Kalama - for the curious and wind-hungry on workdays

Dern · Since 11 Jul 2010 545 Posts Vancouver, WA Addicted

For the uninformed and the interested, Kalama is a small town about 35-40 minutes drive up I-5 from Portland (30 minutes from the first I-5 exit in Vancouver). Obviously if you are on the Portland side of the river you would have a rough time getting through to Vancouver during rush hour, but those of us on the Washington side or Portlanders close to I-205 could get up there in no time at all and there is essentially never any traffic.

Today:
I got on the water about 5:30 PM and rode until about 7:30; the wind was still strong but I was starving and decided to head in. I went out on my 14 and TT but was greatly overpowered with full depower on the kite - when I went out into the shipping channel where the wind is stronger I would get lofted 50% of the time when a gust came through. I probably should have put up my 9m to be honest, but I'm not used to being able to ride a smaller kite at Kalama. For reference, I weigh ~195lbs.

Wind Prediction:
Wind is not the easiest to predict ahead of time (for me), but the indicators are a prediction along the lines of "Northwest wind 6 to 13 mph" for Kelso or Kalama on weather.gov, and nice sunny day in Portland. It's very similar to Sauvies in the days that it goes off, but it might actually go off more often (if using 12-14m kites). On 12-14m sauvies days I'm guessing it's 9-10-11m kite size at Kalama - I can't say for sure because I've never gone to Sauvie's on a weekday. Today there were white caps throughout the river, starting around 2:00 pm.

Today the tide had just finished going out, (low tide in Longview was at 5:15pm) and was heading back in, so there wasn't an extra boost from the tide going out with the current. See the windonthewater.com screenshot for the wind sensor readings today. Note that the sensor there is not right on the river and that the wind gets very fluky the farther you go from shore. River wind speed is closer to the gusts on the sensor in the screenshot.

I would probably be better at predicting wind at Kalama if not for the fact that I work right next to the river and there are windsocks and flags right outside my office. And I can see the park and river area from a 50ft vantage point. If you are interested in heading out there M-F feel free to shoot me a PM and ask for my take on the wind.

Wind quality: The more North the wind is the more consistent and less gusty it is. Today was pretty good, it gets more gusty towards shore and smooths out and strengthens (3-4 mph probably) as you go into the shipping channel, much like the wind at Jones in nuclear alley. The wind is also not as onshore as at Jones, and is pretty close to parallel with the shoreline. This does make going upwind in either direction (relative to the shoreline) very easy, however.

Water quality:
The water was surprisingly less choppy than I'm used to seeing at Jones and HR. I don't know why that is, it could be that the big island to the west of the launch breaks the wind near the surface of the water enough to prevent the super-chop that you see at Jones on the Oregon side of the river. The water wasn't glass by any means but it was... not bad. You can always chase the large ships going towards Portland and ride in the flat wake area.

The current is strong, I'd say its similar to Hood River from watching things float by. The current is still very prevalent right next to shore, though, so it doesn't have the easy board retrieval that Jones has when close to the Oregon shore.

Launch/landing site: See the pics attached for some actual photos of the place. There are a few ways you could approach this launch, but the way I do it and the way I've seen a few other people do it is by launching off the grass between the two walking paths. Wait for passersby, obviously, as I'd prefer to keep this site a viable kite location. If you can't self launch a kite or have poor kite control I would not try kiting here without a friend to help launch and land. On the other hand, there is a considerable amount of beach downwind of the launch where you could walk back up.

The safest bet for launching is to plant an anchor (those foot-long screw things that cost like $6 at home depot) in the dirt. The launch is clean grass - there isn't even goose shit on it. It's also fairly dry, so kites slide on it VERY easily when blown by the wind. There is a bit of sand and rock by the river, which you have to descend to via stairs or a steep inclined hill once the kite is in the air.

Obstacles
There are plenty of people walking along the paved paths in the park but never too many to impede launching and landing, particularly if you are there with another kiter. The people at the park are generally very excited when they see kiters there. Even the fishermen. Speaking of fishermen, there are usually a few dotting the shoreline down by the banks of the river, so you have to watch out for them. In general there are not enough of them to get in the way, particularly if you launch farther north in the park where the water is right next to the bottom of the hill.

There are a few pilings out there, but it isn't like the Woodland area where the pilings are everywhere and just under the surface. The water gets deep very quickly.

Cargo ships. Every cargo ship that goes by the Kalama park goes by Sauvies. So if you've kited there it's essentially the same. Fewer ships than Jones, though! The ships do go right through the wind path, so you need to get to a place where your kite can rest when the ships go by.

