Swell at Celilo?

30knotwind · Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 239 Location: White Salmon, WA

Isobars said that there is swell two broad reaches east of Celilo, it it true? Is the wind the same? What does the swell compare to, e.g. Hatch, Arlington, 3-mile, etc.
Thanks

bobgatpdx1 · Joined: 13 Oct 2002 Posts: 385

It is definitely better if you go a few hundred yards east. Instead of crazy psycho-chop, it is pretty rideable. However, it is still small and disorganized compared to the swell at The Hatch, or The Wall. Not even quite as good as the swell a bit downwind from Rowena.
bobg

andymc4610 · Joined: 19 May 2000 Posts: 684

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

What Bob and Andy said ... it's modest swell but
a) it can be the only spot with good wind on NW days,
b) it can be extremely and quite consistently windy when the J.S.N.T.5.0 crowd is sitting on shore everywhere else, and
c) some swell accommodates a few quick turns on one face, plus
d) down towards the freeway bridge you can go on starboard broad reach speed runs punctuated by loooooong, low off-the-wind jumps,
e) it's never going to be crowded; it's CELILO, fergodnessakes, and
f) you rig in the shade on a great lawn and launch on fairly smooth river rock, not finely honed multifaceted basalt scalpels.

It ain't a primo Gorge venue, except when it's the only spot going off and you wanna sail. Caveat: if the wind is tumbling over the Wishram, WA hills in huge gusts, don't even think about it. And don't follow the crowd straight out from the most popular launch unless you need a spinal adjustment and have already had C6 fused; it makes those old rubber Tiga wave boards feel like Hypertechs on RR ties.

Mike \m/

ckeller · Joined: 21 May 2002 Posts: 6

How about the best swell at Dougs. Is it Dougs west, in front of the beach, or in front of the channel marker. How about the wall. Where is the sweet spot. Just up wind of the channel marker or down towards rufus??

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

No. HELL, no. There's no swell anywhere near Rufus. Stay away from Rufus. It's all just wall-to-wall kiters 24/7 anyway, with no room to play on the swell ... if it ever got any swell, that is. It's too close to the damn anyway, so even without kiters the swell doesn't jack up until the river reaches The Wall. Besides, Rufus doesn't get good wind until mid-to-late afternoon, so stay away until then. (If anyone has found otherwise, I'm sure they will correct me ... dammit.)

ummmm ... Wink

Actually, the swell is good ... or bad ... throughout that section, depending more on current and wind conditions than on exact location. I just launch, shop around for room to play, and hope it's not too crowded that day. What I don't do, because of the current, is sail farther downriver than I'm willing to hike barefooted carrying gear.

Mike \m/