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Wanderlust Wanderings

January 26, 2012
10:26
Stellar Sights!
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Stellar Sights!
November 10, 2011
16:10
A Fall Morning Paddle
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A Fall Morning Paddle
August 21, 2011
13:05
The Armchair Wanderer: A Late-Summer Reading List from the Wanderlust Crew
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The Armchair Wanderer: A Late-Summer Reading List from the Wanderlust Crew
May 31, 2011
10:18
A brief history of flowers, and where to find them in Central Oregon
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A brief history of flowers, and where to find them in Central Oregon
May 14, 2011
11:47
While waiting for the lakes, paddle the Deschutes!
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While waiting for the lakes, paddle the Deschutes!
May 06, 2011
8:27
[nt]
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April 20, 2011
16:11
Hello, springtime!
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Hello, springtime!
August 25, 2010
16:34
Wanderlust Staff Spotlight- Jeremy!
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Wanderlust Staff Spotlight- Jeremy!
August 21, 2010
8:24
Wanderlust Staff Spotlight- Jeff!
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Wanderlust Staff Spotlight- Jeff!
August 17, 2010
10:09
Wanderlust Staff Spotlight- Joe!
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Wanderlust Staff Spotlight- Joe!
August 10, 2010
10:18
Wanderlust Tours Staff Spotlight- Joe!
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Photo Courtesy Christian Heeb

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Name, Age, Hometown: Joe, 35, Park City, UT

1. What was your favorite subject in school? Endangered Species Management.

2. your top three favorite Beers made in C.O. 1) 20" Brown, 2) Mirror Pond Pale Ale, 3) Black Butte Porter

3. Your most memorable experience while out on a Wanderlust Tour. Taking a WW2 vet through Skeleton Cave on the anniversary of D Day. He had some amazing stories to tell about the war and the progression of his life after the war ended.

4. What book are your reading right now?
Cascade Olympic Natural History

5. Nugget of cultural history about Bend that always amazes you?
The prolific amount of loggers who lived and worked in/around Bend during the early 1900s.

6. Most heavily relied upon piece of gear that you own.? Chaco sandals.

7. Wanderlust Tours just received honorable mention as Central Oregon's Best Green Business-What do you do to back up your green ethic?
Bike to as many places as possible. Grow my own food. Buy locally. Recycle or compost everything I can. I am also building an energy-efficient home.

8. Do you volunteer your time anywhere?
Yes, I volunteer for the the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council, Central Oregon Environmental Center, Deschutes Land Trust, Oregon Natural Desert Association, and US Forest Service.

9. What advice would you have for someone visiting Bend for the first time?
Hike around or paddle on Sparks Lake, it is one of the many gems of the Cascades!

10. Favorite sound to hear in nature?
The trill of a Mountain Chickadee (Poecile gambeli)
10:10
Wanderlust Tours Staff Spotlight- Jack!
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Wanderlust Tours Staff Spotlight- Jack!
August 03, 2010
10:09
Another Typical Day in My Office
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Another Typical Day in My Office
July 30, 2010
14:54
Visit Bend Out On Tour
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Visit Bend Out On Tour
July 26, 2010
9:21
The Questions That Keep Us Fluid
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The Questions That Keep Us Fluid
July 05, 2010
15:02
Sparks Lake: Full Moon Reflections
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Sparks Lake: Full Moon Reflections
June 30, 2010
16:10
Megan's Out-of-Office Adventures: Caving
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Megan's Out-of-Office Adventures: Caving
June 04, 2010
12:14
Dave's Manifesto
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Dave's Manifesto
June 01, 2010
15:53
Jack's Manifesto
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Jack's Manifesto
May 25, 2010
10:23
Joe's Manifesto
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Joe's Manifesto
May 22, 2010
14:59
The वही
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The वही
May 05, 2010
14:23
Introducing Wanderlust Tours' Newest Guide
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Introducing Wanderlust Tours' Newest Guide
April 28, 2010
8:43
Life Underground
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Life Underground
April 22, 2010
15:23
The birds are back in town!
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The birds are back in town!
March 19, 2010
16:58
Springtime in the Air
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Springtime in the Air
March 09, 2010
12:40
Let's Go Snowshoeing
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Let's Go Snowshoeing
February 20, 2010
9:36
Forgotten in the Hemlocks
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Forgotten in the Hemlocks
February 10, 2010
10:57
Arnold Ice Cave on KOHD News
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Arnold Ice Cave on KOHD News
December 31, 2009
11:59
Making Tracks in Deep Powder
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Making Tracks in Deep Powder
December 16, 2009
12:34
December-January Stargazing Hightlights
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December-January Stargazing Hightlights
December 13, 2009
10:55
Snowshoeing Top 5 Sights to Experience at Night
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Snowshoeing Top 5 Sights to Experience at Night
December 07, 2009
10:57
Oregon Business Magazine: Impact Oregon
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Oregon Business Magazine: Impact Oregon
November 15, 2009
13:53
[nt]
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October 26, 2009
9:40
Fall Tours in Central Oregon
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Wanderlust Tours is still offering its daily, half-day guided tours throughout the fall and early winter including half-day Cave Tours, Urban GPS Eco-Challenge and Volcano Tours. All half-day tours depart daily at 9 am and 1:30 pm.

