St Helens

captain crusty · Since 30 Aug 2005 92 Posts PDX

It seems like the meter has always been windy the past few days..blowin to 23 now

There is a boat ramp and a nice sand bar right in the middle of the river

grab the jet sled and go?

http://www.wunderground.com/weatherstation/WXDailyHistory.asp?ID=KORSTHEL4

westender · Since 09 Aug 2008 41 Posts Portland/Stevenson

Wave to the Invisible Man if you go. He's always there.

kt · Since 16 Mar 2005 763 Posts Portland, Or Opinionated

that sensor has red 20 to 23 for the last two weeks. i do believe it is broken. check the 'sensor' link at the top of the page. or check www.windonthewater.com for more accuracy.

kt

FlyDunes · Since 09 Oct 2007 1034 Posts Aloha XTreme Poster

It hasn't been blowing that strong there, but that is the area with the best wind in the general vicinity. From the sand island to about 1 mile south of the tip of SI, its always a lot stronger than at the SI kite beach.

The problem is, there's no way to get to the sand island without a boat. If you do have a boat, that would be a money spot if you live on the west side of town.

rich · Since 30 Nov 2005 306 Posts portland Obsessed

ive checked this out before a few times as well. my conclusion, jones ain't that much further.

pollywog · Since 07 Aug 2009 291 Posts Obsessed

YIKES...you've found our secret spot! Yes, it blows there a lot but you need a waverunner/boat to get to our little island. One of our local riders does a drift launch from Pixie Park. Scary! Makes Stevenson look easy, no joke!
Yes, the wind sensor is often correct! But, again you can't get there without a boat.
On the Washington side West a bit of the pic sent, there is plenty of sand for launching.

chanson · Since 31 Jan 2006 1873 Posts WISCONSIN Chimey

Z-O-D-I-A-C !!

Cool

Lyle · Since 10 Dec 2007 2 Posts Lake Oswego New Member

The sensor is broken. Most of the time it is glass there. My parents live a block from Pixie Park. I go there all the time for the money water and go wakeboarding.

windobsessed · Since 07 Aug 2008 120 Posts Vancouver Stoked

"Most of the time it is glass there..."

BS, the reason its glass at the park is because there is a wind shadow there, look out a few hundred feet and the wind line starts and it's white capping everywhere.

People there just don't want to share "their spot", they try to keep it a secret Wink

pollywog · Since 07 Aug 2009 291 Posts Obsessed

Nope, not broken, the sensor may read high at times but it is a good indicator of what is happening about 1/4 mile down river of the "sandbar" shown in the pic. I live right on the edge of the water. See the water and wind everyday.

Honestly, I certainly wouldn't mind more people kiting here, I'd in fact be excited to see others. There's only 3 of us with a few interlopers.

Again, you gotta have a boat, or have mad self-launching skills. The guy with the mad skills kites 3-5 times here per week.

Lastly, when SI is sort of blowing, it will be blowing nicely here. If there is a fog line near the mtns downriver, it will be blowing here. It blows in the morning regularly. When HR is dead calm, it blows here. It is mostly 11m to 13m wind.

Very Happy

Youkai · Since 08 Feb 2010 553 Posts Beaverton Addicted

If I were to go here without a boat where would I park and launch from? I'm pretty decent at self launching/landing so it might be worth it to check out some time if I hit up SI and it's dead/too light.

FlyDunes · Since 09 Oct 2007 1034 Posts Aloha XTreme Poster

One semi-alternate that's much easier (but not quite as far north as you want to go) is to drive all the way to the end of the dirt road and park at the circular turn-around.

Just keep driving past the kite beach. The road will turn to dirt. Follow it for another 2.5 miles or so until you get to the end of the dirt road. There's a big beach to launch from.

The wind is usually better than at the kite beach. BUT, the shipping channel is right next to the beach. The current is quite strong. And there's a wing damn just south of launch, so if you drop your kite close to the beach on a suck-tide, the wing dam will eat your kite if you don't relaunch quick.

pollywog · Since 07 Aug 2009 291 Posts Obsessed

There are a couple of places: Pixie Park in Columbia City (bottom of I Street, good place to park); down river from PP, across an old boat launch in front of a gray and blue house with home made concrete steps stopping at the sand. You want to be confident with drift launching. Problem right now is the Tide. It is windy out there as I type (has been all day) but it will take you to St Helens or beyond without being able to go up wind. Not bad if you start at Trestle Beach but that is not an easy spot to launch as there is a wind shadow. But, you'll have a nice down winder if it works.
Google Pixie Park and take a look. Hope to see you out there...