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Ochoco Mountains
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Ochoco Mountains
The Ochoco Mountains are a mountain range in central Oregon in the United States, located at the western end of the Blue Mountains. They were formed when Permian, Triassic, and Jurassic rocks were slowly uplifted by volcanic eruptions to form the Clarno Formation. Today, the highest point in the range is Lookout Mountain. The dominant vegetation on the west side of the range is old-growth ponderosa pine; on the east side, western juniper is common. The western area of the mountains is administered by the Ochoco National Forest, while the southeastern section is part of the Malheur National Forest. The Ochoco Mountains draw visitors for hiking, camping, bird watching, rockhounding, and hunting, as well as cross-country skiing in the winter.
The Ochoco Mountains run 114 miles (183 km) north to south and 86 miles (138 km) east to west. The eight highest peaks in the range are:
The Ochoco Mountains in central Oregon form the western end of the Blue Mountains. The Blue Mountains are not a single cohesive range, but rather a complex of ranges and inter-mountain basins and valleys that extend from southeast Washington into central Oregon, ending near Prineville. The Ochoco portion of the province is part of a wide uplifted plateau made of rocks from the Permian, Triassic, and Jurassic periods (300 to 200 million years old) that were transported by the Pacific Plate and accreted in the late Mesozoic era (about 100 million years ago) as part of a vast shallow sea, then slowly uplifted by volcanic eruptions during the Eocene epoch (50 to 37 million years ago) to form the Clarno Formation. From 37 to 17 million years ago, eruptions in the western Cascade Range spread ash across eastern Oregon, forming the John Day Formation. From 17 to 14 million years ago, major volcanic eruptions covered much of the province with basalt flows, creating the Columbia River Basalt Group. Since then, continued faulting and uplift has resulted in a deeply eroded landscape. Steins Pillar, known colloquially as The Big One, is an excellent example of this erosion.
During the Eocene epoch, central Oregon volcanoes deposited layers of lava and ash up to 1,000 feet (300 m) thick over the area that is now the Ochoco Mountains. Large mudflows called lahars were also common during that period. These mudflows often covered and preserved the plants and animals, resulting in fossil beds. Today, fossils of prehistoric trees, fruits, nuts, and flowers can be found in the Ochoco Mountains along with fossilized animals including horses, camels, rhinoceros, and hippopotami.
The vegetation in the Ochoco Mountains ranges from old-growth ponderosa pine on the western slopes and in the mountain valleys to western juniper and sagebrush on the eastern and southern slopes. The high mountain meadows host a wide variety of wild flowers and even ferns in some areas. Big Summit Prairie near the center of the Ochocos is well known for its spring wild flower displays.
Ponderosa pine is the dominant tree species in most parts of the Ochoco Mountains. These pines are common at elevations from 3,000 to 6,000 feet (910 to 1,830 m) above sea level. Manzanita, antelope bitterbrush, and ceanothus are common shrubs in the pine-dominated areas with Idaho fescue and Ross' sedge as the main ground cover. Ponderosa pine forests are tolerant of drought and low-intensity wildfires. Birds commonly found in the pine forests of the Ochoco Mountains include the northern flicker, hairy woodpecker, red-tailed hawk, and Steller's jay. Central Oregon's ponderosa pine forests are an important winter range for mule deer and Rocky Mountain elk.
On the drier, eastern side of the Ochoco Mountains, the western juniper trees survive on as little as 8 inches (200 mm) of precipitation per year. The range's juniper woodlands cover wide areas from 3,000 to 4,000 feet (910 to 1,220 m) in elevation. Antelope bitterbrush and sagebrush are common shrubs in these areas with Idaho fescue and bluebunch wheatgrass as the main ground cover. Juniper woodlands are home to mountain bluebirds, Townsend's solitaires, and ferruginous hawks during the spring and summer. There are also many small mammals and lizards that are prey for coyote.
Big Summit Prairie is a large high-country meadow covering 20 square miles (52 km2) in the middle of the Ochoco Mountains. The prairie is covered by water-loving grasses, overgrown by willows and shrubs in some areas. Tufted hairgrass, elephant's head, and horsetail are common ground cover in the meadowlands. Quaking aspen with shrubby undergrowth attract wildlife not found in other parts of the Ochoco Mountains. Common birds include sandhill crane, Wilson's snipe, long-billed curlew, and northern harrier. Even the rare dickcissel has been sighted at Big Summit Prairie. Larger animals include mule deer, pronghorn, Belding's ground squirrel, northern pocket gopher, meadow mice, and coyotes. Also, Rocky Mountain elk move into the area in the fall.
