Weather or not...is Fishhawk Lake the Right Place for You?

Weather or not...is Fishhawk Lake the Right Place for You?

On one of my localism posts lately, Deb Brooks commented: Gayle...don't laugh. I made my husband read about Fishhawk Lake and look at your photos the other day. I told him, "this is where I want to retire". He doesn't like the cold winters. What's it like there with your seasons? I would rather hear it from you now instead of googling Fishhawk Lake and finding you anyway!

Which got me to thinking about WEATHER and Fishhawk Lake. We have many things to offer vacationers as well as fulltimers here and weather sometimes plays into it. So, Deb, I thought I would answer your question and maybe answer some weather questions that other people interested in Fishhawk Lake ask.

For example, if you’re used to heat AND humidity, you won’t be sweating here! We hardly ever have that type of summer heat/humidity and usually if it’s sweltering in Portland, say 90+ degrees, we are PERFECT here, mid 80s and you will hardly EVER need air conditioning. You can take that little extra heat off by taking a dip in the glorious lake,

swimming across it (it’s not bad, ½ mile, I think) or taking a pontoon out, throwing in the anchor and jumping in, cooling off and sun-dry yourself feeling very very comfortable! If you have little ones, there’s a tiny beach at the Fishhawk Lake clubhouse with steps that walk right into the soft squishy bottom, very shallow and safe—but you have to be your own lifeguard. We are usually 6-12 degrees cooler than Portland. I have lived out here fulltime for over 6 years and have paid attention to this because so many clients ask me about the weather. I get many Californians who are looking for something besides really high temperatures and more "seasons". We can offer that here!

September is often an Indian summer type of month—beautifully sunny during the days and crisp clear nights with scads of stars in the night skies. Then there are also cooler days where that fall snap is in the air and some rainy moments as well. Our “summer” usually kicks in after July 4^th.

Fishing season at Fishhawk Lake goes from May-October 31^st, and honestly, some of those rainy days are the BEST for fishing—a benefit to the rain in the Pacific Northwest. You can catch and keep two cutthroat trout per day, and the salmon and steelhead are catch-and-release only. We don’t stock the lake, it’s all natural.

We ARE in the coastal range, so we get more snow than metropolitan Portland, but less (much less!) than the Midwest or say Buffalo—where I’m from originally (I KNOW SNOW). You can tool around in boots in the deep winter months (which sometimes consistent only of rain, rain rain—and therefore no need for “boots” unless they’re galoshes!) but otherwise, outdoor shoes are fine.

(This photo was taken during our worst snow in forever--the winter of '08)

We do get snow but not every year. It can sometimes get down to the teens/20s in temperatures and January and February can be some of the coldest months, but it changes yearly. It’s not that bitter cold that goes right into your lungs when you breathe (I remember winters in Philly and Pittsburgh growing up), but it’s a moister cold than say, Central Oregon—Sun River as an example—where it is a drier cold.

One of the positive aspects of moister air, is that your skin doesn’t dry out and age as fast—we older babes love that! Spring months can be quite wet, and throughout the seasons, you will see mist rising on the lake and in amongst the treetops--a beautiful sight to wake up to if your bedroom faces the lake.

Another question that I get often, especially from people who’ve grown up around lakes in Michigan is this, “How are the mosquitoes??” We don’t really have ANY. It’s quite a positive to offer those who love being on a lake but HATE those giant creatures who take away small children.

Sometimes in the later afternoons, the wind can kick up and be delightful sailing weather for those with small sailboats. I shot a picture of one of my neighbors out there sailing away in November last year, wind and sun on such a day--great photo op!

So, Deb, thank you for asking that question and I hope this gives you the initiative to talk more seriously with that husband of yours about your future retirement home on the lake! (Fishhawk Lake and I would welcome you with open arms!)

Gayle C. Rich-Boxman

Realtor® Vernonia Realty Direct: (503)755-2905

Specializing in Fishhawk Lake Recreation Club

"Your Gateway to the Lake!"

http://activerain.com/blogs/gayleatfishhawklake My website: http://www.lakehomesatfishhawk.com/

My blog: http://fishhawklakerealtor.wordpress.com/

Weather or not...is Fishhawk Lake the Right Place for You? Copyrighted by Gayle Rich-Boxman All Rights Reserved 2011