Cascadia Snowkiting?

airon^ · Since 07 Aug 2013 290 Posts Durango Obsessed

Looking for someone with experience to hit Palmer/White River or Helens sometime...I'm happy to supply transportation and beers for after. I don't have a snowmobile at this point tho.

Obviously, I'm looking forward to hitting the Mecca that is Idaho this year, and I know kiting on volcanoes is not beginner stuff, but it would be nice to incorporate my experience on Hood, skiing and boarding (lots of backcountry, 1 ski descent), with my budding obsession with kiting, and even better in my back yard.

I've heard about people hitting Palmer on the right frontal (SW) system, and Easterlies Helen is good. What wind for White River canyon? Seems like SE but that might be an infrequent wind.

Any information/tips/references are greatly appreciated.

I'm not ready to stop kiting this year.

Smile

noah · Since 19 Oct 2006 173 Posts Bozeman, Montana Stoked

No need to stop kiting! The snowkite season in the northern Rockies runs from Oct - June. The MT/WY kiters have been hitting it for two months already. Plan a road trip and session blower pow and reliable wind. My out-of-state friends love how they average 80% kite days when they visit every winter!

airon^ · Since 07 Aug 2013 290 Posts Durango Obsessed

Glad you're getting it!

Around Portland only have snow reliably above 5k feet (within an hour drive--not too shabby) and am looking for local knowledge

Anybody?? Bueler?

BTW, did anybody score Rufus today? Graph showed steady 20-30 mph (except for a short squall gust to 35-40) from 11-now...wish I had gone for it now.

jerp · Since 22 Feb 2013 453 Posts Obsessed

Airon, you may have seen this topic last year but here it is again. I have been thinking of trying snowkiting also year, thinking i will maybe drive out to Idaho at some point. Going to MN this xmas but no idea how good the wind is there.

[http://www.nwkite.com/forums/t-28532.html&highlight=snowmobile]

rePete · Since 18 Dec 2007 215 Posts Mosier, Oregon Stoked

I got it from about noon to 1. Nice 7m with decent swell and very WARM! About a half a dozen people out when I left at 1:30.

stringy · Since 23 Jun 2006 1735 Posts vancouver XTreme Poster

yeah that snowmobile thread inspired me to buy a sled so I can get to the terrain.
so thanks forrest!
airon, you can do it without one, just hook a GPS tracker system to ken lucas bumper and you'll have a good success rate.
looking forward to exploring the snowkite potential around here this winter.

genek · Since 21 Jul 2006 2165 Posts East Po KGB

Dunno much about other spots, but Helens would prob be a trek without a sled. You wanna end up on Planes of Abraham which is I think about 8 miles from the parking area. Having a sled will definitely help a ton. I seems to get a moderate breeze from time to time. More often it's bigger kite breeze since the ridges block a bit of the wind. I've never kited up there, just snowmobiled.

genek · Since 21 Jul 2006 2165 Posts East Po KGB

Jim, what sled you end up getting? Make sure you learn how to ride it in the pow pow Smile

stringy · Since 23 Jun 2006 1735 Posts vancouver XTreme Poster

hey gene I got a slightly used sled from a dude in hood river. he ran a snowkite tour operation out of idaho and said it's broken in. I'm sure its low miles. LOL

registered · Since 12 Jul 2005 1319 Posts tsunami Sandbagger

Snowkiting in Oregon is as tough as it gets except maybe Texas. I suggest buying a good car and driving to the dozens of excellent reliable area within a 10 hr road trip.
No snowmobile needed in lots of cases on the following areas , just park and ride in some.
Idaho
Montana
Utah
Washington (Helens= 3000 foot parking lot thins the great days with rain)
Wyoming
+ 10 hr or fly
Colorado
Alaska

The world

I encourage you to prove me wrong ..... I sold my sled it was sooo discouraging around here.
Snowmobiling good / kiting intermitant .

genek · Since 21 Jul 2006 2165 Posts East Po KGB

Haha, I take it you got Brad's sled Jim. Cool, you're gonna be stoked.

Not sure why you'd sell the sled registered. I haven't actually used mine for snowkiting, but the sledding and snowboarding I've done is some of the most fun I've ever had.

Jonpnw · Tue Dec 03, 13 3:52 pm **Mt Defiance - Aaron Sales**

http://traveloregon.com/trip-ideas/itineraries/gorge-snow-kiting/

registered · Since 12 Jul 2005 1319 Posts tsunami Sandbagger

Slezak is snow kiting on the cover on the new patagonia catalogue .

Good job to Airn Sales on the continued stoke..

Snow kiting terrain is ripe for discovery and tuning.

Google Earth and time is advised.