Moving

[Faceplant]

We are moving out to the 'burbs. Squamish is awesome, there's no doubt. The steady thermals that howl there are amazing.
Harrison is a sketchy launch and it blows offshore, and bigger kites are required ( I don't care, but also biggest kite is 12M)

Q. I heard bear creek is stronger winds. Is this a fact? I'll drive further if the wind is stronger.
Q. Is locust more of a winter spot?
Q. Whidbey island have anything in the summer ?

just trying to figure out where I'll be kiting this summer. Squamish will be my #1 choice, but moving from north van out to the valley will add significant drive time.

Thanks dudes and dudettes.

[Michael]

We are moving out to the 'burbs. Squamish is awesome, there's no doubt. The steady thermals that howl there are amazing.
Harrison is a sketchy launch and it blows offshore, and bigger kites are required ( I don't care, but also biggest kite is 12M)

Q. I heard bear creek is stronger winds. Is this a fact? I'll drive further if the wind is stronger.
Q. Is locust more of a winter spot?
Q. Whidbey island have anything in the summer ?

just trying to figure out where I'll be kiting this summer. Squamish will be my #1 choice, but moving from north van out to the valley will add significant drive time.

Thanks dudes and dudettes.

I'm always looking for other summer places other than Squamish because it's almost a 2 hour drive for me, and it's not my favourite place to sail.
I'd like to hear from others but I don't think there are a lot of options. Nicola Lake is another option but it's not exactly close.

[Slappy]

While Locust is only really Fall/Winter/Spring they do have the Chuckanaut thermal just down South a bit farther.

Look up Hunter Beach on pska:

http://pskite.org/pskitebeachframe.php

It's about an hour from Aldergrove crossing.

[Faceplant]

Thanks Slappy!

[Michael]

While Locust is only really Fall/Winter/Spring they do have the Chuckanaut thermal just down South a bit farther.

Look up Hunter Beach on pska:

http://pskite.org/pskitebeachframe.php

It's about an hour from Aldergrove crossing.

Thanks Slappy, do you know if there is a sensor there? I found one on iwindsurf but not sure how accurate it is.

[Slappy]

http://www.weatherlink.com/user/nska/in ... &headers=1

You can also forecast it from temperature readings heading up Skagit Valley like we do with Squamish -> Lillooet I'm told but haven't done it myself.

EDIT: I would guess you'd use the forecast these and look for steadily warmer temps:
https://www.google.ca/search?q=bow%2C+wa+weather
https://www.google.ca/search?q=burlington%2C+wa+weather
https://www.google.ca/search?q=sedro-wo ... wa+weather
https://www.google.ca/search?q=Lyman%2C+WA+weather
https://www.google.ca/search?q=hamilton%2C+wa+weather

[C36]

http://www.weatherlink.com/user/nska/index.php?view=summary&headers=1

You can also forecast it from temperature readings heading up Skagit Valley like we do with Squamish -> Lillooet I'm told but haven't done it myself.

EDIT: I would guess you'd use the forecast these and look for steadily warmer temps:
https://www.google.ca/search?q=bow%2C+wa+weather
https://www.google.ca/search?q=burlington%2C+wa+weather
https://www.google.ca/search?q=sedro-wo ... wa+weather
https://www.google.ca/search?q=Lyman%2C+WA+weather
https://www.google.ca/search?q=hamilton%2C+wa+weather

A: Sounds like an opportunity for a Hunter Beach temperature grid Alton!

[C36]

We are moving out to the 'burbs. Squamish is awesome, there's no doubt. The steady thermals that howl there are amazing.
Harrison is a sketchy launch and it blows offshore, and bigger kites are required ( I don't care, but also biggest kite is 12M)

Q. I heard bear creek is stronger winds. Is this a fact? I'll drive further if the wind is stronger.
Q. Is locust more of a winter spot?
Q. Whidbey island have anything in the summer ?

just trying to figure out where I'll be kiting this summer. Squamish will be my #1 choice, but moving from north van out to the valley will add significant drive time.

Thanks dudes and dudettes.

I'm always looking for other summer places other than Squamish because it's almost a 2 hour drive for me, and it's not my favourite place to sail.
I'd like to hear from others but I don't think there are a lot of options. Nicola Lake is another option but it's not exactly close.

I have always been curious about Bear Creek, but have never gone up. Here is what I have heard.

Fresh water - pretty sure this one is true.
One windsurfing sail size smaller and bump and jump conditions.
Medium size gear spot - 5-something and medium size windsurfing board when it is formula gear at the breakwall in town.
Rough road with sharp tire-slashing shale.
Bit of the 'wild west' (drinking, vandelism, and worse) once you are in these isolated spots west of town.

Jerry, Brian, Chris and others who have been can likely confirm or deny this stuff.

[Chris Klohn]

Bear Creek is always windier than Rivtow Marina. The wind typically doesn't fill in until late morning / early afternoon. Nice, smooth 2-3 foot swell and 20-25 knots is normal. If it's windy by 8-9am get ready to hold on in the afternoon. It blows straight through until dark.

As C36 mentioned, choose your overnight camping dates wisely. I've had drunk kids jump on top of our tent at 3am twice at Bear Creek. I also had 4 kites, two boards, zodiac and 5hp motor ripped off out of my car while I was 100 yards away looking for a camping spot on the beach.

In 1990-something they bulldozed the road down to the campsites so it was walk only. This came after an ambulance was tipped over by a large group of drunk teenagers responding to a call that a kid had been shot with a .22. I worked with the two ALS paramedics that were in the Ambulance when I flew with Helijet.

Kids aside, it's a great place with great conditions. Shorty only wetsuit in July and August and a great change of water conditions compared to Squamish. Just stay away from the long weekends and Grad camping

[Faceplant]

Bear Creek sounds like the place to go! I have a boat. Maybe, I can load up the boat with the family and drive down the lake to a secluded beach, and camp in privacy near Bear creek.
I used to do that years ago with a Zodiak on the opposite side of the lake. Drive to 20mile bay. then launch a boat and go up to Doctors bay. It was awesome! Loads of driftwood, quiet! Had so much fun and good times we named our boy Harrison! 8 months!
Pretty brutal about having the stuff stolen from your car while looking for camp spot!!!

Good ideas though. Thanks! I really think utilizing the boat into a sheltered bay is a good idea. Stay tuned.