It is high country even at its base which is 4203' but the Steens themselves seem to rise right out of the high desert to 9734'. Up there winter comes early and remains late. Because it's far from big towns, it isn't heavily used by people which gives it a pristine quality. The gravel road up is a good one, but the week before we got there it had had a foot of snow with only remnants left for our visit when we enjoyed 70° days.
We stayed two nights below the Steens and enjoyed the crisp mountain air fragranced with pine and sage. It had been some time since we'd gotten there. I hope it won't be as long before our next trip into one of Oregon's hidden jewels.
Although we enjoyed our trailer at the base of the mountain in a nice campground, there is a hotel, Frenchglen Hotel, with a restaurant which offers comfort for those who want to enjoy the Steens but not camp. We would have had dinner there one night except I am non-gluten and they were offering macaroni and cheese, ham, vegetables, and pineapple upside down cake. Pretty much that let us out but another night (meals are family style) we might've had better luck.
you do find the most beautiful places, don't you!
ReplyDeletea/b
Love that country.
ReplyDeleteFriends of ours stayed in the Frenchglen Hotel and found it a delightful experience for the ambiance and comfort combined with the Old West feel of that small community. The Steens aren't open year round although the lower lakes are more of it
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of the Steens, but it sounds like a lovely place. Your pictures are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWhat BEAUTIFUL Country....! I can see why you would go back many times.
ReplyDeletethis place looks fantastic -- there is something about high country, isn't there? What lovely photos you took, they make me want to rent a camper and get on the road!
ReplyDeleteBy the by, reading your book, and your landscape descriptions are beautiful - no surprise. More later.
Thank you, Tara. I think that the landscape and terrain are part of the characters in a book. My favorite books to read always imbed their characters in a place.
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful place!
ReplyDeleteLove all pictures!