Desert Cave Tours are available daily and are not weather-dependent since groups are protected inside remote lava caves during the tour. Naturalist guides lead small groups twice daily through these underground caverns located on ponderosa and sage land east of Bend. Guides provide in-depth interpretation on the formation of the caves, the wildlife habitat, and the many uses of the caves over time from Native American dwellings to cold storage for early Bend residents. Wanderlust Tours is the only commercial guide company to be permitted to lead tours through many of Bend’s fascinating, remote lava tubes.

Half-day Volcano Tours, experiencing the cataclysmic geology of Newberry Caldera of Central Oregon, are available until the snow falls.

Wanderlust Tours' Urban GPS Eco-Challenge is a great year round outdoor activity that takes participants through the historic Old Mill District of Bend, Oregon by using problem solving skills and GPS technology. There's no experience with GPS necessary and this trip is appropriate for any ability level.

Soon after the snow flies, Wanderlust Tours will be leading guided snowshoe trips around the Mt.Bachelor area of the Deschutes National Forest. Moonlight Snowshoe, Bonfire on the Snow and Starlight Snowshoe Tours will commence in December. See the Wanderlust Tours website for dates.
August 12, 2009
8:15
The Barn Owl of Skeleton Cave
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Today, while my guests were getting ready to go down the ladder to the cave entrance one said they thought they just saw an owl. Now, I have seen the morning doves down there, I know that there are owls in the area, but never suspected to see one there in the day time. They thought the bird had flown past the gate and into the cave. I had my doubts.

As we walked in and adjusted our lights, I lead the group of 5 past the first break down, over the second when I saw the owl lift off a rock and fly deeper into the cave. At this point we were far enough in that no light could be seen from the entrance. I was afraid we were pushing this beautiful barn owl further into the cave as we were 6 people with bright lights bearing down on it. It began flying randomly into the walls and ceiling trying desperately to escape.

I then asked my group to turn off their lights and stay put and I went about trying to rescue this frightened bird. Knowing all too well the sad story of the original High Desert Museum director being scratched by one of the museum's birds of prey and contracting some strange disease that is similar to MS I had no desire to grab it with my bare hands. So, I quietly pulled out my Wanderlust fleece walked very slowly over to the bird and gently, but firmly placed my jacket and hands around its wings and feet allowing it to still see.

It barely flinched while I carried it past the two break downs and back to where we could see the opening of the cave. The whole time it's head was rotated back looking directly at me as I tried not to stumble with this frightened cargo. Once it saw the light of the cave opening it tried to break free, on the second try I let it go and it flew straight to the gate and perched. Not a bad day when you can say you helped out a beautiful barn owl.

-Kris
August 04, 2009
9:06
Wanderlust Tours appears on "Grant's Getaways"'
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Well respected travel and outdoor TV show host Grant McOmie joined Wanderlust Tours recently on a Brews and Views Canoe Tour. It was a spectacular day on the water at Sparks Lake. The tour was led by professional naturalist guide Jeff Gartzke.

Check out the episode here on the Travel Oregon blog.
July 13, 2009
15:53
Exclusive Outings with Wanderlust Tours and the Deschutes River Conservancy
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In partnership with the Deschutes River Conservancy, Wanderlust Tours will offer a specially priced canoe tour from Slough Camp to Dillon Falls on the Upper Deschutes River. A portion of the tour cost will be donated to the Deschutes River Conservancy.

Naturalist guides will highlight river ecology and emphasize its importance as a natural resource.

Friday, September 11, 2009
1:30 - 5:30
Limit 12 people
Transportation, guide, all equipment and instruction included.
$30 per person (usually $47)

For more information check out the Wanderlust Tours or DRC websites.
May 21, 2009
15:11
Cascade Lakes Highway: Road Opening
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Prepare yourselves ladies and gentlemen, summer is officially on the horizon with the opening of Cascade Lakes Highway from Dutchman Flat to the Lava Lake turnoff! That's good news for those of you who would like to join us for some paddling - whether it be in a canoe or a kayak - out on the lakes in the next couple of weeks.

There is still snow abounding, so please read the update we received from Chris Sabo with the Deschutes National Forest to familiarize yourself with access and availability.

"Hwy 46 is scheduled to fully open this Friday from Dutchman Flat to Lava Lake turnoff. The section from Dutchman Sno-park to Elk Lake will have NO PARKING AVAILABLE OVER THE WEEKEND. Plowing operations along this section only focused on plowing the road open and not the trailheads or other recreation sites. Parking on the Hwy will likely be nonexistent as well. Avoid being a traffic hazard by trying to park between the snow banks and traffic lanes. Elk Lake Resort has plowed out for parking at the Resort and reports the ice is coming off the Lake and should be mostly ice free for the weekend. Limited parking may be found along the Hwy at Elk Lake. Lava Lakes are open and accessible, expect some snow in the campgrounds and around the Lakes.

We continue to get calls about climbing (snowshoes or skis) So. Sister this weekend and warn about not parking along the hwy in a way that will cause traffic hazards; vehicles can be cited. Dutchman Sno-park was already getting weekend campers moving in last night. Yesterday we moved some of the Dutchman Flat motorized closure signs to allow snowmobile access directly from the sno-park. Other than this minor change in the winter motorized closure, ALL REGULAR WINTER MOTORIZED CLOSURES REMAIN IN FULL EFFECT. Sno-park and on the snow patrols will be out this weekend to assist with enforcement."
Have a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day weekend!
May 06, 2009
16:51
Paulina Lake Icebreaker
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It’s finally springtime in Central Oregon! Part of life around here is dealing with seasonal closures of roads, and to me the most exciting thing about springtime is the annual re-opening of the Cascade Lakes Highway and the road into the Newberry National Volcanic Monument. So that said, less than a week after the road to Newberry was opened I had already strapped a Wanderlust Tours kayak onto the top of the rig and headed up the mountain to the pristine (ice-cold) waters of Paulina Lake, deep in the heart of Newberry Caldera just south of Bend, Oregon. And booooy, was it spectacular!

