Hurricane Ridge Pics for Snowkite Mar/Apr next year

[Teabag]

I visited the Olympic National Park with my mom on the 4th-5th of April. The day that we came back to Victoria I made a quick trip to Hurricane Ridge to check if it was kiteable, I was only there for 40 minutes.

Weather: Nice sunny day, some light clouds.

Wind: The wind came from SSW, which is probably the best direction for that spot since it comes from downhill. It was a little gusty by times but nothing extreme at all. (I guess a 10-12 meters would have been good for me – 185 lbs)

What is scary: The wind was quite upwind; I would feel the wind when standing on the south side of the road, but when I walked on the north side of the road, I would not feel the wind at all. I continue to walk north on the snow which had very little elevation and it took at least 15-25 meters before I slowly start feeling the wind again, even if it was an open space and there was nothing to block the wind coming from SSW. It was quite of an upwind wind. Look Google Earth after looking at these pics and you’ll understand what I am trying to explain here.

This link for wind was accurate for the time I was there. I looked on Friday before leaving and looked again when I came back to Victoria on that same day to see if it was right.
http://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Hu ... e/6day/mid

Ferry timing: Leave Victoria twice daily @ 10h30 and 16h00
Leave Port Angeles twice daily @ 08h20 and 14h00
(The best thing would be to leave Victoria on Friday at 16:00 and come back on Sunday 14h00)

Hurricane Ridge Road Timing: Open from 09h00 until 16h00 Friday till Sunday (it takes 35-45 minute to be on top (Hurricane Ridge visitor center) from the ferry loading/unloading area)

Ferry Price: $100 for car + 1 driver, $27 for any additional passenger (round trip)
5 people in a car/SUV/minivan would cost $208, this mean $52 each for transportation. (add camping fee, food and booze it would cost ~ $90 – $140 for 1 full day and half a day of what might be amazing snowktiting, or hopefully not, disastrous snowkiting)

The following pics 1 to 4 are from right to left SSW to EEN
Pic 5 is a small walk looking East
Pic 6 is to show that the hole from pic 3-4-5 is actually not deep at all and might be fun to zigzag in upwind
Pic 7 Looking SE, you can see where that pic was taken from pic # 5,
The last pic is what I don’t want to happen to me next year!!!

Sorry for the late update on this place, I was quite busy with my mom being here and leaving for holidays in Cozumel right after she left. Will revive this post in Feb/March next year, hopefully some of you would like to give this place a chance? (~$ 125 week end)

[Globetrotter]

thanks for all the info Ian! great pics.