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.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
The Barn Owl of Skeleton Cave
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
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
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Wanderlust Tours appears on "Grant's Getaways"'
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.
Check out the episode here on the Travel Oregon blog.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Exclusive Outings with Wanderlust Tours and the Deschutes River Conservancy
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.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Cascade Lakes Highway: Road Opening
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."
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."
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Paulina Lake Icebreaker
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
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
Monday, May 4, 2009
Lovin' the Urban GPS
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
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
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