The History of Snowshoeing

As it turns out, snowshoeing was not another case of humans trying to entertain themselves.  Though that is its primary function today, this wasn't always the case. Over 4,000 years ago, people started to make some form of snowshoes out of some interesting materials. But first, let's get to the why. Why did these people need to travel by foot in the snow? Mostly because Blue Apron and Amazon hadn't started delivery service yet. So, in order to eat, indigenous people made snowshoes. After watching animals successfully navigate the fluff, they made their own "paws" to get around and search for food more effectively. The early snowshoes are said to be made of *ash timber frames and untanned cowhide webbing or "babiche." They could strap them on to their feet and search for food. 

By the 1900s, people were no longer relying solely on hunting to get their food. It was at this time that the "sport" of snowshoeing came into prominence in places that experienced heavy winters. Certainly the materials used to make snowshoes have changed quite a bit over the years, but the idea remains the same: stay on top of the snow. If you're a collector, you can buy these vintage snowshoes on Etsy! 

Today we use snowshoes to get to places you wouldn't be able to get on foot. You can snowshoe a butte and ski down. You can snowshoe to the middle of a dense forest to cut down your Christmas tree. You can run in snowshoes and jump off rock outcroppings. The possibilities are endless. And best of all - it's just for fun. You don't have to search for dinner out there.

Our favorite way to snowshoe? With beer. But who's surprised? This is Bend. We call it Shoes, Brews, and Views Snowshoe Tour and it's everything you would imagine this type of tour to be. We bring the beer and snacks out to the middle of the forest for you to enjoy. You can feel just a little like an early adventurer, searching for food. Except not totally. We'll taste beer from Cascade Lakes Brewery and soak in the amazing views. And if it's snowing while we're out there, lucky you! Enjoy the flurry of white surround you and experience nature at its best and brightest. Seriously. It's so much fun!! 

photo by: come we create

* Source

#visitlikealocal

Bend's culture is one of the things that makes Bend so great. As a whole we are fun seekers, outdoor lovers, beer fanatics, and friend makers. We love our dogs, our free time, our food trucks, our trails, and our powder days. There's a lot to get excited about here, and believe us, we get excited about all of it. We also want you to share that excitement! 

The good people at Visit Bend have put together a campaign encouraging people to visit Bend like a local. We were inspired and wanted to share some central beliefs to the mission of Wanderlust Tours. 

For over 23 years Wanderlust Tours has shared the beauty of central Oregon while striving to preserve the earth and care for natural habitats. We train our staff with this mentality in mind and teach our guests to do the same. Here are a few ways we do that. 

Wanderlust van filled with eager snowshoers // Photo by Natalie Puls

1. We carpool. Most of our trips meet at our office in Bend before we transport guests in one vehicle to our final destination. This keeps lake parking lots less crowded, cuts down on road wear and tear, and is better for our environment. 
2. We pick up trash. Wherever we go we try to practice LNT (leave no trace). This means that our trips will not leave an impact, but it also means that we pick up after others. Each of our guides brings a trash bag in case they see floating trash along the trail.
3. We clean the caves. Each year Wanderlust Tours joins forces with other local companies to clean the caves and desert area east of town. Anyone is welcome to join in these efforts. This year's Cave Cleanup is scheduled for May 6, 2017. 
4. We don't use plastic bottles. In fact, we exclusively use recyclable cups, plates and utensils. We like to call this practice "pre-cycling." We sell bottles from Hydro Flask in our office and encourage our guests to fill up their bottle before leaving for the tour. 
5. We wash our boats after each water tour. Why? Aquatic invasive species attach to boats and travel from one body of water to another. They displace native species and harm the fish and wildlife habitat. Worst of all, they are extremely difficult to remove once they arrive. We don't want to disrupt the natural wildlife! 
6. We sell locally-made products. This supports local businesses and cuts down on the need for shipping (think extra packaging waste, fuel, etc.) 

There are a ton of other great ways to learn how to "visit like a local." Visit Bend has worked hard to put together some awesome tips! Including how to navigate those round-a-bouts! Search the hashtag on Instagram or Facebook and find out other ways you can visit like a local! 

Supermoon 2017

The SUPERmoon is coming! Mark your calendar for November 13th and 14 and be sure to check out the night sky for this stellar event. 

What is a supermoon?
A supermoon occurs when the full moon is the closest to Earth during it's orbit. It's orbit is more oval-shaped than circular so the distance from the Earth varies. 

Why is this one special?
This supermoon will be the largest one that we've seen since 1948. That's 68 years since the moon has appeared this big to us. It's a pretty exciting moment and it's not going to happen again for many more years. It's also interesting to note that this is the second of three supermoons occurring in November, but this one is the biggest. In fact, this supermoon, that some have been calling the super-duper moon, could appear 14% larger and 30% brighter than the standard full moon. 

Beaver Moon?
Have you heard of this called the Beaver Moon? It is said that Native American Tribes called it both the Beaver Moon and the Frost Moon because it was the time of the year they set traps for beavers to make sure they could stay warm for winter... with the beaver fur they collected. Talk about planning ahead. 

What are you going to do about it?
We're going to go canoeing! Yes. Canoeing in November! Grab your blankets and your cameras, we'll provide everything else (including hot cocoa) and we'll jump into a canoe on a Cascade Lake. This time of year the roads are usually closed, but Mother Nature is giving us a treat! We're so excited to canoe under the largest supermoon in almost 70 years! Sign up for our Supermoon Canoe Tour today! We're offering three nights of tours, but Sunday and Monday will have the best moon Space is limited.