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Ochoco Mountains
The Ochoco Mountains are a mountain range in central Oregon in the United States, located at the western end of the Blue Mountains. They were formed when Permian, Triassic, and Jurassic rocks were slowly uplifted by volcanic eruptions to form the Clarno Formation. Today, the highest point in the range is Lookout Mountain. The dominant vegetation on the west side of the range is old-growth ponderosa pine; on the east side, western juniper is common. The western area of the mountains is administered by the Ochoco National Forest, while the southeastern section is part of the Malheur National Forest. The Ochoco Mountains draw visitors for hiking, camping, bird watching, rockhounding, and hunting, as well as cross-country skiing in the winter.
The Ochoco Mountains run 114 miles (183 km) north to south and 86 miles (138 km) east to west. The eight highest peaks in the range are:
The Ochoco Mountains in central Oregon form the western end of the Blue Mountains. The Blue Mountains are not a single cohesive range, but rather a complex of ranges and inter-mountain basins and valleys that extend from southeast Washington into central Oregon, ending near Prineville. The Ochoco portion of the province is part of a wide uplifted plateau made of rocks from the Permian, Triassic, and Jurassic periods (300 to 200 million years old) that were transported by the Pacific Plate and accreted in the late Mesozoic era (about 100 million years ago) as part of a vast shallow sea, then slowly uplifted by volcanic eruptions during the Eocene epoch (50 to 37 million years ago) to form the Clarno Formation. From 37 to 17 million years ago, eruptions in the western Cascade Range spread ash across eastern Oregon, forming the John Day Formation. From 17 to 14 million years ago, major volcanic eruptions covered much of the province with basalt flows, creating the Columbia River Basalt Group. Since then, continued faulting and uplift has resulted in a deeply eroded landscape. Steins Pillar, known colloquially as The Big One, is an excellent example of this erosion.
During the Eocene epoch, central Oregon volcanoes deposited layers of lava and ash up to 1,000 feet (300 m) thick over the area that is now the Ochoco Mountains. Large mudflows called lahars were also common during that period. These mudflows often covered and preserved the plants and animals, resulting in fossil beds. Today, fossils of prehistoric trees, fruits, nuts, and flowers can be found in the Ochoco Mountains along with fossilized animals including horses, camels, rhinoceros, and hippopotami.
The vegetation in the Ochoco Mountains ranges from old-growth ponderosa pine on the western slopes and in the mountain valleys to western juniper and sagebrush on the eastern and southern slopes. The high mountain meadows host a wide variety of wild flowers and even ferns in some areas. Big Summit Prairie near the center of the Ochocos is well known for its spring wild flower displays.
Ponderosa pine is the dominant tree species in most parts of the Ochoco Mountains. These pines are common at elevations from 3,000 to 6,000 feet (910 to 1,830 m) above sea level. Manzanita, antelope bitterbrush, and ceanothus are common shrubs in the pine-dominated areas with Idaho fescue and Ross' sedge as the main ground cover. Ponderosa pine forests are tolerant of drought and low-intensity wildfires. Birds commonly found in the pine forests of the Ochoco Mountains include the northern flicker, hairy woodpecker, red-tailed hawk, and Steller's jay. Central Oregon's ponderosa pine forests are an important winter range for mule deer and Rocky Mountain elk.
On the drier, eastern side of the Ochoco Mountains, the western juniper trees survive on as little as 8 inches (200 mm) of precipitation per year. The range's juniper woodlands cover wide areas from 3,000 to 4,000 feet (910 to 1,220 m) in elevation. Antelope bitterbrush and sagebrush are common shrubs in these areas with Idaho fescue and bluebunch wheatgrass as the main ground cover. Juniper woodlands are home to mountain bluebirds, Townsend's solitaires, and ferruginous hawks during the spring and summer. There are also many small mammals and lizards that are prey for coyote.
Big Summit Prairie is a large high-country meadow covering 20 square miles (52 km2) in the middle of the Ochoco Mountains. The prairie is covered by water-loving grasses, overgrown by willows and shrubs in some areas. Tufted hairgrass, elephant's head, and horsetail are common ground cover in the meadowlands. Quaking aspen with shrubby undergrowth attract wildlife not found in other parts of the Ochoco Mountains. Common birds include sandhill crane, Wilson's snipe, long-billed curlew, and northern harrier. Even the rare dickcissel has been sighted at Big Summit Prairie. Larger animals include mule deer, pronghorn, Belding's ground squirrel, northern pocket gopher, meadow mice, and coyotes. Also, Rocky Mountain elk move into the area in the fall.
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