Once the three feet of snow melts off the rest of the road, Wanderlust Tours will start running volcano tours, kayak tours, and canoe tours into Newberry and onto the opalescent waters of Paulina Lake. We’ll take you for a stroll on a mountain of black volcanic glass called the Big Obsidian Flow. We’ll let you stand atop Paulina Peak at 7,984 feet and gaze at Mt. Adams in Washington and Mt. Shasta in California (that’s right, you can see three different states from up there). We’ll let you soak yourselves in the bubbling natural hot springs on the north shore of Paulina Lake itself.
You won’t soon forget it. Go to www.wanderlusttours.com or call 800.962.2862 to book your next adventure with us.

-jack
May 04, 2009
13:06
Lovin' the Urban GPS
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Greetings from the "Office Goddess" as the guides so sweetly call me. I'm back for yet another summer of rad fun here at Wanderlust Tours. Jeff Marcoux of Efiia Consulting in Seattle came to visit us here in Central Oregon to work up the newest addition to our smorgasbord of awesome tours: an Urban GPS course. Jeff and our very own James rigged up a pretty stealth course that begins in the Old Mill District right at the heart of Bend and works around some sweet spots that I'm almost positive you wouldn't get a glimpse of unless you're a local.

The staff here at Wanderlust met up in the Old Mill to complete a test run of this new tour: coats on to keep the rain off in this Central Oregon spring weather, backpacks full of clues and course must-haves, as well as our favorite GPS units made by Garmin. When you take this trip, you won't want to forget your camera, as it could be useful for unlocking some answers or capturing hilarious moments with your team.Stay tuned, if you compete in this course, we are working up a way for you to track how well you do against all of our other visitors during the summer! (Details to come.)

Signing off for now,
Andrea
March 29, 2009
12:27
Youth Programs and Summer Camps
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Some of my favorite tours as a guide for Wanderlust Tours are the trips in which we take school groups. Tours with children are so rewarding because our smaller guests have a distinctly different perspective on the natural world, both physically due to stature and mentally due to their amazing imagination and creativity. A recent outing to the lave tube caves with Cascades Academy of Bend, Oregon was one of these experiences. The students on this particular tour had been studying caves, spelunking, and bats for the past few weeks and already had a base of classroom knowledge that was complimented by our interpretive tour of the cave. The kids were so charged up to be underground and exploring the depths of the Central Oregon lava tubes. They were on the edge of their proverbial seats with anticipation for sighting one of the furry denizens of the dark- bats! We were fantastically rewarded on that cold day just before winter and the mass induction of bats into their halls of hibernation with views of Townsend’s Big-Eared Bat and the smaller Brown Bat. I later received some beautiful hand drawn thank you cards from the very creative Cascades Academy students that made up my troop of subterranean explorers that day. Experiences like this where beauty, fun and education are interpreted to youth are what Wanderlust Guides live for.

Bridging the gap between school session and summer camp, we have recently launched our upcoming summer program for children aged 8-14. I will have the honor of co-leading Wanderlust Tours’ Week of Wonder day camp with Kris Bridgeford this summer. This amazing venture leading young adventurers/scientists/future teachers will be filled to the brim with… well… Wonder! This program adds sound educative or pedagogical curriculum with naturalistic and interrelated systemic views of our natural world. Combine this with a heaping serving of downright fun activities that Wanderlust Tours is known for such as canoeing the High Cascade Lakes, trekking the interior of volcanoes and exploring vast underground lava tube systems, and you have the most worthwhile week of your child’s entire summer!

I’m sure that my excitement about this upcoming event is showing a bit, that’s really who I am at heart. It’s in my blood, I grew up in the outdoors with my fellow boy scouts and lead the troop in many wilderness backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, and camping trips until earning the rank of Eagle Scout. For four consecutive years after scouting I worked in children’s summer camp leadership usually in a position directly related to programming, education, and being as goofy as possible. I am stoked to share my enjoyment of the outdoors and my joy for creating fun and meaningful experiential education programming for children this summer, call me at the Wanderlust Tours Office to sign up for one of our four Wanderlust Tours Week of Wonder sessions!

- James, naturalist guide
March 08, 2009
13:35
Week of Wonder Youth Summer Camp
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Hey all,

Thought I would jump on the bandwagon and get a piece of this blog action. I have been busy teaching the Little Rippers how to ski up at Mt. Bachelor this winter. Every weekend when I’m not teaching school I am up with the 3-5 year olds in the snow. The fresh powder has been great this last week! It is so fun to share a sport I love with little kids. I am getting really good at skiing backwards too!

As soon as the snow season winds down the summer fun will be close at hand. I am so excited to start teaching and guiding kids in all of the fun activities that Wanderlust Tours has to offer with its Week of Wonder youth summer camp program. Volcanoes are my favorite and every place we visit in Central Oregon has some connection to those volatile beginnings. There is no better way to learn about our natural world then to be out in it. I am sure that James, our other camp leader, has a few tricks up his sleeves to keep us all entertained. O.K. I have to admit, being from rainy Portland- I have licked a slug, but I haven’t been brave enough to eat one of our local ants…yet. But, with James around I think I might cave. Hope to see your kids out on the trails with us this summer.

