|
 Frenchglen
is located in southeast Oregon, Harney County, near
Steens Mountain. It is about 60 miles near Burns.
Frenchglen was named after Pete French and Dr. Hugh
Glenn who was Pete French's father-in-law. The "P" Ranch
was established in 1872 as the headquarters for
French-Glenn Livestock Co. Pete French owned 150,000
acres at the base of the Steens Mountain, in what is now
known as the Frenchglen Valley. He was unarmed when
allegedly shot and killed by Ed Oliver on December 26,
1897 over a fencing dispute.
Points of interest
Frenchglen Hotel, Steens Mountain Loop Drive, Wild
Horses, and the Malheur Wildlife Refuge. Steens Mountain
Packers, a guide service located near Frenchglen, offer
pack trips, trail rides, helicopter tours, and much
more. Steens Mountain Rim Run is an annual event that
takes place the first Saturday of August.
 Crops
and soil
Crops grown in the Frenchglen area consist of meadow hay
and in the Catlow Valley alfalfa is grown. The ground is
good for gardening due to the run off, and the sandy,
rich and fertile soil. The growing season is from mid-
May to mid-September, with an occasional unexpected
freeze in mid-July. Soil is great for gardens (if you
can keep the wildlife from eating it!).
Frenchglen is a very small town. It consists of
the historic Frenchglen Hotel, offering meals and lively
conversation, Frenchglen Mercantile for ice, gas,
snacks, local information and collectables and another
ten buildings that make up the rest of the town.
Climate
The climate in the winter is mild, seldom below zero.
The summers are mild, not too hot with temperatures
ranging between the high 70's and 80's. The storms seem
to just pass over Frenchglen and the weather is warmer
than much of Harney County. Frenchglen only gets about
10 inches of rain a year.
Harney County is an area of over 10,000 square
miles. It is the largest county in Oregon and the ninth
largest in the US.
Picture on right is a view of the general area.
Nearby, the Malheur Wildlife Refuge is an
internationally famous bird watching destination and
Malheur Lake forms one of the largest freshwater marshes
in the country. Over 50,000 birders, from all over the
world visit each year.
Other places in the Frenchglen area are: Diamond
Valley, the Peter French round barn, the Steens Mountain
loop road, the Alvord Desert and Crane Hot Springs. This
is the kind of place where you may be lucky enough to
see the wild Kigar mustangs, giant mule deer bucks,
rattlesnakes, any number of the 340 species of birds,
AND some nice rainbow, cutthroat and brook trout. There
is fishing in Mann Lake, Krumbo Res., the Blitzen River,
as well as other small streams and lakes. The fishing
can be very good if there has been enough rain or snow
in the high country. Fishing Conditions can vary due to
rain. |
