Pacific Wonderland

For almost 30 years, our friends at Deschutes Brewery have been pumping out some pretty amazing beer. From hoppy IPAs to smooth porters to refreshing pale ales, there is truly something for everyone, in every season. One of our current favorites (that we often bring on our Moonlight Canoe Tour) is the Pacific Wonderland Lager. We never thought that we could identify so closely with a beer, but here we are, raising a glass to a beer we believe in. We are inspired by the place we call home. We cannot get enough of the snow capped mountains, the rushing rivers, the expansive desert, the smell of juniper in the air. Just watch this video and tell me you don't feel inspired to get out and do something fun right now! 

Because we love this place so much, we also want to be sure to take good care of it for our children and the generations to come. That's why we love Deschutes Brewery even more. They are always giving back to their community. Not only do they regularly donate to local charities, Deschutes Brewery is also committed to environmental protection. Through the Deschutes River Concervancy (which we talked about a few weeks ago), the brewery has pledged to put one billion gallons of water back into the Deschutes River. They also work hard to offset 100% of their electrical power usage from renewable sources. We could not be more proud to serve (and drink) their beer. 

Fire Season

Where's the fire? Well, a lot of places right now. After a few years of tame fire seasons, and a few years of great winters, we were almost due for a forest fire outbreak. 

How do these fires occur? There are two ways a fire can start: naturally or by humans. The National Park Service states that 90% of wild forest fires are caused by humans. Yikes. Campfires that haven't been put out fully, burning debris, or cigarette butts are some unintentional causes. Sometimes, an intentional act of arson burns down the forest. 

The other 10% are caused by either lightning or lava. When a thunderstorm rolls in, it's both a relief for the dry summer grounds and a potential start of another forest fire. 

While the fires have stayed away from the direct Bend area this summer, we have not been free of smoke. Our beautiful Cascade Mountains are hidden, and the smell of campfire has lingered for quite a while. 

So that you are best prepared for your trip to Oregon this summer, you can check the air quality in real time as well as the locations of current fires and road closures. Our tours will continue to run throughout the summer while conditions are still safe to operate. Please call our office if you have any questions about your specific tour. Pro tip: join our Cave or Brew Bus Tour for something a little less smoky! 

In the meantime, start your snow dances! We want to see our mountains again! 

The Great American Solar Eclipse

There’s a short span of time burned into my memory, roughly 10:18 to 10:20 am. Many of us had turned away from the Sun and Moon to watch the gathering darkness in the west. It did not take long for the temporary night to fall. First, the light left the clouds behind Mt. Jefferson and then the mountain itself. Suddenly, we were in darkness, too, surrounded by a sunset that illuminated the slopes of Mt. Hood to the north. I turned back towards the Sun and was awestruck by the wonder of the corona. That moment, that turn, has been playing over and over in my mind ever since.  -Chaney Swiney, Wanderlust Tours Naturalist Guide

The weekend (and those two particular minutes) that we anticipated for so many months has finally come and gone. If you were lucky enough to find yourself in the path of totality, you know that this moment really was the moment of a lifetime. We are still sharing stories, recalling the magnificence, and wondering how everything turned out just perfectly. 

Months ago we sent a team out to find the perfect spot to camp. What the Wanderlust team found was beyond perfect: we all dreamed of the magic that would take place on this ridge. Some of us have hiked this ridge in the past, many of us have gazed upon it through the window of an airplane on its way out of Redmond. Needless to say, we knew it would be the right place to attend this cosmic rendezvous between Sun and Moon.

With all the behind-the-scenes logistics taken care of and our permits in place, we left our office early on the morning of August 20th to beat the anticipated traffic. Leading a small group of enthusiastic eclipse-chasers to our camp ... 

Nature took heed as totality neared – resemblance to dusk, shadows looked different, breezes dissipated, wildlife took pause, and the temperatures dropped almost a full 13°. Naturalist Guide Danny recorded the temperature every 9 minutes as part of NASA's Citizen Science campaign. By collecting and submitting this data, we were able to observe the effects of the solar eclipse on our atmosphere. Events like this bring people an awareness and appreciation of the value of science, and we jumped at the opportunity to geek-out over sun-planet-moon systems.

"Taking in this celestial event from the best possible viewing location was one of the most unique experiences of my life. The best part? Seeing Mt. Jefferson cloaked in darkness while Hood, outside totality, was lit up like a candle." - Danny Walden, Wanderlust Tours Naturalist Guide

Transfixed by the ethereal vision in the sky, when the precious two minutes passed, your first thought may have been 'when and where is the next eclipse?' Well, the next North American total solar eclipse will be enjoyed by our neighbors to the east on April 28, 2024. If you can't wait until then, try traveling to Rio Cuarto, Argentina on July 2, 2019 for a full 2 minutes and 2 seconds of a totality awesome experience!