- Kris, naturalist guide
13:14
Desert Rats
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I’ve traveled to quite a few places on this little green and blue speck we call Earth, and in my opinion, there are few areas that rival southeastern Oregon.

The crystal clear blue skies over the barren Alvord Desert make the distant horizon seem almost within arm’s reach; the inky night sky, pierced by the brightest stars you’ll ever see, is one of the darkest in the country, affording extravagant, exceptional stargazing; three miles away, the bright white flash of a nervous antelope’s tail strobes like a lighthouse, warning his brothers and sisters of danger.

And what might that danger be? These days, he’s most likely afraid of you and me, but he still has to keep a wary eye out for coyotes and mountain lions, just like he’s been doing for thousands of years.

And what about those strange paintings on the rocks around Petroglyph Lake? Those were left there by the Paiute people, who have also been here for thousands of years.

And what of that column of steam coming out of the ground? That would be the perennial hot waters of one of dozens of hot springs that dot the landscape with boiling pools of sulfuric water, spewing water vapor into the dry desert air. Just like they’ve done for thousands of years.

And it's all in my backyard.

June 5-8 of this year, I'll be sharing that backyard with ten people, all accommodations, food and transportation included.
If you'd like to be one of them, click here or give us a call at 800.962.2862.
March 03, 2009
11:25
Wanderlust Tours Announces New Kayak Tours on Cascade Lakes
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Wanderlust Tours will add guided, flat water kayaking tours to its menu of naturalist guided outings beginning in early summer of 2009. Kayak Tours, available June through October and open to all levels of experience, will be offered in half-day trips, daily at 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., moonlight tours during the full moon each month, and Brews and Views beer tasting kayak trip options. Groups will remain small, up to 11 people per group. Tour rates will range between $55-$65 per person.

Wanderlust Tours is the only guide company in Central Oregon permitted by the Deschutes National Forest to lead guided kayaking on the Cascade Lakes. Like all of Wanderlust Tours’ offerings, tours will include professional naturalist guides, kayaks, instruction, and transportation in 15-passenger vans.

Wanderlust Tours will continue to offer its half-day Canoe Tours, Moonlight Canoe Tours, Dinner Canoe Under the Stars events and Brews and Views beer tasting canoe trips.

For more information visit the new Wanderlust Tours website
January 15, 2009
8:28
Backcountry Film Festival
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Take Action for Tumalo Mountain

In an effort to gain support for the creation of the Bend Recreation Zone, Bend Backcountry Alliance will be putting on The Backcountry Film Festival at McMenamin’s St. Francis School in Bend on January 27th, 2009.

The Back Country Film Festival is organized to promote human-powered winter sports including backcountry and Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, winter hiking and camping, and to raise awareness about issues affecting quiet winter enthusiasts and winter ecosystems. The films emphasize the pleasures of quiet, untracked snow, the excitement of steep descents captured through the unique vision of grassroots filmmakers.

Bend Backcountry Alliance is putting on this Film Festival to raise awareness about the creation of the Bend Recreation Zone (BRZ), a non-motorized corridor that will span from the Virginia Meisner Snow Park to Dutchman Flat. As a non-profit, Bend Backcountry Alliance is dedicated to supporting quiet, human-powered activities in the backcountry surrounding Bend, Oregon

http://www.bendbc.com
December 17, 2008
16:19
Wanderlust Tours Snowshoe Video
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Enclosure: [download]

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Central Oregon High Cascades off-trail snowshoeing. Video made in cooperation with Sunriver Resort, music by Laura Kemp of Eugene, OR. www.laurakemp.com
November 26, 2008
11:42
Pray for Snow
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SNOOOOOOOOOW!!!!

The best part about winter is, undoubtedly, that my birthday falls in the middle of it. The NEXT best thing about winter, however, is the opportunities it affords us all to get out of the house and go do things that would have had people a hundred years ago shaking their heads in disbelief.

Like strapping ourselves onto thin strips of fiberglass and careening at incredibly unsafe speeds down the sides of mountains. Or digging snow caves and sleeping in them just to say that we HAVE! Or snowshoeing...

Well, as it so happens, we at Wanderlust Tours actually have to do a little homework every now and again in order to make your winter experience the best it can be. Except that in our case, "homework" has a slightly less-than-typical connotation to it. It means that we go hiking and look for places to take YOU.

So yesterday, Jeff and Boss and I scouted a couple of different locations on Santiam Pass (which is northwest of the town of Sisters, Oregon) in the Central Oregon Cascade Mountain Range and hiked ourselves silly in the rapidly-falling snow. There was about three inches worth of snow on the ground and it was coming down at a rate of about 1/2 inch per hour, coating all of the plants which will soon be buried under eight feet of snow. The thin blades of the Bear grass looked like someone had coated a bunch of octopi in confectioner's sugar and then planted them upside-down in the meadows of Ray Benson Sno-park. Seriously.

In a nutshell, I can't wait until there's enough powder up there to start leading some trips. It's just too pretty up there to not share it with anyone.

Jack, naturalist guide
November 16, 2008
8:48
Wild and Scenic Rivers
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I went on a hike along the Metolius River in the Central Oregon Cascades yesterday. The Metolius River, as you may know, is a designated "Wild and Scenic" river that is a tributary of the Deschutes River. Part of my reason for going there was to show a friend a location along the river where springs of water literally roar out of the bank of the river and create a sort of waterfall effect.

