Steens Mountain

Geology

Steens Mountain is a horst primarily composed of flood basalt deposits.

The east face of Steens Mountain is composed mainly of basalts stacked one upon another. Lava flows several hundreds of feet thick inundated the region between 17 and 14 million years ago. Chemical data from magma deposits from the area reveal three distinct stages of volcanism.

Layers of clay and volcanic dust show over forty lava flows on Steens Mountain. Most lava layers reach to 3000 ft thick or more in some areas. As the surface cracked, peaks and valleys were formed. Erosion and landfalls continue to modify the faces of the cliffs along the mountain. The sediment bedding is roughly horizontal, evidence to the absence of compressional forces. The white sediments consist primarily of stratified acidic tuffs. While rain hasn't been a main contributor to erosion, ice and snow melt are the main sources of erosion on Steens Mountain.

Ecology

Vegetation in the Steens Mountain Wilderness varies greatly according to elevation. Common plants include sagebrush, juniper, various species of bunchgrass, mountain mahogany, aspen, mountain meadow knotweed, and false hellebore. Other vegetation endemic to Steens Mountain includes Steens paintbrush (Castilleja pilosa var. steenensis), moss gentian (Gentiana fremontii), Steens Mountain penstemon (Penstemon davidsonii var. praeteritus), Steens Mountain thistle (Cirsium peckii), a dwarf blue lupine, and Cusick's buckwheat (Eriogonum cusickii).

Steens Mountain is distinctive in its absence of trees of the pine family, Pinaceae, especially ponderosa pine and Douglas fir, at elevations in which they would normally be found – from 5,500-8,000 ft above sea level. Although other mountains of the Great Basin also lack these trees, Steens Mountain is the largest mountain area without them. One possible cause of the absence of these trees is the isolation of Steens Mountain, although lack of seed dispersal by bird species such as Clark's nutcracker may also be a factor. It is also possible that prehistoric fires, including fires used by Native Americans, eradicated the Pinaceae populations. Home to a wide variety of animals, the area is primarily known for birding, hunting, and fishing. Birds here include golden eagles, owls, and the protected sage grouse. Other animals found in the area include rattlesnakes, scorpions, elk, bighorn sheep, pronghorn antelope, and cougars. The area is home to wild horses. Drawing much controversy, the Bureau of Land Management engages in wild horse roundups every few years, employing helicopters to herd the horses. Historically, Steens Mountain Wilderness was once home to grizzly bears; a skull was unearthed in nearby Malheur Lake. In the 1970s, a wolverine was trapped and released on Steens Mountain.

History

The mountain was called the "Snowy Mountains" by John Work, one of the fur traders who were the first Europeans in the area. It was renamed in 1860 for United States Army Major Enoch Steen, who fought and drove members of the Paiute tribe off the mountain. | orig-year = 1928

On October 24, 2000, President Bill Clinton approved the Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protective Act. The act was created by local landowners in cooperation with local and national government representatives in response to a proposed National Monument. This act created the Steens Mountain BLM Cooperative Management and Protection Area, a 425000 acre area. This law protects 1200000 acre from mining, and 100000 acre from cattle grazing.{{cite web | access-date = 2008-04-02 | archive-date = November 6, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211106052351/https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Politicians-dedicate-Steens-Mountain-preserve-1062750.php | url-status = live

Climate

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Recreation

The west slope of Steens Mountain is traversed by a 52 mi loop road, which is suitable for passenger vehicles. The road reaches an elevation of 9700 ft, making it the highest road in Oregon. It is possible to drive nearly to the summit of the mountain and to other viewpoints such as Kiger Gorge. Steens Mountain is also host to Steens Mountain High Altitude Running Camp.

Other recreational activities enjoyed on and around Steens Mountain are camping, picknicking, bicycling, hiking, hunting, sightseeing, soaring, and exploring. There are numerous hot springs along the base of Steens Mountain, including Alvord Hot Springs. Far from city lights, stargazing is also popular.

References

References

1. {{cite peakbagger
2. "Steens Loop Tour Route". Travel Oregon.
3. "The Steens Loop Tour Route". Scenic Byways, Oregon Department of Transportation.
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5. Conkling, C., Jackman, E. R., & Scharff, J. (1967). [https://books.google.com/books?id=xgT9cTwimWsC Steens Mountain in Oregon's high desert country]. Caxton Press. Retrieved April 25, 2022
6. (2017-04-10). "Steens Mountain". Bureau of Land Management.
7. "Steens Mountain Wilderness". Wilderness.net.
8. "Geologic Field Trip Guide to Steens Mountain Loop Road, Harney County, Oregon". United States Geological Survey.
9. {{cite summitpost
10. "Andesitic and basaltic rocks on Steens Mountain". United States Geological Survey.
11. (2003). "Genesis of flood basalts and Basin and Range volcanic rocks from Steens Mountain to the Malheur River Gorge, Oregon". Geological Society of America Bulletin.
12. (2020). "Changing Mantle Sources and the Effects of Crustal Passage on the Steens Basalt, SE Oregon: Chemical and Isotopic Constraints". Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems.
13. "The Geomorphology and Volcanic Sequence of Steens Mountain in Southeastern Oregon".
14. Sullivan, William L.. (2002). "Exploring Oregon's Wild Areas". The Mountaineers Books.
15. St. John, Alan D.. (2007). "Oregon's Dry Side: Exploring East of the Cascade Crest". Timber Press.
16. Mansfield, Donald H.. (2000). "Flora of Steens Mountain". OSU Press.
17. Mansfield, Donald. (1995). "The Unique Botany of Steens Mountain: The Rare and Endemic Plants".
18. (2020). "Steens Mountain". Portland Audubon Society.
19. (2017). "2017 Oregon Cougar Management Plan". Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
20. Darling, Dylan J.. (2015-07-11). "Steens Mountain wild horse round up still on, for now". Bend Bulletin.
21. (2020-09-16). "Bureau of Land Management to begin South Steens Herd Management Area wild horse gather".
22. Shaw, Ethan. (2015). "Oregon as Grizzly Country".
23. "Wildlife Viewing: Wolverine". Oregon Department of fish and Wildlife.
24. "Steens Mountain". Harney County Chamber of Commerce.
25. "Steens Mountain High Altitude Running Camp".
26. (1978). "Roadside Geology of Oregon". Mountain Press Publishing Company.