User guide for the Wunderbar/WS sandbar (sticky please)

moondog · Since 15 Aug 2007 703 Posts white salmon Addicted **CGKA Member**

I am now on the Board of the CGKA to represent the kiters on the Washington side of the river. Our spot has been discovered so it is up to us to keep it.
Rule Numero Uno: Don't cross the tracks, don't stand NEAR the tracks, park and walk east to walk under the RR trestle. The engineer is required to file an incident report if a humanoid is within 15 ft. of the tracks.
Numero Dos: Back-in parking ONLY! Driving west, eyeball open spots, continue driving west and after the Underwood turnoff, pull into the gravel parking to the right. Clear traffic to the west(one mile) trust me you will need it. Enter the highway heading east and pull just in front of the open spot and then back-in. Make sure your front end is totally off the asphalt. The semi's are roaring thru at 50+ and have little room for maneuvering or stopping. Signs have been installed on the fence to alert people to back-in, but every day I see a car parked face in. We the locals who have the most to lose, need to police this. 97.2% of the people I encounter are very willing to listen and correct their parking misdeeds.
Numero Tres: This is not a beginner launch area. The WS river temp is 45 degrees. There are numerous stumps, logs and punji sticks to impel you when you do your face plants. The current is swift and there is a frequent wind shadow in the launch area that makes the launch challenging. Sand space is limited, please roll up kites when through so others can pump up or land. Feel free to share ideas and solutions, this is a gift we don't want to lose. John Mooney

lekaks · Since 02 Apr 2008 151 Posts Hood River, OR Stoked

Thx for the post John...

wood · Since 21 Jan 2013 65 Posts

Hey Moondog good work! I am assuming that BNSF has given the write away to cross there property? Walking along fence and going under the bridge?

moondog · Fri Jul 11, 14 8:33 am

We don't have BNSF's blessing at this time. Our goal is to maintain a" No Drama" policy which is more of a challenge on the parking/highway side of the equation.

unbob · Since 31 Aug 2008 260 Posts 'da Gorge/LaV Obsessed

Great info John - thanks for your effort.

I have 22' length truck/camper. There is no way I can back-in park along south-side of hwy 14. Trust me, I will not attempt that. Question: am I permitted to park such an "over-sized" vehicle parallel to the highway west of where the "back-in" vehicles park? If so, how far west should I park?

I know I can park in the small parking area on the west side of Alt 141 just off hwy 14. But that means then walking across the WS highway bridge and crossing the highway which I really don't want to do.

Are there any other options for me? (other than launching at the HR sandbar - please not that).

moondog · Sun Jul 13, 14 11:16 am

Unbob, we have some long rigs that show up and park WEST of a big hiway sign about 3/4 the way down the shoulder. Any little bit a angling helps to allow more vehicles to park and also allows more visibility on departure.

unbob · Since 31 Aug 2008 260 Posts 'da Gorge/LaV Obsessed

Thanks - I'll look for the sign next time. Sure don't want to cause any problem parking my big rig.

niknas · Since 18 Sep 2006 184 Posts North of OR, South of WA Stoked

BUMP!!

Seems a few people are forgetting the basic parking guidelines for the Wunderbar. Saw two cars parked on the north side of 14 across from the Wunderbar entrance 7/17/2018. Shocked

I assume the cars belonged to Kiters? No parking on pavement. The space between the white line and dirt (guardrail) is for bicycles not parking.

moondog · Tue Jul 17, 18 3:07 pm

The Sprinter belonged to a gentleman that was helping his girlfriend's Jeep that got stuck in the massive drain hole. So....2 women bathers saw it parked there and decided it was OK to park there also. They happened to park right next to the "No parking anytime" sign, so if a cop comes by they will be ticketed.

Bottom line, don't park on the North side of the highway. This was a first and an exceptional situation with the stuck car.

D · Since 18 Apr 2015 56 Posts Hood River **CGKA Member**

My concerns are more about the beach bums on warm flat days. Ever been there when the winds not blowing? Teenagers walking the tracks and parking whichever way suits them best.
I even caught my own wife crossing the tracks on the east side of the bridge.

Maybe more signage from the kite community?

shred_da_gorge · Mon Aug 05, 19 8:58 pm

RIP Wunderbar

niknas · Since 18 Sep 2006 184 Posts North of OR, South of WA Stoked

August 8/2019 Sad

moondog · Thu Aug 08, 19 7:20 pm

A sad day indeed! October 2011 to August 8, 2019 RIP

MCD · Since 24 Feb 2014 42 Posts

Good photo on the 8th. Confirms what we suspected.

HRnico · Since 22 Mar 2008 261 Posts Da Hood Obsessed

Sticky no mas

shred_da_gorge · Sat Sep 05, 20 4:04 am

Yeah, unsticky pls... the constant reminder just makes us still sad it's gone. :(

kitezilla · Since 22 Jun 2006 453 Posts gorge Obsessed

“The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.”

Best Regards,

Wonderbar