Wunderbar parking

niknas · Since 18 Sep 2006 189 Posts North of OR, South of WA Stoked

Wunderbar parking a mess today. State road inspecting bridge.

hoarhey · Since 20 Jul 2008 63 Posts the corridor

not to mention some kiter walking down the middlee tracks. You want to get that sand bar shut down keep walking on the tracks folks. pretty much all of the fatalities that have happened in White Salmon have happened right at that location. BNSF is watching...

apctjb · Since 19 Aug 2007 438 Posts Obsessed

flipper · Since 17 Oct 2011 320 Posts Obsessed

What is the proper way to the bar? I usually hot-launch on hwy 14 and then boost over the fence and tracks to the water.

Jonpnw · Thu Jul 11, 13 6:00 am **Stay Off the Effn Tracks**

There is a path that leads directly under the bridge.

If you can't figure out back in parking like everyone else and then walk down the beaten path underneath the bridge to the sand bar then you should probably go back to the event site.

WindSki · Since 14 Dec 2012 411 Posts Portland Obsessed

Everyone please go back to the event site, thank you

moondog · Thu Jul 11, 13 7:50 am

A friend's car was rammed by a semi there last week. He slowed down to pull in, the semi didn't. MY technique is: heading west bound with no traffic in either direction I pull onto the left shoulder and then BACK-IN park. If there is traffic in EITHER direction, I cruise by looking for slots, go down to the Underwood right turn and make a U in the gravel parking lot, wait for no traffic from the west and cruise down and BACK-IN PARK. We all need to be parking and RR track nazi's if you don't want to lose this launch!!!!

hoarhey · Since 20 Jul 2008 63 Posts the corridor

"We all need to be parking and RR track nazi's if you don't want to lose this launch!!!!"

Exactly!!!
Think Lyle, but higher profile. Just because you are walking under the bridge, that doesn't mean you aren't on railroad property and they don't have an interest in closing down the site.

Advice from the experts:
1) STAY OFF THE TRACKS!!! If you see someone on them, tell them to get off. If they don't get off the tracks, yell at them to get the F off the tracks.
2) Don't get near the tracks if a train is coming. Basically if you get within 15 or so feet of the train as it's going by the engineer must file "near miss" paperwork. Get enough near-miss paperwork at any site and the RR police in their white Blazers start showing up and ticketing people for trespassing.
3) Educate the new users. Make sure everybody knows how to act on the tracks. If they don't like it, then suggest they go somewhere that access is guaranteed (like the event site).
4) Educate the tourists. Of all the people that need to be warned about staying off the tracks its the people who have never seen a kite before and want to stand on the tracks for hours taking pictures of this really cool new thing and those people flying up in the air. The two main categories of train fatalities in the Gorge (specifically around the mouth of the White Salmon) have been tourists and fishermen.
5) Fishermen are the only ones that have a right to walk on the tracks, cross over them, trespass, park wherever they want, throw beer cans in the river, etc. If you haven't figured out that kiters, kayakers, and rafters are second-class citizens to fishermen yet, then you are still living in illusion that everybody is equal. The above advice only applies to kiters. If a fisherman tells you to take your advice and shove it, just walk away. Somehow the target audience for railroad police harassment and enforcement is only the kiting community and doesn't apply to fishermen.

its_kite:30 · Since 29 May 2009 108 Posts White Salmon/ Beaverton Stoked

I really don't understand the fear preaching. I park there but not when busy easy walk under tracks. But fishermen are doing this taboo all the time for ever, do they close fishing holes? This is an honest question, not saying for us to be dumb and follow suit.

Pepi · Thu Jul 11, 13 1:35 pm

This is an excellent post and should be read, re-read and passed on to all kiters accessing via this location.
Yes, fishermen do the same thing, but they do it super low-pro. They know that these places get shut down if they are overrun with inconsiderate users who then cause the location to become a safety concern with the railroad authorities.

Please be smart and courteous. It's for everyone's benefit.

Good post Hoarhey!

melokitegirl · Since 28 Oct 2008 396 Posts Where the wind blows Obsessed

If you are an Indian (especially one who fishes), you can do whatever the hell you want AND enjoy not paying any taxes.

Get to know your local politics. There is no "fair" or "right". It is what is. Deal. Don't walk the tracks. I'm burned out from talking to new folks at "the place we don't talk about". They never listen anyway. I'd say Karma, Darwin whatever - but one bad apple ruins it for the rest of us. Some of us live on this side and would like to continue enjoying the Wunderbar safely.

Stay off the tracks. Do not F with BNSF. Even better, go back to the Event Site or the many other places along the Columbia.

blowhard · Since 26 Dec 2005 2027 Posts Windward

"If you are an Indian"

omg have we not done enough with our native people

I am one of them

dangler · Since 26 Feb 2006 1780 Posts WINDY SPOTS XTreme Poster

can I do whatever I want?

http://www.bia.gov/FAQs/

Melo, I thought you were an educated person, not a bigot.

dcfordo · Since 19 May 2011 60 Posts The Dalles

Thanks for that link Dangler.

wylieflyote · Mon Jul 15, 13 5:15 am

MKG, I think I've just read the lowest, meanest comment ever on this forum. sad.

MarkWorth · Since 02 May 2011 149 Posts Hood River Stoked

They traded the North West for the right to fish.
We agreed to allow access.
We then killed 97 % of the fish with fish wheels and dams.

Since we broke almost every other treaty, it might be OK to honor this one agreement this one time, if it's not too much of a burden.

Please give all Native Americans respect!

AC · Since 04 Jul 2012 66 Posts **CGKA Member**

Please treat all PEOPLE with the respect and dignity you would like to receive. And remember, dogs are the best kind of people.