The Steptoe Butte

Eastern Washington is known for many things but it's lush green fields are not usually one of them. Thanks to a rather miserable spring, Eastern Washington is looking more evergreen than Western Washington. A truly amazing sight to see and something that doesn't come around too often, normally by June, the eastern part of the state is well on it's way to the normal yellow and brown hues of summer.

Recently, while touring the eastern part of our fair state, I was able to drive to the top of the Steptoe Butte, in Whitman County and observe all the green in person. What a view and what a place, the Steptoe Butte is located 10 miles east of the town of Steptoe between U.S. 195 and the Idaho border.

The butte, the town and the nearby battlefield are all named for one Col. Edward Steptoe, a Virginian who was a West Point man and veteran of the Indian and Mexican-American Wars. His greatest claim to fame is that he and his 154 men were routed by 1,100 Indians from the Couer-D'Alenes, Spokanes, Yakamas and other tribes at Pine Creek, the so-called "Steptoe Disaster." Although by disaster terms, it really wasn't too bad. Steptoe lost 7 men and 6 more were wounded. Even though, Steptoe and his men only had about three rounds of ammunition each, using the cover of darkness and a driving rain, they managed to retreat and escape back to Fort Walla Walla. However they had to leave behind their cannon.

Anyway back to the Butte, it is a 400 million year old quartzite rock that sits surrounded by 7 to 15 million year old basalts. It is 3620 feet above sea level and about 1,000 feet about the surrounds hills, so the view is awesome. Once upon a time a man named Cashup built a hotel on the top of the Butte, but it closed and burned down. Now even though it's a state park, the view must be shared with microwave transmitters. Here are a few shots from atop the Steptoe, sans microwave transmitters. The third photo features, the town of Steptoe.

Enjoy

Dan