As we hiked back to the car, I was struck by the beauty of the area around me. The effect of the sunlight glittering off the wings of thousands of tiny insects hovering over the river; or the half-eaten Kokanee salmon carcass on the bank or the bear, elk, deer and coyote tracks leading to and from the crystalline water are memorable images in my mind.

While moments like these may be a daily occurrence in this wonderful part of the world that I call home, they are far from being commonplace. And I believe that I speak for all of us at Wanderlust Tours when I say that places like the Metolius River are places of which we shall never grow tired. Nor shall we tire of sharing them.

Jack, naturalist guide
November 10, 2008
14:27
Oregon Cascades EcoTrek
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Read about the Sisters Country inspired Oregon Cascades EcoTrek recently written about in Portland's daily newspaper, The Oregonian. Look for more Eco/Geo Tourism partnership between Wanderlust Tours and Sisters, Oregon lodging properties in the future!

[www.oregonlive.com]
October 27, 2008
12:33
Atlas Snowshoes
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The first blanketing of snow fell on Central Oregon's Cascades over the October 3-5 weekend. Through the clouds partial views reveal snow-white volcanoes from Bend. Though I have not glissaded through the snow on snowshoes this season my brain is sending messages to my legs and throughout my psyche that it is time. The impetus was brought on more strongly by receiving new pairs of snowshoes one day prior to the new snow.

The Atlas Snowshoe Company's timing was impeccable! Our new 10-Series, back country shoes with fine lines and vibrant colors arrived at our doorstep and await our adventures. I have found Atlas shoes to be the best made- this is a shameless plug BTW. The all-important binding does its job- it hugs and stays on your foot! Think old leather bindings of years gone by that got soaked, stretched, froze and fell off. Or, think about bindings even in the 1990's as snowshoes came back into popularity and the frivolous attempts at bindings that simply did not stay on your foot. Atlas overcame the binding difficulties and developed a product that takes our Wanderlust guides and guests into the fluffy powder for great fun and a chance to see stuff most people never get to see in the winter.

Snowshoes allow you to go where no one else can go in winter. It unlocks a tremendous amount of insight into the natural world. Shoeing is so dang fun! A Wanderlust trip will help you learn how to run downhill on shoes glissading and surfing atop the snow. Given desire you can get air on shoes- I'm talkin' 10, 15, 20 feet of air landing in powder that covers your head. You gotta try it!

Dave, naturalist guide
October 15, 2008
16:14
"Around the Bend in Oregon" article on CNN.com
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Good publicity for Bend and local businesses mentioned in this CNN.com/Budget Travel online article today. Check it out!

[www.cnn.com]
October 14, 2008
16:04
An End-of-the-Season Experience
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The summer was winding down, the September days were warm, the Central Oregon Cascade mountain range beckoned for visitation. Richard and Selina, Bend friends, along with Aleta and our two and a half year old Annika were going for a 27-mile hike on Oregon's Pacific Crest Trail.

Although enshrouded in rain most of the journey we have fond memories. The need to be prepared was once again brought home to us with the inclement weather- which is something I want to ring loud and clear in this posting. Our initial day on the trail was high 70's for temps and scattered clouds. We reveled in this for about 6 hours before overcast skies became the norm and rain persisted the remainder of the journey.

Being prepared helped to make the journey doable. Attitude and mental preparedness is most important. Gear is the next essential. We live in a time when gear can never be an excuse for failure. Good boots, fleece, shell jacket, quality tent, appropriately rated sleeping bag for warmth, enough stove fuel and the proper amount of food are integral to success. We were not perfectly prepared for our experience, we still learned more from this hike, but we succeeded and created deeper bonds of friendship and marveled at the natural world.

Having prepared fairly well the 5 of us looked back last evening on our journey saying, "it was a tough hike, but we'd do it again!" Mother nature provided terrific fall inspiration- not the least of which was amazing blueberries and grouse huckleberries along the way! There was abundance for animals and humans alike.

Get out to see it, appreciate it, care for it- go for it- being well prepared.

Dave, naturalist guide
September 30, 2008
13:43
Tamolitch Pool
» ‎ Wanderlust Wanderings

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In Central Oregon, we tend to name things very literally. For instance, there is a large butte north of Bend that is black in color. So we call it Black Butte. Additionally, we also have these black birds with red wings, so we call them Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus). And there is another black bird that has a yellow head, so (yup, you guessed it!) we call them Yellow-headed Blackbirds (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus).

It makes sense, therefore, that the Cascade Mountain Range is a mountain range full of... um... waterfalls. That said, I took a little pleasure hike along the McKenzie River just the other day with fellow guide James and Wanderlust Tours office diva, Andrea. The McKenzie River, which has its headwaters in Clear Lake (another fantastic destination that Wanderlust Tours features for canoeing trips) spends much of its time meandering through the myriad lava flows that make up that part of the Cascade Mountain Range.

But due to the porous nature of the basaltic lava in the area, water has a difficult time staying on top of the ground. So if you were to hike downstream from Sahalie Falls on the McKenzie, you would witness the entire river suddenly disappear. It flows underground for roughly 3.5 miles before silently bubbling back up at a place called Tamolitch Pool, aka "Blue Hole" (another example of our incredibly complicated naming system).

