I graduated from lawn mower status this past Sunday!
It was very crowded at the Hood River launch so my initial motivation was simply to find open water. Once upwind of Wells Island, the swell improves so much. It gets bigger (which I find intimidating) but also becomes simpler (all of the swell moves the same direction rather than in crossing rhombic figures as near the mouth of the White Salmon River). So much fun! So much more to explore. I love this sport!!!!

Thanks BW
Good to know...My last time there I had the same thought...then the wind died and the current took over...lots of work getting back!
Oh that's happened to me once but when I was near the mouth of the White Salmon. Fun times. Fickle mistress and all.
If you're not too intimidated to launch at the hatch you can put in by the basement and then go straight downwind, have your session, and if the wind dies you just drift back to your launch. I do that pretty much everywhere in the Columbia.
If you're not too intimidated to launch at the hatch you can put in by the basement and then go straight downwind, have your session, and if the wind dies you just drift back to your launch. I do that pretty much everywhere in the Columbia.
Good idea.