Oregon Volcanoes

Did you know that Oregon is home to 19 major volcanoes?! A quick rundown on the types of volcanoes found in Oregon:

1. Stratovolcano: Think Mt. St Helens and your standard science experiment of making a volcano. Stratovolcanoes are the most common type - making up about 60% of the Earth's volcanoes.
2. Cinder Cones: Form around a vent, they're symmetrical, and most have a bowl-shaped crater at the top of them. 
3. Shield Volcano: Large and low profile. Think of a warrior's shield lying on the ground. The super fluid lava that erupts travels farther than stratovolcano blasts. 
4. Complex Volcano: Changes in the vent's location make it a complex volcano. 
5. Volcanic Field: Areas with 10-100 volcanoes containing lava flows and cinder cones. 
6. Caldera: The top of the volcano erupts and collapses leaving a large crater. Oregon's only national park, Crater Lake, is a caldera. Read more about Crater Lake (and the National Park Anniversary) on last week's blog post! 

How many of Oregon's volcanoes have you been to?? 

1. Mount Hood
2. Jefferson
3. Blue Lake Crater
4. Sand Mountain
5. Mount Washington
6. Belknap
7. North Sister
8. South Sister
9. Broken Top
10. Bachelor
11. Newberry
12. Davis Lake
13. Devils Garden 
14. Squaw Ridge
15. Four Craters
16. Cinnamon Butte
17. Jordan Craters
18. Diamond Craters
19. Crater Lake 

And now! Take a look at our Volcano Tour at the Newberry Caldera! 

Happy Anniversary (to the National Park Service)

As you may know, August 25, 2016 will mark the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service, and a year-long celebration is underway across the country. As people everywhere are responding to the call to “Find Your Park,” it’s worth acknowledging our nearest (and Oregon’s only) national park: Crater Lake.

In the Cascades of Southern Oregon, a lake of perfect blue fills a void where a peak once stood. Roughly 7,700 years ago, a stratovolcano called Mount Mazama erupted cataclysmically, so enthusiastically spewing its contents that it gave away its foundation in the process. The 12,000 foot peak collapsed in on itself and subsided into a caldera five miles across. Over time, this self-contained watershed filled with snow and rain, untainted by impurities found elsewhere. Now, the ultra-clear and brilliantly-blue body of water is called Crater Lake, the deepest lake in the United States.

Most of Crater Lake’s visitors come in the summer, but I’m convinced that winter is its best season. Indeed, winter makes Crater Lake what it is, dumping an average of 524 inches of snow each year on the caldera rim. That snow melts in summer and makes its way down to the lake below, joining the water that fills the basin to a depth of 1,943 feet. When the park and its peaks are blanketed in white, the blue surface below shimmers all the brighter, and a sunny winter day yields scenes that inspire and entrance. Snowshoeing on the rim allows access to winter wonderlands beyond the reach of cars, in forests buried in feet of fresh powder.

This is not to say that spring, summer, and fall are without wonders of their own. With the snow gone, the park fully opens itself to exploration and the dramatic views from Rim Drive, encircling the lake, are easily attained. Trails to the peaks on the rim carry hikers high above the water, and hiking down to Cleetwood Cove provides access to the boats that carry passengers to and from Wizard Island, a cinder cone that formed after the lake began to fill.

The sun sets and the blue dims, but night brings wonders of its own in any season. The dusky colors of the ridges that form the western horizon are a gradient that fades into clear skies free of light pollution. Stars fill the night and the caldera is quiet, save for a breeze that swirls among the peaks. From the tower atop the Watchman on the western rim, I’ve watched meteors streak across the sky above Crater Lake and the Milky Way move through the night as we spin inside it.

There is never a time when this park isn’t in full glory. Even when the caldera is shrouded in clouds and the lake is invisible from the rim, the wonder is still there. Knowing the natural history of Crater Lake fosters an appreciation of the landscape in any condition. And when the clouds do lift, and the sunlight hits the water again, the perfect blue reminds you of any wonder you may have forgotten.

Photography and article by Wanderlust Guide Chaney // Follow his adventures: @chaney

If you're interested in booking a group trip to Crater Lake this winter, we'd love to help you plan it! Read more here or send us an email here! 

After the Tour...

When it comes to Bend, the general feeling is that whatever you choose to do with your time, you've likely made a good choice. From epic hikes to mellow floats, to multiple options of amazing Thai food, we believe that just by being here you're going to have a great time. So when people ask for dinner recommendations, or favorite bike trails, or the best beer, I often find myself just saying, "Yes." Yes to all of it because you can't go wrong. I gladly give Bend two thumbs up. 

When pressed, I'll give a more specific answer.

At the end of a Wanderlust Tour, what do people want? I'll tell you. They want dinner, drinks, ice cream, a place for the kids to play, and a place to buy their own canoe/kayak/snowshoes because their life has just been changed!!

One stellar area that I've added to my list recently is just one exit north of our Wanderlust office and the home to quite a few great spots, both old and new. The best thing is that all of these places are SUPER close to one another. 

Grab dinner and beer at Immersion Brewing or Crux Fermentation Project. Crux even has a sweet lawn where kids of all ages are free to run and play.

Photo by 1859 Oregon Magazine

Drinks: Both of the above serve remarkable beer and Atlas Cider is your place for hard cider. They also have indoor and outdoor games. 

Get any used gear for your newest obsession at the Gear Fix next door. They can also repair your shoes, bikes, tents etc! 

Thankfully, the greatest mobile ice cream truck has found a permanent location. Find the adorable Addy Mac's refurbished truck outside Spoken Moto because motorcycles and ice cream, yes. Oh and they serve coffee. And beer. I told you this place was the best. Check out their grand opening on August 27th! 

So there you have it! And now you know what we like to do at the end of the day...