If there is anything more serene than watching bull trout snatch their afternoon meals from the air above a crystalline, glassy pool of cyan-colored water in the middle of a temperate rain forest, I have yet to experience it. All three of us were completely at a loss for words; all we could manage was try to absorb as much of the tranquility as possible, as if in a futile attempt to take it back with us.

I'll leave you with this quick story and thought: a young boy named Sloane went on tour with me this summer, and he said one of the most profound things that I have heard in a long time. He was looking up at the glaciers on the South Sister Mountain, and he turned and said "Jack, the world is bigger than anything else on Earth." I had to chuckle at the apparent naivety of his statement, but afterward realized that he was spot on. The biggest thing that you are EVER going to experience is Earth. So get out there and experience some of it. You might consider starting with Tamolitch Pool...

Jack, naturalist guide
September 23, 2008
16:48
Sisters Country Eco Tours and Hikes
» ‎ Wanderlust Wanderings

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Sisters, Oregon lodging properties continue to encourage visitors to discover and rediscover the beauty of "Sisters Country" by capitalizing on a growing tourism niche: Eco-hikes and touring.

Recent news on Wanderlust Tours participation in this new and innovative program:

[www.bendbulletin.com]
September 21, 2008
13:06
Evening for the Environment
» ‎ Wanderlust Wanderings

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Wanderlust Tours strives to operate its tours in a sustainable, environmentally healthy and conscientious way on a daily and ongoing basis. We also support many other organizations (locally and nationally) that do the same. The Central Oregon Environmental Center is a shining example of a local environmental non-profit dedicated to bringing conservation issues to the forefront of the community dialog.

Coming up on Saturday, September 27th is their annual fundraiser, "Evening for the Environment". It is a dynamic event with live music, great food, drink and a live and silent auction. Also, 2008 Earth Star award recipient Paul Dewey will be honored for his amazing contributions.

We invite you to come and celebrate and spend some money as well to support this important organization as it works to increase environmental education and encourage action that results in a healthier, sustainable environment.

[www.envirocenter.org] for more information and to register for the event.
September 09, 2008
13:26
Day for the River
» ‎ Wanderlust Wanderings

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Wanderlust Tours is proud to support the Deschutes River Conservancy’s “Day for the River” by offering a naturalist guided canoe trip on the Upper Deschutes River this Saturday, September 13th. All proceeds from this trip will be donated to the DRC by Wanderlust Tours.

Although this is a sold out trip, there are other “Day for the River” events this Saturday that the public can attend to support the Deschutes River as a public resource.

Check out the website for river-based events with Sun Country Tours, Alder Creek Kayak and Canoe, Fly and Field, REI and many others.

[www.deschutesriver.org]

Please support the DRC’s mission to restore streamflow and improve water quality in the Deschutes Basin!
September 03, 2008
9:33
Coffee and Flowers
» ‎ Wanderlust Wanderings

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Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0pt 5.4pt 0pt 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0pt; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} The glorious part of working in the office here at Wanderlust Tours is that the guides spoil you. Not only do they kick butt at what they do, they're super genuine. They bring me coffee and pick flowers on their way into the hub here as they prepare to take their tours! OK, that's not the point of my post, but I had to brag just a little :)

I had the privilege to sneak out of the office one afternoon and take a Cascade Lakes Canoe Tour with them. It was such a blast, a side of them that I do not get to see very often as I work behind the scenes. They rock at getting to know the guests and they take great care of them just as much as they take care of me! I never doubted it for a moment.

Just goes to show we hired up the right kind of people to show you the glories of Central Oregon.

-Andrea, office manager
August 27, 2008
15:26
Eagle-Osprey Battles
» ‎ Wanderlust Wanderings

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While canoeing at Elk Lake in the High Cascades of Central Oregon, my guests and I observed an osprey catching a fish from the lake. As it rose from the water, fish in claws, and headed back towards its nest it was attacked from above by a bald eagle. A fantastic aerial show ensued with the two birds in close combat. Mr. Osprey was holding on to the fish for dear life while doing some incredible evasive tactics at the same time. Eventually the much larger eagle prevailed forcing the osprey to drop the fish. Then in a flash the eagle tucked in his wings and dove after the falling fish, nabbing it in mid-air before it could hit the water. The osprey was left without his dinner and flew off in what must have been some despair. Meanwhile the pride of America headed home with his ill gotten gains.

Allan, naturalist guide
August 21, 2008
14:13
Moonbow
» ‎ Wanderlust Wanderings

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Hi! I'm James, one of Wanderlust Tours' Naturalist Guides. I also have the great pleasure of being the marketing photographer for Wanderlust Tours of Bend, Oregon.

One of my favorite times out on a Wanderlust Tour was actually during my guide training some time ago when I was driving up to support a Bonfire on the Snow Snowshoe tour at Mt. Bachelor. I happened to be supporting that tour while undergoing tutelage from Mr. Steve Dodson, Naturalist Guide extraordinaire, now retired. Steve and I made fast friends.

On our way up the mountain we had the privilege to witness an extremely rare phenomenon known as "moon bow". Caused by the light from the moon behind us striking the rain precipitating on the mountain in front of us, this moon bow was astonishing in its almost ultra-violet radiance.

As the team photographer, I'm proud to say that this sensory experience passed without photographic documentation. Some things simply have to be experienced thoroughly and singularly within the sensory and extra-sensory realm when observing natural beauty first hand on a Wanderlust Tour.

