Other then Sunset Beach are there other good buggy areas in Oregon?

Thanks

Manzanita is pretty good and then there is a dry lake bed out in southeastern that I hear is pretty awesome (Alvord). I haven't been there myself but it is a place on my wish list.

South Beach down near Newport is good in the wintertime. In the summer it gets more sand and becomes softer though.

An often overlooked beach on the north Oregon coast is the river beach at "Clatsop Spit". This is just north of Sunset Beach, on the north side of the South Jetty of the Columbia River. This beach is fairly isolated, and is only really accessible during a low tide.

The nice thing about it, is that it has an east to west orientaion that gradually curves around to a southwest to northeast orientation, as oppossed to Sunset Beach's north to south orientation. This is perfect for days when you have a north to northwest wind, and still want to get some extended runs.

As an added bonus, The beach is almost always empty. Only a handful of locals ever go out there, and most people don't even know it exists. Of the people that do go there, almost all stick to the far east end of the beach (one of the few places you can fish for salmon right off the beach) In fact, most times, I'm the only one out there (except for an occasional guy walking his dog)

A few things to note:

1. The beach literally disappears during high tide, so get out before that happens. (treking through the marshland and woods carrying your buggy is not fun.)

2. Due to all the repair work on the South Jetty that's been going on, the easiest and most common route to the beach is now off-limits (Big fences, cranes, huge boulders, and giant dump trucks in the way) I'm told that they should be finishing up this summer. There is an alternate way to the beach however.

3. Beware that though its technically still the river, it behaves like the ocean particularly on the west end of the beach. Big surf, nasty currents, sneeker waves, etc...

3. Directions: Go into Ft. Stevens State Park near Hammond. Follow the signs that lead you to the South Jetty. Drive past the side road that leads to the South Jetty and continue on another 1/6 mile and take the next left. This should be a short road that leads directly to the river. You can park there and walk, or (4wd only) take the dirt side road that leads out to the beach (Yes, it's legal to drive on the beach there) Just remember to leave before the tide comes up.

So, what's the Oregon North Coast like the first part of March? I'm looking for some favorable winds to try out my new buggy. Other North Oregon sites?

3.0 Ozone Fury
6.5 Peter Lynn Rebble
Rockville Buggy

I'm am thinking about heading out to the coast this weekend. Would love to meet more kiters could do either Saturday or Sunday or maybe both! :frog:


hoping for good wind......:smug:

fletcht: weather is kinda hit or miss in March. Sunset Beach and Manzanita are the best spots with the biggest beaches that I've seen on the North coast. How do you like the Reactor? I am curious about these kites...

Stace

Edit: Forecast is not looking great for Saturday....hoping for SUNday...

Stace: I had my first experience with the buggy Thursday, I was in Washington at Wash a Way beach. South of Westport. Winds were light 7-9 mph out of the south. I flew the Fury 3.0 since I had limited time with the Rebble 6.5. Did a lot of buggy then hike bacvk to start then buggy again. I am attributing this to the winds being light for the Fury and did not have that much of a wind window. I could move 45 degrees to the wind but experience was not letting me get perpendicular to the wind. Didn't have a lot of beach to play with either. I'm done in Longbeach now, so I am thinking about heading to Sunset Sunday. Maybe I'll see ya.

I did take the rebble out later without buggy. Had some great scudding along the beach. Good pull, reacts well, kind of just floats along out there. Winds at that time were around 5 mph

Fury 3.0
Rebble 6.5

I doubt it was the technique, although it'll help. 7-9mph winds, usually people are flying in the 5-9m range of kites, I'll put up my 13m Century in that for sure.

Well, made it to Sunset Sunday. Winds SW about 7-9 mph. Still not fully comfortable with the pull of the Rebble so had the Fury out again. I was struggling, moving but not really controling things like I wanted. Then Sunset Jim came by. He flew my kite and buggy, so it was not equipment. gave me some good pointers and I was flying and rolling. Most of the time forward.
Thanks Jim, it was a great help.

Tom

Tom,
Snowbird suggested I contact Jake at Windflowsports, he does in fact give lessons, not cheap, but I will probably do it. Let me know if you are interested.
Also, found the Washington Kiteflyers Assoc, they are having a gathering in Lakewood on March 10, they are looking for new buggy people, so I am guessing they will know where to ride. I might go, you?
DrewP

I didn't make it out after all. I felt like I might be chancing it with the forecast so I stayed in town..... guess I missed out this time

DrewP- Lakewood? I can't make it on the 10th regardless where it is located. But I'll make contact with the WKA.

Thanks
Tom

Northwest Buggy Pilots use http://groups.msn.com/NorthWestBuggyPilotsAssociation
to stay in contact with others in the area to buggy with. We still have the Thursday meeting at Sunset during WISKF.
Because Kurt and Linda Anderson were a great supporter of this club and the buggy group in general we would like to dedicate that Thursday during WISKF at Sunset Beach to them. We would like to name this one day event, Kurt and Linda Anderson Memorial Buggy Blast in their honor.
Jon Ellis