Shot On Location (Lake .........) 2

[TYKITES]

My first day snow kiting was awsome. 04/05/2009.

[kitemare]

I guess someone let the cat out of the bag....

We logged many good days this season at Snoqualmie Pass and for the most part didn't post about it too much. Judging by these photos I'd say we won't have anymore uncrowded sessions at this location. Now that word is out, Lake Cle Elum has great potential for summer kiting too. They've cleaned up the beach, so it's free from logs and snags. The wind will still be gusty but launching and landing shouldn't be a problem anymore.

Winter kiting on the south end there was even a groomed snowmobile trail that was ridable on a westerly but with all the rain in January it went underwater.

KM

[stringy]

I guess someone let the cat out of the bag....

We logged many good days this season at Snoqualmie Pass and for the most part didn't post about it too much. Judging by these photos I'd say we won't have anymore uncrowded sessions at this location. Now that word is out, Lake Cle Elum has great potential for summer kiting too. They've cleaned up the beach, so it's free from logs and snags. The wind will still be gusty but launching and landing shouldn't be a problem anymore.

Winter kiting on the south end there was even a groomed snowmobile trail that was ridable on a westerly but with all the rain in January it went underwater.

KM

kurt,
good for you for getting all those days this season up there.
I don't think you have to worry too much about over crowding, unless forum users post up that they want to rally up there and want some company.
my opinion, I'd rather hit water if it's blowing, unless it's below 42 degrees down here by the sound.
If it's that cold, not sure if it's blowing up there on the mountain and even then it's pretty cold and miserable. would rather hit the pass for downhill at that point.
I'm gonna try and check out that lake this summer though if there's a launch.
newer kites do have more depower so could make this place more enjoyable.
could be a nice appetizer to a rooselvelt weekend.

[Robert]

yeah.. nice welcome to a new PSKite member.
Awesome photos Tyler, thanks for posting. Those wide angle lenses are amazing, everybody is jumping over the mountains! Really amazing how the photos make it look like everyone is so high, since we hardly had any wind, lol.

[kitemare]

yeah.. nice welcome to a new PSKite member.

My frustration is not meant for Tyler, I posted my response to this thread before I saw Dmitri & Dougs post where they invited 600 people up to Lake Cle Elum this weekend on a public forum. Welcome to pskite Tyler and yes, those are amazing photos from this weekend's action.

I spent this winter searching for snowkiting locations that were closer options to and or windier than Waterville. I found 5 at Snoqualmie Pass, 1 at White Pass, and 2 possibilities at Mission Ridge. I called a few friends to join me and we had a great time kiting with one stretch of at least 4 weekends in a row. My thanks for that, all the driving and searching, is to get a multi-paged photo shoot posted on a public forum specifically inviting everyone up for a session.

I know I'm going to get trashed by you all on this forum but somethings just need to be left un-posted. When I drove thru Montana this winter I ran into a Man and his Wife kiting at a beautiful undisclosed location and they made a plee to me not to post their presence on a public forum. I respected their wish and haven't heard about anyone kiting near where they were located. I think Wally said it best once, you need to protect your honey holes and this was one of mine.

KM

[stringy]

yeah.. nice welcome to a new PSKite member.

My frustration is ...they invited 600 people up to Lake Cle Elum this weekend on a public forum. ...those are amazing photos...

I know I'm going to get trashed by you all on this forum ... When I drove thru Montana this winter I ran into a Man and his Wife kiting at a beautiful undisclosed location and they made a plee to me not to post their presence on a public forum. I respected their wish and haven't heard about anyone kiting near where they were located. I think Wally said it best once, you need to protect your honey holes and this was one of mine.

KM

well one of the cool things about a kite forum is pictures. I guess one of the disadvantages too.

by the way ty thanks for posting.
pics look really good.

you know people post pictures on pskite all the time. I really don't think our members see the image, jump in their cars and poach a new riding spot.
Let's see, this week we've seen videos from Maui, New Caledonia, Baja, Venezuela...
don't think many have booked their tickets to these spots. people that read this forum want an outlet from their work, maybe a distraction to get through the day because they can't live like others and kite as much.
my impression is while your spots look all exciting and enticing, most will just enjoy the images and only wish they were there.
it's too inconvenient for many to trek over for a snowkite session.
I think you won't have too much overcrowding and if you did, what then?
relax a little about the inevitable.
kiters will continue to search out new spots.
Unless you have an invisible kite, other kiters will see you and want to be with you.
embrace it.
as for those who like to mention "secret spots", I really haven't figured that one out.
if it's secret, why mention it on a public forum? just don't talk about it.
I guess you felt it didn't need to be too secret if you mentioned it to your close friends.

by the way kurt, I have a high level of respect for what you have stood for as far as beach access to areas like wespoint.
you have been very vocal and the beach access has not been an issue.

Once again Bravo to Tykites for this weekend's eye candy. keeping the stoke alive.

stringy

[kitemare]

Jim,
I understand that people will find these locations but by word of mouth but it takes much much longer than posting a blog on a forum with 600 members. Look what happened to those guys in Bend. They shared their stoke with the world and got shut down by a group of environmentalists. If they would have kept there mouths shut they probably would have gotten away with riding there for years.

Oh well, it's out there now so how about the details on Lake Cle Elum to save everyone from driving over there for nothing. Lake Cle Elum has two spots for riding, one on the South end and one on the North. Both locations work on W to NW. You get the "devil" wind if it's SW. The South end is very strong 35 mph is common and when the water was low in December, they actually had a snow cat grooming a trail for snowmobilers. I did not score that session before it went underwater but it could be possible to get strong 5M conditions over groomed courderoy. The North end gets a light, gusty W if it's too strong on the South end but if it's forcast for SW you won't be riding as the wind will switch between NW and E about every 15 minutes. The North end is the only one of the two spots that works on an E wind and you all saw pictures of that.

There it is, no more "secret spot" at Lake Cle Elum anymore, go get it!!! I'll be off to continue my Recon this summer to find the next one. They're out there in the Cascades, just hard to find.

KM

[Salmonslayer]

I found 5 at Snoqualmie Pass, 1 at White Pass, and 2 possibilities at Mission Ridge.

KM

Thanks for posting this info. I will probably see you out there next winter

[eric]

How Is Lake Cle Elum for kiting these days? I have only been down there once and the water was so low you couldn't see the beachfront from the shore, but it was a super huge wide open beach. No kiters tho.

Would be sweet to have a closer Lake Wenatchee for those desparate summer days. Post up if you know, but don't tell anyone so it won't get crowded.