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3 Mile Canyon (Gorge)??

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Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe

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Apr 30, 2002, 8:25:27 PM4/30/02
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Where is 3 Mile Canyon in the Columbia Gorge? I recently subscribed to
Iwindsurf and many of the locations are unknow to me. I am a sea kayaker
who fequents the area for huge downwinders. Manyana,Viento to Hood River!
Yeah!

TIA

steve

--
Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe N 45º 39' 47"
250 NE Tomahawk Isle Dr. W 122º 36' 16"
Portland, OR 97217 Web: www.aldercreek.com
Phone: 503.285.0464 Email: alder...@qwest.net


Mike F

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Apr 30, 2002, 8:51:56 PM4/30/02
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As you drive east in I-84 from Viento, you will encounter WS launch sites at
Hood River, Rowena, The Dalles, Celilo, Rufus, Arlington, Boardman, then
Three-Mile Canyon. The latter is at about milepost 151 ... 90 miles east of
Hood River. Of course, the WA side has its list, too. You need to stop by
ANY store in Hood River and pick up a copy of the free Gorge Guide. It lays
out, maps, and describes all the Columbia's sites. You should be able to
pick all sorts of downwinders based on that.

Just be aware; the farther east you go, assuming it's windy, the bigger and
broader the swell gets. SURELY you don't want to surf down the faces of
endless, clean 6-8-foot swell -- a few 10 footers if it's REALLY honkin' --
with nary a windsurfer in sight between launches. ;-) Now, you wouldn't want
THAT, would you? Three-Mile is a good as it gets, and Arlington to 3-Mile
makes a great downwinder IF the wind pushes all the way to 3-Mile (it often
stops just east of Arlington). The price? No more town between launch sites.
Take some water and some hiking shoes just in case you don't make your
intended landing and need to hike out to a highway.

I've wondered and asked about kayaking on big days in the Columbia, and want
to look into it. Any good windy day is good for 3-5-foot swell; 30 knots
sustained and it jacks up closer to 4-6 feet, sometimes more.

Mike

"Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe" <alder...@qwest.net> wrote in message
news:mAGz8.41$%02.9...@news.uswest.net...

Craig (gsogh) Goudie

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May 1, 2002, 10:21:27 AM5/1/02
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At the risk of being stoned by the regulars the next time I show up at 3 Mile.

It's on the Oregon side about 10 miles West of Boardman. It's about 90 Miles
East of Hoodriver. There's a nice freeway exit that says 3 Mile Canyon. You
drive under the freeway (and the RR tracks) and down the dirt road, till you
come to the parking lot. I haven't been there since they fenced off the cove,
but currently you must launch into the breakwater bay from the parking lot
(down the boat ramp). This is a great place to learn high wind short board
because the wind can be very strong and the water is very flat.

You can also drive around the fenced area and get in front of the breakwater.
This launches you into some of the tastiest swell in the Gorge.

-Craig

--
Craig (Go Short or Go Home!) Goudie
Sailing the high desert lakes of Utah on my:
RRD 298, Starboard 272 and Cross M 8'2" with
Sailworks/Naish Sails and Rec Composites Fins
Sailing the Gorge on my: 9'1" RRD Freeride,
8'3" Logosz Squish, 8'0" Hitech IBM with
Sailworks/Northwave Sails and Curtis Fins


Craig (gsogh) Goudie

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May 1, 2002, 10:24:15 AM5/1/02
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Umm, Mike,

I think Boardman is farther to the East than 3 mile.

-Craig

Mike F wrote:

--

OMR

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May 1, 2002, 11:33:34 AM5/1/02
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Thanks for the beta! I figured it was up above Boardman. It seems like the
Iwindsurf site could do some elementary maps of their surf sites on their
website. All you get is the name.

Yeah Mike, this area sounds too remote and with 6-10 foot glassy swells
sound scary and way too big! We'll mark this area as a DO NOT GO, if it's
windy!

;-) not!

steve


OMR

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May 1, 2002, 11:40:05 AM5/1/02
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BTW, hiking boots and highways????

Dude, we're in sea kayaks and could always *paddle* to 3 Mile! =:-o)

steve


Mike F

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May 1, 2002, 12:37:34 PM5/1/02
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You caught my head up my yeng-yeng. What were you DOING up there?

Mike \m/

"Craig (gsogh) Goudie" <gor...@netzero.net> wrote in message
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Mike F

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May 1, 2002, 12:43:10 PM5/1/02
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I was merely including the possibility of an emergency, such as a shoulder
injury or running out of beer. The kayaks give you a tremendous advantage,
because besides the no-wind option, you can launch at spots not worth
launching windsurfers, such as Arlington -- at least until they build a
beach there, if that plan flies.

Mike \m/
"OMR" <dyn...@wacho.net> wrote in message
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Gary Wood

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May 1, 2002, 3:51:30 PM5/1/02
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Hmmm, I have watched the kayakers ride swell at the coast, but never big
swell on the river.
So would it be possible to stay on the crest/face of a big swell for a
long time and ride it for a considerable distance ? That sounds like a
heck of a way to kill a couple of hours if you're not equipped to sail
;-)

Getting back ? No thanks.

Micke Boone

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May 2, 2002, 12:41:36 PM5/2/02
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Gary Wood <gw...@eli.net> wrote in message news:<3CD04739...@eli.net>...

I've seen kayakers ride the outer island "beach break" at 3 mile on
big days. It has also probably been riden with a longesh conventional
surf board.

So if you launch at 3 mile or are passing through on a really big wind
day, check this break just west of the cove opening out from the boat
launch.

Blane Sawyer
Seattle

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