James, naturalist guide and photographer. (Photos coming soon at wanderlusttours.com)
August 17, 2008
16:16
Summer Thunderstorms
» ‎ Wanderlust Wanderings

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My latest Wanderlust Starlight Canoe Tour was an evening to remember, yet it was not for the uncooperative stars or the dark clouds that veiled them. It was one of the most stunning sunsets I have seen and the spectacular lighting show that surrounded us in the distance. Dusk drew to near total darkness as we paddled further on the stretches of a Central Oregon High Cascade lake. The lighting strikes turned night into day as the thunder struggled to be heard from its vast distance. Our night vision was nearly lost to the immense brightness of each bolt, yet one could just make out the smiles upon everyone’s faces as the light dimmed each time. The caravan of canoes made a slow trip back to shore as the storm finally started to push towards us. We had just enough time to load our gear and take refuge in the van before the first drops of rain fell from above.

Jeff, naturalist guide
August 12, 2008
15:56
Don't Feed the Squirrels!
» ‎ Wanderlust Wanderings

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Crater Lake National Park is one of Oregon’s crown jewels. Not only is it awe-inspiring, and the geologic history remarkable, but there is an entire ecosystem that exists all around the lake and in the lake itself. A couple of the creatures many people come across while visiting is the golden-mantled ground squirrel (Spermophilus lateralis) and the Clark’s Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana). They seem quite willing to hang around humans, and one will come across numbers of them around the Rim Village and Discovery Point. They’ve learned that humans are more than willing to feed them food visitors can find in their car. Many of these people would assume that these cute little ground squirrels and birds are being helped by us feeding them. However, we are not only feeding them items outside their natural diet (pine seeds, berries, and insects), but we also harming them further down the road and causing a disruption towards one of the great examples of a mutualistic relationship in this ecosystem.

Both of these animals store food for the winter, and squirrels have cheek pouches and the Clark’s Nutcracker has a special pouch under it’s tongue for transporting food. What these animals don’t know is that any of the human food it may collect actually rots and doesn’t stay through the winter. So when they think they’ve stored food, winter comes and the tourists decline, the animals are not doing so well when they’ve got those moldy and rotting Cheetos to depend on.

The Clark’s Nutcracker does live year-round in the area and does not migrate. This bird is able to do this due to storing food for the winter. One of the main trees this bird uses for a food source is the whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis). The whitebark pine has wingless seeds and the cone does not open when ripe. The Clark’s Nutcracker has a special beak that is able to open the bracts of the cone and get to those seeds. To make it through the winter, the Clark’s Nutcracker will make caches—thousands of them—and will sometimes cache over 30,000 seeds this way. These birds have an excellent spatial memory of where these caches are located, and are able to locate over 70% of their caches to retrieve these seeds. However, it is not just the Clark’s Nutcracker that benefits. The caches that the Clark’s Nutcracker forgets allows young whitebark pines to germinate. This is an incredible example of a mutualistic relationship at Crater Lake National Park—the whitebark pine depends on the Clark’s Nutcracker for seed dispersal, and the Clark’s Nutcracker depends on the whitebark pine for a food source that is high in fat and protein, and a seed that will keep well in underground caches.

I hope you will take the opportunity to visit this beautiful area of Oregon, whether you do it alone or with historical, geological, and ecological interpretation from one of the Wanderlust naturalist guides. But please don’t feed the wildlife, so we can ensure this amazing mutualistic relationship does not become disrupted and that we can give these animals the diet and food caches they need to survive.

David, naturalist guide
August 07, 2008
15:40
Wanderlust in the News
» ‎ Wanderlust Wanderings

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Recent article in US News and World Report and Entrepreneur.com about Dinner Canoe Under the Stars as a unique and memorable way to reward employees and thank important clients:

[www.usnews.com]
August 05, 2008
11:29
Crane Sighting
» ‎ Wanderlust Wanderings

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Canoeing on Hosmer Lake in the High Cascades one fine afternoon, my guests and I were treated to an unusual and very interesting sight. After meandering around in the creek channel that separates the two main bodies of the lake we approached the north part of the lake. We could see something standing quite tall out in a marshy section of the lake and couldn't make out just what it was. Upon drawing closer, we discovered two adult Sandhill Cranes. Standing about 5 feet in height and having a wingspan of 6-7 feet they were a magnificent sight to say the least. While not unheard of, this is a fairly rare sighting and we all felt quite fortunate to have chosen that day for an exciting paddle on Hosmer. While these birds appear huge they only weigh 6-10 pounds and thusly are able to get themselves into the air. An amazing sight to see as they flew off into clear blue sky.

Allan, naturalist guide
photo by John Penn
July 31, 2008
9:16
Quiet Paddling
» ‎ Wanderlust Wanderings

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The High Cascade Lakes in Central Oregon are busy right now. Sparks still has water which is a little unusual, as it gets pretty shallow this time of year. A strong winter has allowed paddling on it well into July and likely August. Sparks is the closest lake with a ramp to Bend and Sunriver. You have to get there before 10am if you want to beat the crowds and get a parking spot.

It's prime kayaking and canoeing weather, 80's, sunny, breezy...perfect summer conditions. What are some of the more off the beaten places to paddle during the summer in Central Oregon? I am heading to a well known spot tonight after work that is not heavily used by recreational kayakers (everyone is on the lakes!). Put in at Dillon Falls and paddle upstream to Slough Camp on the Upper Deschutes River close to Bend. The Dillon Falls put-in can be accessed via FS Road 41, off the Cascade Lakes Highway. Slough Camp is a great place to have a picnic under ponderosas and watch the river flow lazily by. The float back to Dillon Falls (you don't even have to paddle) takes about 20 minutes. Not a bad way to end your day. My next adventure might take me to Waldo Lake on the western side of the Cascades. I hear there are lot's of campers and hikers, but not many paddling on Waldo...just what I am looking for.

