread about the $300 ticket). Based on the increased number of posts here, I suspect it might start slowing down, or people will find other wats to get to the sand bar.

If we really wanted to get out there, we would probably use the same parking lot, drop a couple paddle boards into the Klick, hop on them and then just take a sharp right after it dumps you out and drag everything up on the sand bar.

The challenge, I suppose, would be paddling back up the Klick afterwards...but doable.

I live 5 minutes from the event site. So I should stop driving to Lyle anyway. ha!

cgka · Since 18 Jul 2006 278 Posts Obsessed

In the attempt to add positive user habits to the discussions on this forum.

Please kite/ride only on the west side (upwind side of the sandbar) and not in the mouth of the river. This is the one critical measure that we need to abide by in order for us to maintain support from the Klickitat and Lyle community. The river mouth is a very historic fishing and hatchling area. Kiting (or even windsurfing) in this area is very frowned upon for the perceived affect it has on the fish population. As well, River Keepers is not fond of any kites or sails in this area due to the local bird population that has historically resided in this downwind area.

The local community has been using this location for hundreds of years and kiters have only been here for maybe a a decade, so we are the guests in this area and it is best to remember that a friendly guest is always a welcome guest. The guest who is a jerk is never invited back and is the one who loses out most when the improvements make the party location that much better.

Windstoked · Since 21 May 2013 43 Posts Norcal

It is not illegal to walk along the bank of a navigable waterway if within the mean high water line. That means that hiking under the train tracks is entirely legal if along the water's edge. That also means being on the sandbar is entirely legal as well.
However, there's a big difference between being within the law and being free from being cited for engaging in such lawful behavior. In practical terms for going under the RR bridge, a good attorney could get you off, but it would cost more than the ticket.
It would cost even more money (way more) to file a civil lawsuit against the railroad to lay down the law and force them to cease and desist from citing people for doing that.
I would gladly donate to a legal fund for any kiter cited passing under the trestle (and within the high water line doing so) that files a civil suit against the railroad to force them to allow hikers under the trestle. Perhaps there is even a local kiteboarding attorney willing to provide such services at a discounted rate.

FreerideWhiteSalmon · Since 17 May 2012 64 Posts **CGKA Member**

moondog · Mon Jul 10, 17 7:40 pm

Freeride is correct, there is no ground under the trestle. It is a 50 foot unusable span that would have to connected by some sort of cantilevered walk-way along the support wall. The span is directly over the Klickitat River which adds a couple more agencies that would be involved for approval.