The Tale of Biggie
Bighorn..........................
On the quiet shores of Wildhorse
Lake, he's found, sniffing the air, resting...The air is so pure
and silent at 8,400 ft... Peace of mind is easy to find in such
a lofty place, and so it is that the Sierra Club's "Biggie
Bighorn" takes a well-earned break from his Wilderness Protection
efforts, and pauses to savor the scene at the head of Wildhorse
Creek, now one of the Steen's three Wild and Scenic Rivers. Above
him, his brothers and sisters dance in the dark crags. Below him,
the icy creek waters tumble nearly all the way down to the Alvord
Desert flats before leaving wilderness protection. His mind drifts
to the many memories, he feels fulfilled, his years of work were
not in vain.
During a Sierra Club field
trip to the Steens in July of 1999, our humble Bighorn's hide
was lovingly inscribed with the words and names
of many who worked so hard toward the preservation goals. Below
are samples from among the 41 signatures.
Biggie came from a very
large family, ten children in all, and many of his siblings carried
the message of preservation directly to Oregon's Congressional
delegation and even to the Governor himself.
Biggie and his siblings
were originally the brainchildren of Jill W. and Andrea B., and
sewn by Cheri M. They were created from a modified commercial
pattern, stuffed, and horns sewn on one memorable night in a Bend,
Oregon hotel room.
Steens Four Guys at the Hot Springs
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Page last revised 04/22/2022