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Marcus O
Since 30 May 2018
96 Posts
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 Sat Nov 30, 19 7:09 pm Lot D (The Ponds) |
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| Do very many people kite Lot D at Fort Stevens during the colder months (late November-March)? I was out there riding solo for three hours today and was surprised that no one else showed up. Too much tryptophan from all the turkey?
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Sasquatch
Since 09 Mar 2005
1966 Posts
PNW
Bigfoot
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| Mon Dec 02, 19 10:30 am Re: Lot D (The Ponds) |
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| Marcus O wrote: | | Do very many people kite Lot D at Fort Stevens during the colder months (late November-March)? I was out there riding solo for three hours today and was surprised that no one else showed up. Too much tryptophan from all the turkey? |
Marcus O: Glad you got a Turkey session in! All speculation on my part, but I think that less people go to the Ponds these days for a # of reasons. More people are foiling, less people are riding TT's and skim boards.
The Ponds can be magical, but quite the haul for a flat water session, unless you live nearby.
The Ponds are a great alternative if it is too windy (with east winds) around the western part of the gorge.
I don't foil, but I also think that the Ponds area is too shallow for foiling unless one is riding right at slack tide and or more out into the bay/mouth of the Columbia.
And yes, the temps do weed out the weak and those less tolerant of the cold.
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McLovin
Since 11 Sep 2017
230 Posts
Corbett
Stoked
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| Mon Dec 02, 19 1:58 pm Re: Lot D (The Ponds) |
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OK I'm interested - bit of a drive but for winds as STEADY as these...sounds FUN
bring back the TT 
Mc
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_________________
42, the Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe and Everything  |
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Marcus O
Since 30 May 2018
96 Posts
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| Mon Dec 02, 19 3:26 pm Re: Lot D (The Ponds) |
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| Sasquatch wrote: | | Marcus O wrote: | | Do very many people kite Lot D at Fort Stevens during the colder months (late November-March)? I was out there riding solo for three hours today and was surprised that no one else showed up. Too much tryptophan from all the turkey? |
Marcus O: Glad you got a Turkey session in! All speculation on my part, but I think that less people go to the Ponds these days for a # of reasons. More people are foiling, less people are riding TT's and skim boards.
The Ponds can be magical, but quite the haul for a flat water session, unless you live nearby.
The Ponds are a great alternative if it is too windy (with east winds) around the western part of the gorge.
I don't foil, but I also think that the Ponds area is too shallow for foiling unless one is riding right at slack tide and or more out into the bay/mouth of the Columbia.
And yes, the temps do weed out the weak and those less tolerant of the cold. |
Yeah that’s kind of what I figured. It didn’t seem like there were any hazards that would have kept people away. Looks like the wind will just blow you down into the grass if things go bad. I live in Portland and Rooster is getting a bit risky with combined air/water temps being below 100 now. I don’t really like to bend the 50/50 rule unless it’s a spot that’s shallow or where you’ll just blow back towards land. To me it’s totally worth the day trip to the coast to snag a sweet bonus session during winter. Do you know if it’s safe to ride a bit outside of The Ponds or is that asking for an unwanted trip towards the bar?
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Marcus O
Since 30 May 2018
96 Posts
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| Mon Dec 02, 19 3:38 pm Re: Lot D (The Ponds) |
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| McLovin wrote: | OK I'm interested - bit of a drive but for winds as STEADY as these...sounds FUN
bring back the TT
Mc
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Yeah dude it was like a blow dryer when I was out there last Saturday!
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Sasquatch
Since 09 Mar 2005
1966 Posts
PNW
Bigfoot
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| Mon Dec 02, 19 3:45 pm Re: Lot D (The Ponds) |
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| Marcus O wrote: | | Sasquatch wrote: | | Marcus O wrote: | | Do very many people kite Lot D at Fort Stevens during the colder months (late November-March)? I was out there riding solo for three hours today and was surprised that no one else showed up. Too much tryptophan from all the turkey? |
Marcus O: Glad you got a Turkey session in! All speculation on my part, but I think that less people go to the Ponds these days for a # of reasons. More people are foiling, less people are riding TT's and skim boards.
The Ponds can be magical, but quite the haul for a flat water session, unless you live nearby.
The Ponds are a great alternative if it is too windy (with east winds) around the western part of the gorge.
I don't foil, but I also think that the Ponds area is too shallow for foiling unless one is riding right at slack tide and or more out into the bay/mouth of the Columbia.
And yes, the temps do weed out the weak and those less tolerant of the cold. |
Do you know if it’s safe to ride a bit outside of The Ponds or is that asking for an unwanted trip towards the bar? |
The bar is bad news. Sure you can go out into those waters, but if you have a breakdown, drop your kite (especially during the ebb tide) . . . etc you're going out to seas towards Hawaii and Japan.
It think there is a post somewhere in this forum about a windsurfer that broke down in the mouth/bar and barely survived to tell his tale.
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Marcus O
Since 30 May 2018
96 Posts
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| Mon Dec 02, 19 5:10 pm Re: Lot D (The Ponds) |
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| Sasquatch wrote: | | Marcus O wrote: | | Sasquatch wrote: | | Marcus O wrote: | | Do very many people kite Lot D at Fort Stevens during the colder months (late November-March)? I was out there riding solo for three hours today and was surprised that no one else showed up. Too much tryptophan from all the turkey? |
Marcus O: Glad you got a Turkey session in! All speculation on my part, but I think that less people go to the Ponds these days for a # of reasons. More people are foiling, less people are riding TT's and skim boards.