Pat- marketing guy/kayaker
July 24, 2008
14:12
Hosmer Lake
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Back in late June, we blew by the winter closure gate a matter of minutes since it had been open from an epic winter that was reluctant to let go. I was excited about my first trip of the Wanderlust Tours summer season on Hosmer Lake, nestled in the heart of the High Cascade Mountains in Central Oregon. A chorus of Pacific Tree Frogs that were accompanied by a ballet of butterflies greeted us as we prepared our canoes and gear. I guided and paddled through the maze of reeds and pondweed and soaked in the views of the snowcapped peaks as brook trout and Atlantic salmon schooled underneath our canoe hulls. On the return we ventured into a tiny cove - we were astonished to see two predominantly nocturnal beavers scamper out of the thick forest and dive into the depths nearby. Returning home after a serene day, I knew this summer in the High Cascades was going to be special.
-Jeff, naturalist guide
July 21, 2008
10:44
Alien Clouds
» ‎ Wanderlust Wanderings

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Hey everyone! I was just going through pictures in my cell phone and came across this one that I took of Mt. Hood in Oregon earlier this year. The clouds are called lenticular clouds (or "alto cumulus standing lenticularis," if you happen to work for NOAA) and we get them quite regularly over here. There's nothing quite like seeing all of the High Cascades from Bachelor to Jefferson capped by these things. Ahh, the guilty pleasures of living in Central Oregon.

-Jack, naturalist guide
July 16, 2008
10:31
Crater Lake Snowshoe
» ‎ Wanderlust Wanderings

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Picture this, it's June 2008, stunning snowfall in Oregon over the past winter. Our friends at Delta Dental call up from Chicago to bring their nation-wide staff to Sunriver, Oregon. While here they want to experience the Gem of Oregon- Crater Lake. I jump in a bus with 40 folks, make the short trek down to the lake. What we witness is unimaginable blue sky, deep green bows of the mountain hemlock trees, the surreal blue of Crater Lake and piercing white opulence of deep snow still lingering at 7,000 feet. By no coincidence did I throw 20 pair of snowshoes into the bus this day to surprise and delight my guests! 30 some-odd guests of mine 'shoed Crater Lake's rim on June 13 atop 4-8 feet of snow! Nothing less than a highlight of my year.

-Dave Nissen, founder and naturalist guide.
July 10, 2008
11:42
Building It Green
» ‎ Wanderlust Wanderings

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I thought I might share some of the things that Mary Louise and I are doing with the building of our new, very green home. This house will be the first L.E.E.D. certified home to be built in Central Oregon.

Some of its features are at 2KW solar photovoltaic system, solar hot water, in-floor radiant heating system, whole house energy recovery ventilator. In addition we are using LED lighting wherever possible with the balance of lighting in florescent. The slab for the in-floor heat has 3 inches of foam insulation between it and the ground, passive solar as much as possible will assist the in-floor heating system. The house has lots of glazing on the south side and tile floors to create mass for storage of passive solar heat.

We used FSC lumber from Warms Springs mills which comes from their certified sustainable forest and is of course kiln dried.

Also lots of insulation to R49 in the attic and a new product is being tested by Tyvec Homewrap. This is called attic wrap and goes on top of the trusses. The aluminum coating reflects heat out from the top to keep cool in the summer and holds in heat during the winter. It will be interesting to see if it lives up to Tyvec's claims of a 20% boost in efficiency.

That's about it for now. I would invite you to view the house during the Central Oregon Builders Association Tour of Homes, the last 2 weekends in July of this year. Check out a full description and more information on the
2008 COBA Tour of Homes at:

[www.coba.org]

-Allan, naturalist guide
8:43
Recent News Spots
» ‎ Wanderlust Wanderings

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Check out some recent video segments taken by KTVZ NewsChannel 21 here in Bend.

[www.ktvz.com]

[www.ktvz.com]

Don't forget to read over the article, as well!

[www.ktvz.com]
July 09, 2008
15:11
Wildlife with Attitude
» ‎ Wanderlust Wanderings

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Gary Larson, the author of The Far Side, knew what he was talking about when he penned the caption for a comic strip depicting a tree full of birds of prey which were wearing sunglasses and Walkmans.

As my tour guests and I were walking from Skeleton Cave in Central Oregon to a Wanderlust Tours van this morning I couldn't help but notice the distinctive shriek of Buteo jamaicensis (Red-tailed Hawk) coming from over our heads. I quickly identified the bird for the guests and we all watched, mouths agape, as he swiftly shot to the earth and seized a small rabbit not 45 feet away from us. He then bit the rabbit behind the neck, gave it a few cursory shakes just to make sure that it wasn't going anywhere, and then pinned it to the ground with the inch-long talons on his right foot. With one foot on the ground and the other on top of his dinner, the hawk turned and looked straight at my group as if to say, "Don't... even... think about it."

We might not have been thinking about stealing his meal from him, but I certainly know that I was thinking about how I'll certainly remember this experience for years, as well as my guests who got much more than a guided adventure into a lava tube cave that day.

Oh, and what was the caption to Gary Larson's comic? "Birds of prey KNOW they're cool."

- Jack, naturalist guide.