Windsurfing Avery Park

pahtoe · Joined: 31 May 2006 Posts: 21

What's the deal with Avery Park: WA side about 9 miles E of the Dalles bridge? Does anybody sail it anymore? What's good/bad about it? Seems it would be a much more popular launch than it seems to be.

bobgatpdx1 · Joined: 13 Oct 2002 Posts: 385

Avery is a pretty good spot, but a bit out of the way. Can be some nice swells and you can sail over to the island to take a break. Also camping right there for a hardy few. Even back in the day it was never crowded.
- BobG

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

Excellent sailing and perfect port ramps in SW wind, about as bad as it gets in W or NW, poison oak out the wazoo, blackberries up the yeng yeng (learn the difference or pay a big price!), one major fin breaker rock right where you launch.

skisurfer1 · Joined: 12 Jun 2006 Posts: 12

Also there are a few mulberry bushes that drop berries that stick to everything.Very direction specific,(SW), tends to be gusty, tricky onshore wind launch with a rock trap for the unwary,trains a few feet from the launch,and rattle snakes
If it is good here it is often better at Maryhill with better swells, and a much nicer park and launch.

skisurfer1 · Joined: 12 Jun 2006 Posts: 12

Also there are a few mulberry bushes that drop berries that stick to everything.Very direction specific,(SW), tends to be gusty, tricky onshore wind launch with a rock trap for the unwary,trains a few feet from the launch,and rattle snakes
If it is good here it is often better at Maryhill with better swells, and a much nicer park and launch.

ramps · Joined: 07 May 2000 Posts: 94

Most times I have sailed there my arms increased in length due to the 10 to 45 mph wind conditions, but I have had good steady 3.5 sessions when other sites nearby were not doing much.

Mulekick84 · Joined: 18 Mar 2006 Posts: 407

If its SW, it can be great! Fun to do laps around the island and good for beginner/intermediates since they can stand up over at the island. I've brought friends there as a kinder/gentler first sailing spot at the Gorge.

Several launches and I've never had issues with rattlers, poison ivy, or anything except the square rocks walking out to launch. I drove through last year and the indians seem to have a permanent fishing settlement set up in the campground.

Keep an eye out for barges/boats as they come through between the WA side and the island and can sneak up on you pretty fast. Excellent private launch if you don't have time to go to Maryhill/The wall. No real swell riding in the area, but good jumping and cruising.

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

pahtoe · Joined: 31 May 2006 Posts: 21

Great info. Thanks. I like to try new spots, and it looks worth it if the winds look favorable. But the fishing thing has me wondering. I saw the sign that reads "Reserved for treaty fishing during designated seasons. Open for public use at all other times." But I'm having a heckuva time finding where those designated seasons are posted. The ODFW and The Corps don't seem to have them on their sites.

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

The fishermen use the east end, the sailors use the west end; not a problem. Ya better get cracking; there are well over 70 launches on the Columbia.

Mike \m/