Bend snowkiting?

snowbunny · Since 05 Nov 2013 55 Posts

I'm heading to Bend over the holidays and am sure that I can squeeze a kite into the back of the Suby with the rest of the gear. I'm relatively new to kiting, but have gotten pretty comfortable on the water and have been snowboarding for years- would love the chance to bring it all together.

Anyway, am curious if anyone knows of a decent spot to give it a shot within a reasonable drive from bend. I've scoped out the area from google space and looked around online, but it seems like the one winner spot (Ball Butte) is now off limits. I've also read a few posts on Moon Mtn (too steep for a beginner?) and Dutchman Flats (nicely located but no wind???), but not sure if these are realistic. But at least I'm hopeful that there will be snow since they are over 6000'.

I have a splitboard and some avy experience and would be happy to skin somewhere for the goods, but also fine in a sno-park with enough space, just enough to get a taste so I can commit to a bigger adventure in the future.

Any tips? Thanks!

beech · Since 21 Aug 2010 485 Posts Longview, WA Obsessed

1st rule of bend snowkite club...
dont talk about bend snowkite club

shhhh

dangler · Since 26 Feb 2006 1776 Posts WINDY SPOTS XTreme Poster

first time I snow kited was on a soccer field in town. you don't need much room to give it a try. Take someone with, especially if u go back country!

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2102 Posts PNW Bigfoot

airon^ · Since 07 Aug 2013 290 Posts Durango Obsessed

wow, super helpful Sassy!

good luck Snowbunny! There are tons of spots, now that I've looked into it a bit more. I'm not experienced but have already gotten out there (and around here--not in idaho)

there seems to be alot of territorality about snokiting--good luck getting info on here. I learned more from a conversation with someone off the forum than I did from the entire thread (see "Cascadia Snowkiting?").

the fact that kites are considered "mechanized vehicles" and are prohibited (officially) from wilderness areas is important to keep in mind.

mark is right, go with someone. and take a GPS if you have it.

have fun!

Sella · Tue Dec 17, 13 11:18 am **Re: ??head over to Idaho...**

airon^ · Since 07 Aug 2013 290 Posts Durango Obsessed

There are tons of *potential* sites, I should have said. And I'm talking more within a 2-3 hour drive (I'm willing to go further I guess).

Its all about whether there's enough snow. You can often get by with less than optimal wind, and less of it, than would work on water.

That is a sick pic

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2102 Posts PNW Bigfoot

quenyaistar · Since 21 Oct 2011 416 Posts Cougar, WA Obsessed

Simcoe Mt.

mrdnd · Since 11 Feb 2011 33 Posts Bend

I live in Bend. We snow kite up at Ball butte. It is legal in the wilderness but after the snow kite festival a few years ago, it was almost shut down. I think that is some of the territorial feeling- we are just worried that if too many people go there, it will end NFS will make it illegal. It works best on E and S but you can do it on N for sure. We kite at the pumice desert at crater lake (2mile ski in) which is good on northerlies and at Lookout Mountain in the Ochocos which works in all directions. If you can get a ride to Elk lake, that can work when its frozen as well. Let me know if you need more.

mrdnd · Since 11 Feb 2011 33 Posts Bend

I talked with the rangers spring at Ball butte and it was not illegal as of the spring of last year. Did a law go through recently?

caps · Since 23 Dec 2010 347 Posts Obsessed

Please...shhh.

registered · Since 12 Jul 2005 1319 Posts tsunami Sandbagger

Think storm wind and cover .......... and get sum its like playing the lottery round here.

Go for a nice drive to ensure better chances of success.

Plan ahead and when the storm winds move IN be there on the right side of the mountain.

During severe weather noone to get in your way.

.

Idea

snowbunny · Since 05 Nov 2013 55 Posts

Thanks for all the tips- we definitely have a few road trips ahead of us. I've seen some pics of the terrain in Idaho and that's definitely on the agenda. Will also check out Simcoe sometime as it's an easy trip from pdx.

Clearly you have to move when the conditions are right- lots of wide open BLM land at 3000ft so if snow hits bend there are clearly lots of options.

Apart from Dutchman which still seems like it could be ok as a beginner spot if there is a bit of wind, Lookout mountain looks like a sweet spot. Nice terrain and good elevation, hopefully wouldnt get in anyone's way- but let me know if that's out of line. I'm going to guess that they don't plow the roads, and that there should be some OK coverage at 6800ft. Any guess how close you can get to the plateau before we would need to skin/hike?

keithvoncoyote · Since 13 May 2011 49 Posts The Gorge

This seems to come up every year about this time...

I grew up in bend, family lives in bend, I've looked into this quite a bit and the summary of my research is this:

Kiting violates the wilderness act. Which i think is stupid. but whatever.

Forest Service Manual 2320.5
Mechanical Transport. Any contrivance for moving people or material in or over land, water, or air, having moving parts, that provides a mechanical advantage to the user, and that is powered by a living or nonliving power source. This includes, but is not limited to, sailboats, hang gliders, parachutes, bicycles, game carriers, carts, and wagons.

I will confess to not having read the wilderness act in its entirety and may be missing some context that would infact make kiting in the wilderness legal. If so please advise.

For non wilderness spots, head east towards burns.

registered · Since 12 Jul 2005 1319 Posts tsunami Sandbagger

I would imagine that there are still some pictures on this sites history that we used to put up of some of the nw spots from the old days.....2007-8?

search moon mtn or crater lake or st helens look at 2006-8 before outlawed.