The Ponds can be magical, but quite the haul for a flat water session, unless you live nearby.
The Ponds are a great alternative if it is too windy (with east winds) around the western part of the gorge.
I don't foil, but I also think that the Ponds area is too shallow for foiling unless one is riding right at slack tide and or more out into the bay/mouth of the Columbia.
And yes, the temps do weed out the weak and those less tolerant of the cold. |
Do you know if it’s safe to ride a bit outside of The Ponds or is that asking for an unwanted trip towards the bar? |
The bar is bad news. Sure you can go out into those waters, but if you have a breakdown, drop your kite (especially during the ebb tide) . . . etc you're going out to seas towards Hawaii and Japan.
It think there is a post somewhere in this forum about a windsurfer that broke down in the mouth/bar and barely survived to tell his tale. |
I wouldn't mess around with anything on the north side. This is the area I was referring to. I’ve heard there can be wicked strong currents but wasn’t sure if that’s just on the north side or also around the outer portion of the lagoon. I ended up launching off the east end of the beach since the tide was flooding and I wanted to be sure I'd have a spot to land my kite when I was done. Seemed fine riding there but like I said the tide was inbound.
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Ponds.png |
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Saildoogie
Since 16 Oct 2013
77 Posts
White Salmon, WA
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| Mon Dec 02, 19 10:00 pm |
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I kited off the beach on the north side right by the ponds on a easterly last year in November. Did a few long upwind runs with some nice runs down wind. I ended up self landing on that little point between the river and the ponds.
Breeze was very steady with some small chop.
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Bill C
Since 15 Sep 2005
200 Posts
Portland
Stoked
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| Tue Dec 03, 19 4:53 am |
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I windsurfed back in the day on the north side with a NW wind and ebb tide thinking it would be fun 'gorge effect'. I lasted about 4 tacks before realizing the water moved with such mass and power, it was too much risk.
We packed up and went to the jetty.
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Sasquatch
Since 09 Mar 2005
1966 Posts
PNW
Bigfoot
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| Tue Dec 03, 19 1:42 pm Re: Lot D (The Ponds) |
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| Marcus O wrote: | . . .
I wouldn't mess around with anything on the north side. This is the area I was referring to. I’ve heard there can be wicked strong currents but wasn’t sure if that’s just on the north side or also around the outer portion of the lagoon. I ended up launching off the east end of the beach since the tide was flooding and I wanted to be sure I'd have a spot to land my kite when I was done. Seemed fine riding there but like I said the tide was inbound. |
I found it. Well kind of:
Quote from wylieflyote:
"Very similar to a mid-90s windsurfer story out at the last Columbia River/Ilwaco buoy... next stop Taiwan. Windsurfer got trapped in dying-dead winds, very strong out-going current, looses board/all. Just barely snags the final buoy (buoy #12?) at the Columbia River bar. Windsurfing buddy is back near Warrenton pre-cell phone era. After hours of near death the friend calls the USCG at Ilwaca Station. It turns out that a Seattle television station was doing a ride-along that day.
Scene on live TV is of this guy curled up in the helicopter crying his eyes out once they hoisted him on-board.
Wish I could find the story. It was big on rec.windsurfing newsgroup back it the day."
3rd page of this post. . .
http://nwkite.com/forums/t-41240-0-asc-34.html
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McLovin
Since 11 Sep 2017
230 Posts
Corbett
Stoked
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| Tue Jan 25, 22 11:57 pm Da Ponds - THU |
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ANYONE not in Mexico? ...looking at temps in mid 50's which to many is COLD but when Rooster is clocking 75+ mph at 38 degrees it's nearly tropical.
I'm guessing Marcus and I will be out there making the most of JANUARY is for KITING...
FYI - High tide isn't ideal it's early 8am
BE SAFE - don't become the story...
Mc
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_________________
42, the Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe and Everything |
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IWantToFly
Since 29 Jul 2019
87 Posts
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| Wed Jan 26, 22 8:01 am Re: Da Ponds - THU |
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| McLovin wrote: | | ANYONE not in Mexico? |
Nope.
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Marcus O
Since 30 May 2018
96 Posts
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| Wed Jan 26, 22 11:55 am |
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| Ah bummer I'd totally be out there if I wasn't busy packing up for Baja right now. I've gotten out there a couple of times this month, though!
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McLovin
Since 11 Sep 2017
230 Posts
Corbett
Stoked
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| Thu Jan 27, 22 11:00 pm D Lot |
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Hasta mañana to those still stuck in ol' MEX
Today's Report = UNCROWDED
Wind = ?
Had a TACO on the way home and poured out some salsa for those that
couldn't be there...how was it?
You'll ONLY KNOW if You GO...
Mc
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_________________
42, the Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe and Everything |
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eric
Since 13 Jan 2006
1719 Posts
XTreme Poster
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| Thu Jan 27, 22 11:13 pm |
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Way to get after it.
Eric
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Marcus O
Since 30 May 2018
96 Posts
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| Fri Jan 28, 22 10:10 am |
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| Nice, that's pretty much how it looked when I was there a couple weeks ago. Just look out for those snags when the tide starts to get low!
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