Jones Guide?

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

Does anyone want to help me put together (or write completely) a Jones Beach guide? I would like to add it to our "spots" page:

http://www.nwkite.com/guides/

Maybe grab some of the recent photos Colby shot?

pdxmonkeyboy · Fri Aug 21, 09 9:20 am

Hmmm. I have been mulling over writing a "how to kite in light wind" guide. I'm probably not the best guy to write on jones though. How about a sand bar "traffic map"

kochease · Since 03 Jul 2008 760 Posts In Ft. Stevens, OR Opinionated

I can help out, what ya need to know? Its my home spot after all.... Maybe adding to the spots will bring a few more people out to drink some beer with Laughing

But then I'll have to learn to share Evil or Very Mad

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

Somebody beat you to it...

http://www.nyka.org/pics/

theirs has the Airboat slicks and ocean - sweet

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

Blue offered to write something up, he's going to post here then we can append/edit it Very Happy

Blue · Since 03 Jul 2007 469 Posts I used to be Obsessed

OK, here it goes. Edit and Append Exclamation

Jones Beach:
This beach is one of the most beginners friendly but much overlooked places on the Columbia river. Yet the place offers enough of the verity to satisfy even the most seasoned riders.

IMPORTANT: If you are a beginner Kiteboarder, you need to take lessons with a professional kiteboard instructor. If you show up to Jones Beach without proper knowledge and experience of how to kiteboard safely, you will be on your own. Most likely there won't be anyone around to ask questions and more importantly, there won't be anyone there to give you any assistance if things go wrong. Take lessons before going to this location. If you kite there, have PFD, helmet, and hook knife with you and be prepared to be self sufficient in a case of emergency.

Directions:
From Portland take US Highway 30 east, or I5 North toward Longview. If going by I5, cross to Oregon in Longview (I5 exit 36). Follow USH 30 6 miles past Clatskanie. You will see the yellow blinking traffic light at an intersection. Take a right turn there and follow the road for about a mile to the river. Once you are close to the beach area, you have two options. If you don't have a 4x4, follow the road to the parking area. Park there and walk with your gear the river (area A). If you drive 4x4, you can enter the sand and drive all the way to the river bank. The most upwind location (area B) is well suited for beginners. You'll have a lot of the sandy beach downwind of you to bail out and walk back.

Guidelines:
The beach is pretty much wide open. Watch for fishermen! Other than that, wherever you setup you are not likely to interfere with anyone. However, there are some things to consider: the beach is popular with ATV users. Be careful not to leave your lines extended from your kite since ATV riders might just run over them. As a very minimum safety precaution after rigging drag your bar back to the kite and tidy your lines so they are not scattered around the area.

Wind:
There are no good public wind sensors in the area. Use WindOnTheWater.com, and nwwind.net sites to check the weather patterns. You are looking for at least mild westerly in Astoria, 15 deg temp difference between Astoria and Kelso, and at least .04 pressure gradient between Astoria and Kelso. The wind rarely starts here before 3pm. The site delivers many windy days early in the season.

Though close to Jones, the IkiteSurf sensor is in a poor location. The actual steady state wind on the water is usually equal to--or greater than--than gust factor reading.

Tips:
The shipping channel runs about one third river width on the Oregon site. The ships are coming here fast, so be always on the lookout for this hazard. Do not try to cross in front of the ship coming back from the Washington side of the river!

Washington side of the river has stronger and more clean wind. It's called nuclear alley for a reason!

Cathlamet Channel behind the Whites Island offers a pool of smooth water large enough to accommodate several riders at a time. Be careful in the low tide, the bay on the island side is very shallow!

Don't park and setup too close to the water to avoid rising tides and wake form passing ships. Go to NOAA sites to check tides and predicted tidal current. University of South Carolina has very nice tide prediction server. Hit third radio button from the top (under select display type) for cool graphic tidal current prediction.

Nak · Sat Aug 22, 09 9:27 am

Add under "Wind"

Though close to Jones, the IkiteSurf sensor is in a poor location. The actual steady state wind on the water is usually equal to--or greater than--than gust factor reading.

"It is difficult to go upwind in the outgoing tide." should read "incoming" rather than "outgoing".

Nak · Sat Aug 22, 09 10:06 am

Here's a link for the tides at Jones. It's at Wauna, which is just downstream. (Halfway down whites island.)

http://ahps2.wrh.noaa.gov/ahps2/river.php?wfo=pqr&wfoid=18685&riverid=204540&view=1%2C1%2C1%2C1%2C1%2C1%2C1%2C1&toggles=10%2C7%2C8%2C2%2C9%2C15%2C6&pt[]=143083&allpoints=141844%2C146323%2C143917%2C144487%2C145817%2C143083%2C142943%2C144837&data[]=hydrograph&submit=Make+my+River+Page!

4Stringer/KipWinger · Since 27 Apr 2005 541 Posts Hood River Addicted

A few pics to help hillb-illustrate the scene;

Blue · Since 03 Jul 2007 469 Posts I used to be Obsessed

Nak, thanks for edits. Incorporated into the writeup.

4Stringer/KipWinger, love the pictures. ATV dude and kite with the ship are a must for this guide Laughing

lineman · Since 05 Feb 2009 170 Posts Stoked

WOW !!! What won't they let you do on that beach....lol Shocked

Vaughn · Since 29 Dec 2008 6 Posts New Member

Note that the tide height and the current do not have a direct connection as you might assume. Tide height will tell you how much beach is available, which isn't a big factor at JB. The current is more significant on the water and here is a current link from Cathlamet Channel about 5 miles downstream. The actual current speeds predicted are probably higher than at JB, but the timing and relative strength are close indicators.
http://tbone.biol.sc.edu/tide/tideshow.cgi?site=Cathlamet+Channel%2C+SE+of+Nassa+Point%2C+Washington+Current+(19d)

From my advancing intermediate perspective I think it's important to include in a JB guide that it offers the safest solo launch opportunity of anywhere not requiring 4WD. You can park on the asphalt with 100' clearance from the trees on one side and unobstructed sand all the way (~300') to the water on the other. You can clip your chicken loop onto a strap attached to your car, set your kite flying on its side at the edge of the wind window, and go back to clip in and fly it to overhead....all with your car as a safety anchor.

I love that place, except for the dusty grit, and I think it's a great place for supported beginners and independent newbies to get their upwind and kite control skills figured out before getting into the fray with experienced kiters at the more crowded venues.

Vaughn

Diggy · Since 25 Nov 2006 342 Posts Gorge to Coast Obsessed

Heres a little more perspective.

wylieflyote · Sun Aug 23, 09 11:51 am

Mas:

AndyD · Since 17 Mar 2008 54 Posts Bend, OR

and Kalama?

Blue · Since 03 Jul 2007 469 Posts I used to be Obsessed

Nice maps wylieflyote and Diggy! Vaughn, I really like this tidal current prediction server. And the spot is placed precisely in Nuclear Alley opposite Jones beach!

Chooch · Mon Aug 24, 09 6:05 am

Nice write up mark.

On a side note Phil, I was wondering if you could also add the links to some of the newer cams on the river. (Rooster cam, Slingy Sandbar Cam, any other cams I can't think of) Thumb's Up