CGKA - Blackberry Beach BBQ/Kite Party - SAT Oct 6

K2 · Since 30 Apr 2009 274 Posts Hood River, OR Obsessed

Last time I kited at this spot there was no more room for cars and people had to turn around. There was barely any room for you to pump up and run out your lines. Are we supposed to park east of the launch and walk down that skinny eroding road? This needs to be addressed for sure because it will become a shit show if people are intending on kiting from the spot during the BBQ/Party. There is room for about 8 cars max if I remember correctly.

I don't think this is a beginner spot either. Easterlies make it really hard to stay upwind in the Gorge. I agree with people saying Rooster is a good spot to learn on an easterly, or the downwinder with friends option.

forrest · Fri Oct 05, 12 9:00 am

Yes, you park east of the beach, no cars will be allowed to drive down the road as it's literally falling apart and cars will accelerate the erosion.

Lots more room now, but obviously it's no Sandbar.

If you kite just upwind of the launch, close to the Oregon shore, there is no current to push you downwind.

forrest · Fri Oct 05, 12 9:03 am

BTW, Saturday is "Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day" and NW Trails Alliance is hosting an event right next to the beach, so bring your family and mountain bikes as well!

http://nw-trail.org/event/2012/10/3323

97031 · Fri Oct 05, 12 9:10 am

The parking area has room for about 30 cars, if parked properly. Beyond that, there's parking for several thousand a few hundred yards away. The walk down the jetty to the launch area is within 200 yards, and it is a very easy walk. It's not a bunch of big boulders to negotiate or anything like that.
As for the launch area itself, there is now plenty of room to set up, lay out lines and launch, and the entire area is covered in finely crushed rock, which will pack pretty firm and stay in place once it gets wet.
Like Stevenson, landing and launching will have to be coordinated and only one person will be able to come/go at a time. A BIG difference with Blackberry Beach is the gentle slope and small rocks going into the water. A kiter can walk out quite a ways on pretty mellow little stones before it's waist deep, which makes for a much safer launch/land than Stevenson. There's also a cove directly downwind, which is added safety zone if a launch doesn't go as planned. Another advantage over Stevenson is the current is much slower on that far side of the river, and a HUGE bonus is that there is a big flatwater section about 1/4 mile upwind from the launch.

Justsmile · Since 20 Jul 2009 1523 Posts Not Portland XTreme Poster

How does the wind blow there. Is it the same as Stevenson since its close to being just across or is it lighter or more gusty there??

genek · Since 21 Jul 2006 2165 Posts East Po KGB

I've landed at Cascade Locks on Easterlies and riding just East of the landing was good. Wind similar to Stevenson with probably a bit less chop. Should be good I imagine at the new launch.

Rollo Tomasi · Since 17 Mar 2005 983 Posts Attractive

Good winds - Great Day - People flowed in and out from 10am-dusk
Kite, BBQ, Beer, Music, Demo's

Micah

Adam Lapierre

BeerKite · Since 29 Mar 2011 471 Posts Obsessed

Blackberry beach is awesome! The guy in that second pic sure is handsome. I think you got my best side. super cool spot with little ponds around that the family could SUP or play around in, out of the wind. Huge props to the CGKA and all the individuals that made this happen.

And thanks to Rollo for the great pics!

Sella · Sun Oct 07, 12 10:47 am

Great pics Rollo. Micah's shot is money. So much fun yesterday seeing old friends and meeting new friends with good grub and brews....in October. Blackberry is legit and a ton of fun in a cool setting.

Thanks CGKA staff and a shout out to Adam Lapierre for putting in the time to make the spot a reality. Thumb's Up

Pepi · Sun Oct 07, 12 1:39 pm

Technically we call this launch "Blackberry Beach" because the CGWA and Port of Cascade Locks had already named it this years ago, but I think that via the CGKA we'll always think of this as being "LaPierre Landing" because of all the work that Adam invested via first discovering this opportunity and then having the perseverance to make it a reality via the CGKA Board of Directors.

Thanks Adam!

Justsmile · Since 20 Jul 2009 1523 Posts Not Portland XTreme Poster

Looks like a wonderful launch on an east wind but how about on a west wind. Any place ro throw a piece of webbing and room for a self launch anchor.? Thanks for all o everyone's work on what looks like a sweet new launch:-)!!

BeerKite · Since 29 Mar 2011 471 Posts Obsessed

$ociopath · Since 28 Nov 2007 523 Posts Twilight Zone Addicted

Damn. First time I read this. Sweet! This just put a geometric gas money cash return on the few years of cgka membership! Thanks cgka! Looks epic.