Snowkite Mt Hood

Djs084 · Since 06 Dec 2015 5 Posts Asshat Kook

Hi All
I'm new to Oregon as of 1 year.
Just wanted to share info on my Snowkite session up Timberline as I have had a lot of trouble getting any up to date snowkiting info for Mt Hood and Portland area.

Today Dec 6th forecast for Mt Hood was 20-45knots from the west with snow and rain in the forcast.

Drove to Timberline Lodge and signed in at the climbers register, got my gear together and started the hike without snowshoes or split board along the "Lodge Get Back "track.

Passed the second chair lift and up a little more till I was out of bounds and had enough room to rig and launch. Snow pack was soft enough to sink my boots about 6-12inches
when walking.

Wind was 15-20knots at 4,200ft where I was.

I found a little tree to clip my Safty leash around to my bar just in case my kite a 2009 10m RPM LEI got lofted while I drank some water and had a bite.

I rigged it power lines short and steering lines long as I wanted to be safe with the power aspect.

Kite launched fine and there was plenty of fun that was being had.

I started to explore and head up the mountain with the side on winds which weren't the most desirable. There were rocks everywhere and some strong gusts that came through.

I went from 4,200ft up to 9,000ft in 10min or so just above the Palmer lift. I used this a a visual as visability was bad. At 9,000ft the wind was 45-55knots. I tied off and pulled the Safty up there, collapsed my kite and packed up for a solo run down into Timberline ski area.

What an awesome day and exhausting. I hope this info helps people like me that just want to know what can be done and where.

CAUTION!!!!! THIS SPOT IS FOR ADVANCED PROFICIENT SNOWKITERS ONLY!!!! With at least 4-7 years experience as you need to know what your doing out here. This spot has rocks drop offs and hidden hazards.

Here is a link to some video footage of the day.

https://www.facebook.com/daniel.j.spark/videos/10153123260856761/
https://www.facebook.com/daniel.j.spark/videos/10153123260836761/

P.S. If there is anybody here in Portland that could be a buddy on these expeditions I would love to meet you as all my friends aren't at this level yet and I have to go solo which isn't desireable in the backcountry on Mt Hood.

windfun7 · Since 23 Aug 2015 40 Posts

great info I was wondering if you know of any mellower spots where you can just cruise the flats

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2102 Posts PNW Bigfoot

Glad you survived. Not the smartest day to go....need w to SW wind for snowkiting out-of-bounds just west of the top of the magic mile lift. And better to go when the snow pack is much more. Best in April and May when the west winds kick in.

No real good snowkiting in Oregon with flats. Best to go just south of Sun valley, I'd. Camus Praire...and Soldier Mountain.

There are posts on snowkiting on this forum. There is snowkiting at on Helens and Mt ADams. They are not very consistent and very hard to get to.

Occupied Columbia · Since 12 Nov 2011 376 Posts Columbia City Obsessed

Great score. Three of us went up there Friday before last. Nothing but crusty ice. We walked and crawled out of bounds for a couple hours before accepting defeat.

Karp · Since 11 Mar 2015 46 Posts Mt Hood

Hey Djs085 I met you yesterday after your run. I saw the whole ride.
Like I was telling you, you were not out of bounds you were on the Mile run(which was closed) and every patrol was out watching you. (one of them was trying to chase which was comedy)You launched right above Stormin Norman lift. You need to go at least a 100 yards west out by the canyons. Timberline is not stoked to see us near people or there lifts. Stoked for ya that you got a good run. But keep it on the down low and not spread false info. peace.

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2102 Posts PNW Bigfoot

Karp wrote:

Hey Djs085 I met you yesterday after your run. I saw the whole ride.
Like I was telling you, you were not out of bounds you were on the Mile run(which was closed) and every patrol was out watching you. (one of them was trying to chase which was comedy)You launched right above Stormin Norman lift. You need to go at least a 100 yards west out by the canyons. Timberline is not stoked to see us near people or there lifts. Stoked for ya that you got a good run.

But keep it on the down low and not spread false info. peace.

WORD!!!!!!!

Djs084 · Since 06 Dec 2015 5 Posts Asshat Kook

Thank you Karp for your post your info is much appreciated and noted. I didn't know I was still in the ski area. This won't happen again now I know where I need to go. It would be by far much easier if Timberline would just designate a kite area. They are missing out on possible extra attraction to their ski field. They are so close to one of the worlds best kiting locations you would think they would capitalize on this like how a couple of other ski fields in other states have?

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2102 Posts PNW Bigfoot

craz z · Since 01 Dec 2008 130 Posts Montana Stoked

The other snowfields he's referring too are powder mountain utah, and special use permits like in around Tahoe I'm sure there others that allow kiting with the catch of buying a tag or permit to use parts of the resorts property or access to adjacent properties that aren't suitable or desirable for the downhill masses

airon^ · Since 07 Aug 2013 290 Posts Durango Obsessed

at the risk (oh no!) of attracting his ire, don't listen to Sassie

He's an old mr know it all you'll soon see if you frequent nwkite much at all

your attitude is right! explore all you can. I was in your situation once. When "they" say no mas, you just move on to the next area. people will eventually come around.

if you want badass above treeline snow kiting, come to Red Mt pass hit me up and fly to durango...it's a great time of year.

happy hannukah!!!

Djs084 · Since 06 Dec 2015 5 Posts Asshat Kook

Yeh I've just been ignoring him. He's like an annoying fly that won't go away. He obviously doesn't have much useful to add and far too much time on his hands. Must be single with no kids or friends. Kind of a sad individual really.

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

You poach our local resort (whatta fucking kook) putting our access in jeopardy, then with another out of town kook, you denigrate a long time local that calls you out on your kookdom. What an asshat!
Welcome to paradise, you smug self entitled kook. R U from So Cal?

registered · Since 12 Jul 2005 1319 Posts tsunami Sandbagger

Its a big world , however our government says people cannot run mechanical devices in
wilderness areas anywhere in these lands. Which unfortunately kites are considered.

Promoting any kiting on public forums in such areas is ignorant to this and very counterproductive to snow kiting.

Therefore as disappointing as it is to your egos promotion , stop advertising such areas /adventures because they will be noticed more and shut down.

Sasquatch is a good guy and has seen these events in the past on nwkite over the years.

We have some good snow kiting around here but it takes some adventure and is not always as dreamy as east stuff is where accessibility,conditions and snow kite stoke
is great.

Just my 2 cents

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2102 Posts PNW Bigfoot

Sol-flyer · Sun Dec 13, 15 6:34 pm

Seems like there's always the bad egg that spoils it for everyone...I thought common sense was, well, more common?

Bargeslayer · Since 08 Jul 2012 100 Posts Stoked

pollywog · Since 07 Aug 2009 291 Posts Obsessed

Awe, gone are the days when we couldn't share everything thing we do....

Remember when you did cool things and shared them with only your closest buds? I wonder if we'll ever learn to keep secret spots secret?