Summer Tour 2010
2010 WSPSS-OSSS Summer Tour General Announcement
From Volcanoes to Vineyards in the Scenic Columbia River Gorge
Registration Open May 10- July 9!
For the full PDF verision (including information and mail in registration choose):
Registration_Form
July 22nd – July 24th 2009, Hood River, OR (Thursday 1-4:30 PM followed by wine tasting & banquet at 6PM, Friday 9 AM-4 PM Bus Transportation, & Saturday 9AM–Noon Carpool)
Pre-Registration will run May 10th through June 30th, 2010
(12 ARCPACS CEU’s for attending Thursday-Saturday!!!)
WSPSS & OSSS Members: $85 Nonmembers: $100 Full time students: $50
ALL FEES INCLUDE CATERED DINNER ON THURSDAY EVENING AT THE MT. HOOD WINERY AND LUNCH FRIDAY, PLUS BUS TRANSPORTATION ON FRIDAY.
LODGING IS NOT INCLUDED.
Thursday July 22nd – Mt. Hood Winery, Hood River, OR
2882 Van Horn Drive (4 miles south of Hood River on Hwy 35, turn left at the yellow blinking light).
11AM-12:30 PM WSPSS Business Meeting—refer to WSPSS Website for details (http://www.ieway.com/wspss/)
1PM-5PM Summer Tour Technical Session
1PM-1:15PM Introductory Remarks and Welcome by WSPSS & OSSS
1:15PM-2:00PM Developing a site selection GIS for inland grape production, Ian Yau, WSU Graduate Student
2:00PM-2:45PM Patricia A. Skinkis, Ph.D. Viticulture Extension Agent Oregon State University
2:45PM-3:00PM Break
3:00PM-3:45PM Vineyard Management Techniques and Terroir in the Northern Willamette Valley
Kathryn Barnard, PSU Graduate Student
3:45PM-4:00PM Break
4:00 PM-4:45PM The Dirt on Columbia Fish and Wildlife Dick Wallace of the NW Power and Cons. Council
4:45PM- 5:00PM Closing Remarks and Announcements
5:00PM-6:00PM Break, on your own
6:00PM-8:30PM Social Hour and Catered Dinner, Mount Hood Winery
6:00PM-6:45PM Social Hour. Mount Hood Winery wines and a local microbrew will be available by the glass to purchase, appetizers will be served
6:45PM-8:30PM Dinner and Dessert
Geology, Soils, and Winegrape Vineyards of the Columbia Gorge
Dr. Alan Busacca, Vinitas Vineyard Consultants, LLC
Friday July 23rd – Field Tour:
Join us on for a day-long field trip to examine the geology and soils of the Columbia Gorge and the terroirs of vineyards in this wonderful wine-growing region. Terroir involves the complex interplay of climate, soils, geology, and other biophysical factors that influence the character and quality of wine grapes. Our trip will take us from the high-rainfall, conifer-covered western Gorge area with its volcanic soils and cool-season white wine-grape and Pinot noir vineyards to the dry, sagebrush-covered eastern Gorge with its flood-derived and eolian soils and big red-wine grape vineyards with varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Barbera. Lunch will be at Maryhill Museum of Art.
The trip will depart from Mount Hood Winery at 8:00AM with stops along the Columbia Gorge AVA and the adjoining western part of the Columbia River AVA and return by 5:00PM. Motorcoach transportation, snacks, lunch, and wine tasting is included in your Summer Tour registration fee. The trip will be led by Dr. Alan Busacca, Emeritus Professor of Soils and Geology, Washington State University, and owner of Vinitas Vineyard Consultants.
Saturday July 24th – Field Visit (OPTIONAL)—Polson’s Cherry Orchard
OSSS member Dick Polson has graciously offered to host a short site visit to his newly established cherry orchard. The site visit is arranged for one last look at soils along the gorge for those of us who just didn’t get enough soils on Friday. Mr. Polson will share his experiences with establishing a fruit crop along the Columbia. For those of you looking for alternatives, the Hood River area is surrounded by recreational outdoor activities; please see suggestions and links below.
LODGING OPTIONS:
Late July is high season for vacationers in the Columbia Gorge and hotels and campgrounds are commonly completely booked, so we strongly recommend that you make reservations early for this event.
A block of rooms is being held for WSPSS and OSSS members for the night of July 22 only at Sunset Motel, 2300 Cascade Avenue, Hood River, OR 97031. They are holding 5 double queen bed rooms at $89/night plus tax and 7 single queen bed rooms at $79/night plus tax. Call Margaret at 541-386-6322 to reserve.
