Sand Lake Estuary Mouth -trip report

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

the optimist

Was hoping to get some southerly goofy goodness yesterday forecast was for 8' @ 14 sec ramping to 16' @ 14 - was thinking the Newport North Jetty might work on the south wind - the cams weds eve looked sweet but the forecast was for it to turn more Southwest around noon (and junk up the waves) so figured i would hit it early, left ptown 5:30am (surprisingly couldn't rally a crew)

Some big cells where rolling thru and nearly got blown off the road just past Corvallis - 30 gusting 40 with some readings in the 50s on the north coast - didn't like that reading as we got smote last month in similar conditions

Dumping rain - get to Newport 8am - wind completely shuts off - waves total shit

No wind = surf should be good somewhere

head north - check half a dozen spots - just big mush
sun pops out - kids in suits enjoying the weather - some body boarders manning up for some turbulence at Roads End -wind starts to come back - promising

Keep driving north, now back to a kiting mission - Pacific City waves junk wind not quite there - improving. Head to Tierra del mar just north - still light - walk down the beach - looks like a whale getting rolled in the surf - swell is reading 16' - the waves drain for a moment - so i run over and take a closer look at the really big sealion friend - he has had a bad day...

next spot - the bay might be the call - and check out Whalen Island - tide is ripping in but the wind is now cranking and the creek looks like some sick flat water - a short downwinder would be cool but i'm thinking there has to be better

So headed just north to Sand Lake Campground and checked out the estuary mouth - cool setup - tide is high - some butter water behind sand fingers and access to the ocean - with sweet head high glassy rollers reforming off the point - the southwest wind is ideal, incoming tide - you just wouldnt want it to shut off on an outgoing tide - the launch is onshore and somewhat sketch at the boat ramp - but if you walked a bit to the beach - fun times - didn't fall too much...

airon^ · Since 07 Aug 2013 290 Posts Durango Obsessed

man, I'd love to explore the coast with gman sometime...

Nak · Fri Nov 08, 13 1:04 pm

Cool!

Aeolus · Fri Nov 08, 13 5:51 pm **Re: way to get it!!**

: thumb:
Creek mouths deliver!
Going to have to drive for wind soon. South coast on the wind lock down for some reason. Gills drying out.

Wind Slither · Since 04 Mar 2005 2623 Posts The 503 METAL

Sweet G...some 8M windsperation out front last night in the moonlight. Black suit, black kite, and big out going tide. Shocked

You go down...you aint gonna be found! Twisted Evil

Between Barfly and Owen sporting the Green and Gold canopies, the Duck's should have crushed! Crying or Very sad

boardrider · Since 05 Apr 2006 1034 Posts Ventura, CA XTreme Poster

That first wave looks tasty !

Are those tooth marks on that pinniped Shocked

Windian · Since 28 Apr 2008 901 Posts Newport, OR NEWPORT OG

Been there and done that last year around this time with some of the LC boys. It is a pretty good set-up and we kited it on the incoming tide with small kites (6m and 8m). Decent launching from the north side accessing it via the park and then walked a short ways through the dunes to the mouth and put up kites there. I am sure it will never end up being crowded unless you bring it with you so I am not to concerned about divulging some of the spot's logistics. We ended up spending most of our time kiting right in the mouth on out into the surf as it seemed to have the steadiest wind and some fun storm slop waves. Once the tide started going out the current got pretty extreme so we bagged it up at that time.

Beat Gman to the goods on this adventure, I am sure that does not happen very often!

Here is a helpful hint for conditions:

http://www.wunderground.com/weatherstation/WXDailyHistory.asp?ID=MD2405&day=11&year=2012&month=4&graphspan=week

Very Happy

GorgeKite.com · Since 17 Mar 2008 226 Posts Hood River Stoked

All I have to say is get your ass down to mex and join me!
85 & windy in la Ventanna

ecameron · Since 29 Jul 2009 90 Posts PDX

happy to hear you made it and all is well in LV.....

DrewB · Since 16 Aug 2006 384 Posts PDX Obsessed

Thanks for sharing Gman!

Me and Carlitos were hitting that spot several years ago on N or NW wind.
One time the wind was perfect and there was no water in the estuary.
The next time there was plenty of water and no wind.
I ended up scoring marginal conditions there once or twice.

The set up is pretty dreamy.

Dan k · Since 31 Mar 2013 87 Posts

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