What's in a Name?

Have you ever visited a new city and wondered about how street names or buildings got their names? They're like a tiny window into the history of an area. They can tell us so much if we're willing to listen. This week we'd like to share some of the history of Bend via the names of a couple of favorite spots. 

Dr. John Strong Newberry, a naturalist, came central Oregon in 1858 with the US Army to survey the land for railroads. Because of his extensive work, the Newberry Volcanic Monument was dedicated to him in 1903. Interestingly, while Newberry was mapping railroads, Cheif Paulina was leading raids against groups like Newberry's in the area. Paulina Lake and Paulina Peak are both named after him. Paulina was a prominent Paiute warrior known for his guerrilla tactics. You can visit all of these places on our Volcano Tour. 

Paulina Falls at the Newberry Caldera

If you've ever enjoyed carving through fresh powder on the slopes of Mt. Bachelor, you should probably say a thank you to Bill Healy. He had a dream to make Mt. Bachelor a ski resort, and his dream came to life in 1958. It has grown substantially since those early days and now boasts more than 10 chair lifts and 4 lodges. On your way to the mountain you may cross Bill Healey Bridge on Reed Market. The beach under the bridge is also a great place for an afternoon picnic! (Don't forget to buy your winter Mt. Bachelor tickets before prices go up after September 30th!) 

If you're headed up to the mountains, you'll find yourself on Century Drive. What used to be a migratory path for elk and deer is now a paved scenic byway that will lead you to some of our favorite spots in the area. Before it was paved in 1995, Century Drive (get it? 100 miles), or Cascade Lakes Highway was a 100 mile dirt logging road that looped from Bend to the mountains, to Crescent and then back to Bend on Highway 97. 

Alexander Drake left Minnesota and traveled west in a covered wagon in 1883. When they saw the beauty of the Deschutes and the remarkable mountain views, like many of us, they decided they had to stay. Drake was a developer and organizer responsible for starting much of Bend's modernization. If you're hungry or in need of a good view, or just feeling particularly historical, visit Drake Park or Drake Restaurant downtown.

If you like baseball, make time for a visit to historic Vince Genna Stadium. It opened in 1964 and was later named after its builder, Bend's Parks and Rec Department director, and former American Legion coach, Vince Genna. Be sure to check out the stadium and the Elks next season!

Oh and Skeleton Cave... you may be able to guess why it's named what it is... but we won't give that one away. Join us for a cave tour and learn the history! 

Are there any other names of streets or places in Bend that have you scratching your head? Be sure to ask!

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!