Power lines (see pictures). Not a problem if you know how to fly a kite. A big problem for you and the future of kiting if you are a bad pilot.

Overall
If you can get to Kalama in 30-40 minutes and you're just getting off work, why not try it? Beats sauvies (from my one sauvies experience ), though sauvies is not really an after-work destination for anyone on the Washington side (or anyone that doesn't like waiting on the beach for wind. Or getting their smaller kites jacked from their cars while they sail around on a 15m). Wind prediction can be tricky(?) but there is a failsafe in that I can provide an OSR to inquisitive minds M-F! I'd be down to have a couple kiters out there with me. I'm hesitant to try anything new when I'm out there alone.

Pics:

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2102 Posts PNW Bigfoot

Kalama-Rama was capping around 11:15 am when I drove by. Get a crew together so you can get the downwinder from Kalama down to exit 22/Woodland.

wylieflyote · Wed Jul 11, 12 5:02 am

Speaking of Kalama. Has anyone seen the Ultronz lately? Some of the best post-session (or anytime) music to come out of the Gorge.
"A Perfect Kalama Day" classic!

"I've got my 9 6 seatrend my 7 meter sail, my kid brought his shovel,
his little plastic pail, I'm going down river where there's plenty of
sand, ca-there's always room to park my new mini van... Look's like a
perfect Kalama day...

(The Ultroniz 1990)
http://www.ultronz.com/index.htm

barfly · Since 31 Mar 2005 1214 Posts Portland BRACKISH

Saw them last summer at the Dune with Slither. Doin' things I shouldn't a dun, it was a late one. Woke up the next afternoon in a strange bed, but alone and soaked with liquids unknown Shocked

Sella · Wed Jul 11, 12 12:44 pm

FlyDunes · Since 09 Oct 2007 1034 Posts Aloha XTreme Poster

Great post! Wish I was closer, but I'm pretty much stuck in the SW quadrant of the Portland area after work due to traffic.

beej · Since 16 Jul 2010 180 Posts Stoked

So, is Kalama more inconsistent than Sauvies, or less?

Dern · Since 11 Jul 2010 545 Posts Vancouver, WA Addicted

Consistent as in days that it goes off, or wind speed fluctuation during a session?

beej · Since 16 Jul 2010 180 Posts Stoked

Consistent as in (Jones>Sauvies>Kalama) or (Jones>Kalama>Sauvies) in general terms.

Campbell · Since 07 Sep 2008 409 Posts Camas, WA Obsessed

Great post. I'm in the couv and would love to hook up with some people for downwinders. Hit me up!

Dern · Since 11 Jul 2010 545 Posts Vancouver, WA Addicted

OSR: White caps throughout the river! Plenty of wind for 11/12m kites. Tide will be heading out until 5:40pm.

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

I almost kited there Tuesday morning driving by at 8am. Been good this week. Great post Darren very good information. I'll see you in Kalama more often in late August and September when jones starts to taper down.

Justsmile · Since 20 Jul 2009 1530 Posts Not Portland XTreme Poster

can someone post the Kalama write up in the spots section. We have a lot of spots in the NW and the shitiest write ups in our spots section. Please help the spots section grow so everyone does not have to continually ask about spots!!!!

Jonpnw · Fri Jul 27, 12 5:56 am

you want to be careful about listing spots. do you want some newbie showing up at Kalama and dropping his kite on the fishermen or a family on the beach?

Justsmile · Since 20 Jul 2009 1530 Posts Not Portland XTreme Poster

i dont want anyone dropping a kite on anyone regardless of fishermen etc. It would be nice to help the site grow and post sites that are accessable and worth checking out. It does not have to be top secret:-) Why should someone put all the effort in to write a write up and then not have it memorialized. I realize someone could search Kalama or it could just be posted in the sites. Sauvies is listed and someone could drop a kite on a fishermen there, Jones the same etc. Maybe we should take rooster rock down because someone could be scarred due to the VietSchlong!! Maybe Hood River should be pulled off because its crowded and someone could hurt themselves there etc. Release the info for everyones interest.

Jonpnw · Fri Jul 27, 12 8:18 am

The area's listed under Spots generally have lot of space.

Maybe with enough emails to iKite they will install a sensor there too. Down winder to exit 22 would be fun. I can fit about 5 kiters and gear in my truck.

Justsmile · Since 20 Jul 2009 1530 Posts Not Portland XTreme Poster

I like your thoughts. The more sensors the better:-)'n