This is a picture taken of Steens Mountain in Southeastern Oregon. Access to the Steens Mountain Loop Road is from the hamlet of Frenchglen, Oregon. The Steens are fault block mountains that have been heavilly glaciated. The western side of the mountain is a gentle slope rising to a height of over 9000 feet. The eastern escarpment is a sheer drop to the Alvord Desert over 5000 feet below. Because of the gentle slope you can drive to the top on a well maintained gravel road. The road is closed in the winter due to snow and generally opens in mid June. The picture shows one of the several glaciated gorges running to the west. This particular one is called Keiger Gorge and is home to the Keiger Mustang, a specific breed of wild horse thought to be direct descendants of the Spanish horses introduced to the Americas in the 16th century.
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