Geminids Meteor Shower
Snowshoe Tour
December 2024 | Multiple nights available, learn more below!
ABOUT
Adventure & Naturalist Guided Experience: The Geminids Meteor Shower is one of the most plentiful meteor showers that grace our night skies each year! Cruising on snowshoes under the night sky, we will immerse ourselves in the winter wonderland of the Deschutes National Forest, enjoying a cup of delectable hot cocoa as we meander through the powdery snow! During our adventure, our incredible Naturalist Guides may share the history of trapping on snowshoes or the invention of snowshoeing by Native Americans. The hushed ambiance of the forest coupled with the glimmer of starlight dancing off of winter’s white blanket will surely leave you and your group inspired!
Location: Snowshoeing tours take place in the areas around Mt. Bachelor and the surrounding Deschutes National Forest of the Cascade Mountain Range of Oregon. New to off-trail snowshoeing? Let Wanderlust Tours do the driving and teach you fun snowshoeing techniques and tricks. All tours include instruction. Wear winter boots and powder/ski pants to keep your feet and legs dry while snowshoeing.
This December’s Geminids will be a mixture of nights where meteor sightings will be likely as well as nights where the full moon will be shining brightly and limiting visibility. The Geminids Meteor Shower begins Dec. 4th and ends Dec. 20th, with a full moon peaking on Dec. 15th. We have a few meteor shower focused options from Dec. 4th - 7th & Dec. 19th as well as full moon focused options for Dec. 13th - 15th.
To find more details on the likelihood of meteor sightings and moon phase for each specific day, please check below.
DETAILS
$120 per person
Recommended for children 8 and older
Tour Dates & Times:
Dec. 4-5: 7:00PM - 11:00PM (Meteor shower focused)
Dec. 6-7: 8:00PM - 12:00AM (Meteor shower focused)
Dec. 13-15: 7:00PM - 11:00PM (Full moon focused)
Dec. 19: 7:00PM - 11:00PM (Meteor shower focused)
INCLUDES
Naturalist guide & award-winning interpretation
Gear: Snowshoes and headlamps
Drinks: Hot Cocoa
Transportation: departing from our office
PLEASE BRING
Layers: Warm jacket, gloves, hats, snow pants
Footwear: Snow boots
Miscellaneous gear: Water bottle, Snacks if desired, camera, day pack (optional)
RENT
Waterproof boots and pants are available for rent through Wanderlust Tours.
Please reserve sizes when you make your reservation. Limited sizes available.
Photo by James Jaggard
Can’t make it for the 4-7th, 13-15th, or 19th? The meteor shower begins Dec. 4th and ends on Dec. 20th and those other nights will also have the potential for meteor sightings. Please book our Starlight Snowshoe Tour for any other days.
Astronomical Forecast & visibility
December 4-7th: Astronomical forecasts indicate fair to good visibility each night from Dec. 4-7th with a waxing crescent moon phase. The moon will be at 14% illumination on the 4th increasing to 44% illumination by the 7th. For these evenings, visibility will start as fair and increase to good after the moon sets.
December 13-15th: While the peak in terms of meteors per hour will be December 13th, the full moon will create poor visibility conditions. For these dates, while our hope is to still see some meteors, the focus will be on the incredible full moon that will illuminate the powder-filled forest around us.
December 19th: Astronomical forecasts indicate fair to good visibility for the 19th. For this evening, visibility will start as good and move to fair once the moon rises. The moon will be in a waning gibbous phase at about 80% illumination.
This tour will run regardless of cloudy/ snowy weather conditions
