Grant McOmie recently joined Wanderlust Tours and naturalist guide Jack Newkirk on an off-trail snowshoe journey into the High Cascades of Oregon. Here's the story on KGW.com
Look for the upcoming televised episode of Grant's Getaways on KGW-NBC Portland. Airs today and Saturday throughout the day.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
December-January Stargazing Hightlights
If you're out stargazing on one of our crystal-clear winter nights, keep your eyes open for some of the best-known and some lesser-known features in the night sky.
1. Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system and the third brightest object in the night sky, can be seen above the southern horizon. If you've got a decent pair of binoculars you can even make out four of the its 63 moons: Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto.
2. Venus, the second brightest object in the night sky, rises about 10 p.m. in the eastern sky.
3. Orion, "The Hunter," can seen after 8 p.m. in the east. Look for the three bright stars that compose his belt.
4. Cassiopeia, the vain queen, is in the shape of an 'M' right now and is almost directly overhead. If you've ever seen "Clash of the Titans," you know who she was...
5. Pleiades or 'the seven sisters" is straight up. Look for an obvious, tight cluster that looks just like the emblem on the front of a Subaru (not surprisingly, the Japanese term for the same constellation is "Subaru").
Have fun out there snowshoeing!
1. Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system and the third brightest object in the night sky, can be seen above the southern horizon. If you've got a decent pair of binoculars you can even make out four of the its 63 moons: Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto.
2. Venus, the second brightest object in the night sky, rises about 10 p.m. in the eastern sky.
3. Orion, "The Hunter," can seen after 8 p.m. in the east. Look for the three bright stars that compose his belt.
4. Cassiopeia, the vain queen, is in the shape of an 'M' right now and is almost directly overhead. If you've ever seen "Clash of the Titans," you know who she was...
5. Pleiades or 'the seven sisters" is straight up. Look for an obvious, tight cluster that looks just like the emblem on the front of a Subaru (not surprisingly, the Japanese term for the same constellation is "Subaru").
Have fun out there snowshoeing!
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Snowshoeing Top 5 Sights to Experience at Night
1. The Orion constellation, known as "The Hunter", rises at 8 in the east, is best viewed in January.
2. Shooting stars, best seen during a new moon in the mountains while on snowshoes in the hush of the forest.
3. Animal tracks in the snow. Commonly seen tracks are squirrel, mouse and rabbit, often chased (and caught) by pine marten and fox. Let a naturalist describe how the predator-prey drama plays out.
4. Cassiopeia, another northern constellation known as "The Queen". Cassiopeia is easily recognizable due to its distinctive 'W' shape formed by five bright stars, but seen as a 'M' right now.
5. Full moon on December 31st, 2009, New Year's Eve. It doesn't get any better.
Moonlight and Starlight Snowshoe Tours here.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Oregon Business Magazine: Impact Oregon
Tourism is a critical component of Oregon's economy. Recently, Dave Nissen, owner of Wanderlust Tours, attended a round table discussion forum with other members of the Oregon Tourism and Hospitality Industry Consortium. To learn more about the outcome of this meeting and the relationship between tourism and outdoor recreation read the Oregon Business Magazine article here.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
WITH RECENT SNOW, SNOWSHOE SEASON IS OPEN
WANDERLUST TOURS ANNOUNCES SNOWSHOE TOUR AND EVENT SCHEDULE FOR WINTER AND SPRING
With plenty of new snow up in the Cascades, Wanderlust Tours has begun its snowshoe season and announces its half-day and evening Snowshoe Tour schedule for this winter and spring.
In addition to its daily half-day guided Snowshoe Tours, Wanderlust Tours is offering a schedule of monthly special evening snowshoe events for winter and spring holidays. Wanderlust Tours is also offering a new Starlight Snowshoe Tour this winter. Unlike Moonlight Snowshoe Tours, there does not need to be a full moon, so this tour is available on Saturday evenings throughout winter and spring.
Half-day Snowshoe Tours have begun and are departing daily at 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. from Bend and Sunriver.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Fall Tours in Central Oregon
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.
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.
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
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