fliefish Posted August 21, 2016 Report Share Posted August 21, 2016 I am looking for areas to fly near Tigard/Portland rather driving to the beach. Any suggestions? Any areas with regular winds? Thanks for the help. Tim Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using KiteLife mobile app Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
makatakam Posted August 22, 2016 Report Share Posted August 22, 2016 Hi fliefish, and welcome to the forum. Would that be Portland, OR? If so, you have a heap of damn good fliers all around you. Give them a day or two to recover from The Washington State International Kite Festival (WSIKF), which was in progress for the last week, and I'm sure some of them will chime in with their favorite locations. Just remember that ocean breezes are SOOOOO much nicer than inland stuff, so even though I prefer to fly on grass, whenever I can catch a good beach breeze, I go for it. That being said, the most obvious places would be hilltops, with no obstructions around them. I really like gently sloping hills when the wind is blowing directly up the incline. Gives you the same speed at ground level as you have further up, a nice compressed wall of air. Ideally, any location should have 10 times the height of the tallest upwind obstruction in linear ground distance clear to the place you are flying in to give the wind time to "reorganize" after being disturbed by the obstruction (trees, buildings, other hills, etc.). In other words, if you have a 40-foot tall tree line behind you, to have the best possible wind beyond those trees you must stand 10x40 = 400 feet downwind of that tree line. Buildings have a bad habit of creating wind that likes to change directions abruptly, left, right, left, right, left.......... Areas with multiple hilltops create wind that rolls in waves, similar to water at the beach, with a ripple effect at some altitude that feels like you're flying on marbles. Wind is weird -- and fun to play with. Smile, and don't forget to breathe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Dowler Posted August 22, 2016 Report Share Posted August 22, 2016 One place several of us have found is Broughton Beach - behind PDX and next to the boatramp on Marine Dr. Right next to the Columbia on the Gorge. Pretty decent, but even there can be tough at times. Improved parking area is pay-to-park. but yearly permits are available at Blue Lake Park. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Barresi Posted August 23, 2016 Report Share Posted August 23, 2016 Lots of info at www.kitemap.org Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fliefish Posted September 15, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2016 Thank you for the replies. I appreciate the tips. I just recently moved and coincidentally near my old middle school from years ago. The football fields there turn out to be an excellent location with very minimal obstructions and pretty consistent direction when the wind is blowing. And the best part is its only a half mile away! I agree the coastal breeze is unbeatable. I'm looking forward to the lincoln city kite festival coming up the 1st of October. I may go over for the whole weekend if the weather is right. I'm interested in Delta Park near PDX... is the wind there pretty consistent? I looking to find areas around portland metro and suburbs (I live in Beaverton) that tend to be windy. I know it's mother nature and she's unpredictable, but are there areas that geographically around here that tend to be more windy similar to the gorge?Thanks all. This site has been a great find (well, found because John Barresi recommended it).Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using KiteLife mobile app Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Barresi Posted September 15, 2016 Report Share Posted September 15, 2016 Hi fliefish, glad you found us! For vanilla flying (outdoor long line), I think Portland's overall best site is Broughton Beach. That's where I do all my lessons locally, wind is less consistent at Delta and it has more dog bombs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Dowler Posted September 15, 2016 Report Share Posted September 15, 2016 Delta was a great place before everything grew up around there! Trees are now 3 times bigger, commercial growth has put up buildings, etc. And like John said - lots of people use the parking area we use for flying, as an off leash dog run. Just not what it used to be. Broughton Beach isn't far away from there and is closer to the river. There are little pockets of good flying - but - now that school has started, you can't use their fields during school hours. Maybe nights and/or weekends depending on whether they are promised out to football, soccer, lacrosse teams. If it comes down to us or them - guess who moves or leaves! But there are little parks around that can be used. Make up a set of short lines that help you fit in just about any space! I have 30' and 50' that fit almost anywhere! Or if you want to try something different, with the weather changing, I fly indoors over here in Clackamas! Just north of Oregon City/Gladstone, I use an indoor soccer center all year round during the day, except nights or weekends.Games and practices are scheduled every night and all weekend, but all day is pretty much open, Use it infrequently during summers, weather is too good, and it's hot in there, but I use it all winter! Are you also on FB? Have a page over there, Portland Area Kite Flyers, setup to let each other know things like schedules, events, etc. Welcome to join in the fun! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Barresi Posted September 15, 2016 Report Share Posted September 15, 2016 Portland Area Kite Flyers group link... https://www.facebook.com/groups/400676919957980/ 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joneo Posted January 30, 2021 Report Share Posted January 30, 2021 hello, is this FB group nonexistent now? Can't find it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tmadz Posted March 17, 2021 Report Share Posted March 17, 2021 I am coming back from the dead and reviving this thread from the dead as well. I put down the handles for a few years as life took over. Also, I moved to Portland and found it difficult to find a good field nearby. Is Broughton Beach still considered a good place to fly? I just can't make the trip to the coast regularly for an all day fly. For $5 for all day parking, I think Broughton Beach is a bargain. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joneo Posted March 17, 2021 Report Share Posted March 17, 2021 12 hours ago, Tmadz said: “For $5 for all day parking, I think Broughton Beach is a bargain.” For $40 you can get a Metro Annual Parks Pass that covers Broughton Beach, Oxbow, Blue Lake, Chinook Landing and the M. James Gleason Memorial Boat Ramp. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Barresi Posted March 24, 2021 Report Share Posted March 24, 2021 On 1/30/2021 at 12:26 PM, Joneo said: hello, is this FB group nonexistent now? Can't find it. Link still looks good to me, you can also search Facebook for the exact group name "Portland Area Kite Flyers". https://www.facebook.com/groups/400676919957980/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joneo Posted March 25, 2021 Report Share Posted March 25, 2021 23 hours ago, John Barresi said: Link still looks good to me, you can also search Facebook for the exact group name "Portland Area Kite Flyers". https://www.facebook.com/groups/400676919957980/ Perhaps the page is set to private? Link does not work for me. Neither does searching FB for “Portland Area Kite Flyers”. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Barresi Posted March 25, 2021 Report Share Posted March 25, 2021 Super weird. Its not private, but tell you what - friend me and I'll be happy to invite you. http://Facebook.com/barresij Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joneo Posted March 25, 2021 Report Share Posted March 25, 2021 Thanks! Request just sent. 😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Barresi Posted March 26, 2021 Report Share Posted March 26, 2021 Should be set now. 😇 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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