Other options are:
Hood River Hotel, www.hoodriverhotel.com, 541-386-1900
Best Western Hood River Inn, www.bestwesternoregon.com, 541-386-2200
Comfort Suites, www.comfortsuites.com, 541-308-1000
Riverview Lodge, www.riverviewforyou.com, 541-386-8719
Several options for other motels exist within 20 miles of Hood River: The Dalles (~18 miles east of Hood River); Cascade Locks (~18 miles west of Hood River); Stevenson, WA (17 miles west of Hood River—crossing at Hood River or Cascade Locks).
CAMPING:
Polson’s Cherry Orchard
OSSS member Dick Polson has been gracious enough to host free camping on his newly established cherry orchard. Camping would be available Thursday and Friday nights. Amenities include: an outhouse, potable water, either forest or orchard camp sites, limited access to indoor restrooms, and gas camp stove cooking allowed in safe locations. This option will be available for 15-20 tents. There is also space for a limited number of RVs. If you are interested in this option you must register with OSSS President Cory Owens by July 16, 2010 via email: president@oregonsoils.org. Registration will be first come first serve. Pack it In-Pack it Out. Thanks so much to Mr. Polson for this option.
Oregon State Parks—Viento Campground
Cost: Tent-$17, Electrical/Water Hookup-$20, Extra Vehicle-$5. First-Come, First-Served; 56 Electrical & 18 Tent Only Sites.
Directions: Approximately 6 miles west of Hood River on I-84.
More Information: http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_171.php
Oregon State Parks—Memaloose Campground
Cost: Tent-$19, Full Hookup-$24, Extra Vehicle-$5. Reservations call 1-800-452-5687; 44 Electrical & 66 Tent Only Sites.
Directions: Approximately 9 miles east of Hood River and 11 miles west of The Dalles, on I-84.
More Information: http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_163.php
USFS—Wyeth Campground
Cost: 10$ per night. First-Come, First-Served, 13 total sites
Directions: In Hood River, OR, take I-84 west 12.7 miles to Exit 51 (Wyeth). Take exit ramp to stop sign. Turn left and go less than 0.1 miles to a “T” intersection. Turn right and go 0.1 miles to campground on left.
More Information: http://www.forestcamping.com/dow/pacficnw/crgcmp.htm#wyeth
Hood River County Parks—Tucker Park
Cost: Overnight full hookup $20, Overnight self-contained RV site (river side) $22, Overnight self-contained RV site $19, Overnight group Tent Site $72, Overnight Tent Site $18, Overnight Tent Site (river side) $20, Extra Tent $8, Extra Vehicle $5; First-Come, First-Served.
Directions: About 6 miles north of Hood River; map of Hood River County Parks: http://co.hood-river.or.us/vertical/Sites/%7B4BB5BFDA-3709-449E-9B16-B62A0A0DD6E4%7D/uploads/%7B896104D4-EE39-4DD4-88EF-CCA7B447901B%7D.PDF
More Information: http://www.co.hood-river.or.us/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={471AE695-C054-4F8C-BEB1-639B721C63E0}
Hood River County Parks—Tollbridge Park
Cost: Overnight full hookup $20, Overnight self-contained RV site (river side) $22, Overnight self-contained RV site $19, Overnight group Tent Site $72, Overnight Tent Site $18, Overnight Tent Site (river side) $20, Extra Tent $8, Extra Vehicle $5; Reservations (at least 3 weeks advanced warning) 541-352-5522, otherwise First-Come, First-Served.
Directions: About 16 miles north of Hood River; map of Hood River County Parks: http://co.hood-river.or.us/vertical/Sites/%7B4BB5BFDA-3709-449E-9B16-B62A0A0DD6E4%7D/uploads/%7B896104D4-EE39-4DD4-88EF-CCA7B447901B%7D.PDF
More Information: http://www.co.hood-river.or.us/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={471AE695-C054-4F8C-BEB1-639B721C63E0}
RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNTIES:
The WSPSS/OSSS summer tour is an excellent opportunity to bring your family and take in the amazing range of things to do while you are in session Thursday and Friday, and on the weekend as well.
Hood River, Oregon is an outdoor enthusiasts’ dream, and there is a wide array of attractions and activities for the whole family within a short distance from downtown Hood River—including: windsurfing (Hood River is the self proclaimed windsurfing capitol of the world), camping, birding, scenic byways touring, hiking, skiing, biking, kayaking, wine tours, fruit picking, and many, many other recreational opportunities to explore.
To go on a self-guided tour of wineries and vineyards in the Columbia Gorge/Hood River area, visit: http://www.columbiagorgewine.com/ and download their winery touring map.
Hood River Chamber of Commerce, http://www.hoodriver.org/ . The Hood River Chamber of Commerce website has an amazing set of pages with links and phone numbers: http://www.hoodriver.org/HRCCC_CategoryTemplate.asp?CategoryINDX=504 to connect you with over thirty categories of fun things to do, from historic aircraft museums to Maryhill Art Museum to Mount Hood Scenic railroad, Hood River Saturday market, and Bonneville Dam tours.
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