When are gorge temps good enough?

Donny Baker · Since 13 Jul 2006 80 Posts

Kited till the begining of Oct. in the gorge last year without getting cold, when will the spring temps get warm enough to ride with just a wetsuit and no booties, gloves, hood, etc?

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3753 Posts Los Angeles, CA Videographer

Normally by around late April to May. I went out a few weeks back with a 4.3 which I'm normally warm in (and was so long as I was out of the water), but my hands/feet died none the less.

magicmaker · Since 29 Oct 2006 895 Posts da Hood Opinionated

i actually didn't wear any gloves when i went out last wednesday, and my hands were fine. of course i wouldn't have been caught dead without booties., and yea, it seems about the end of april / beginning of may is when i stop wearing booties. I actually dont trade in my 6-5-4mm to my 3/2 until the end of May, iirc.

looks like we might be getting skunked today Mad

bambam · Since 15 Mar 2005 760 Posts Hood River Photographer

Ever since I started windsurfing in 1990 I have used the 100 rule. Air and water temps need to at least add up to 100, or I go do something else.

Jon

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

It was 70 today in the dalles, some wind too... wish I had my gear and my timing was better... still it was nice to be in the sun again.

Donny Baker · Since 13 Jul 2006 80 Posts

Sooo, where do I find the water temps?

Mr Madleg · Since 13 May 2005 10 Posts Portland, OR

http://or.water.usgs.gov/projs_dir/pn307.tdg/

Station 7 seems like it's a good location and it's year round.

http://or.water.usgs.gov/projs_dir/pn307.tdg/tables/WRNO.html

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

42.62F, toasty! Wink

tonyb · Tue Mar 13, 07 10:40 pm

On the 2nd link above I found a page that lets you graph water temp over a period of time at specific locations. Here is the water temp in front of the Bonneville dam over a two year period. Looks like the water temp gets to around 60f by mid to late May and peaks around 72f in late July early August. I checked multiple years and it's pretty much the same pattern. Looks like my tolerance runs from about late April to early November. Smile