1996 Map of Avawatz Pass

About this map

Fort Irwin Military Reservation encompasses the rugged high-desert landscape of this quadrangle, where the southern boundary of Death Valley meets the Avawatz Mountains. The map serves as a detailed record of remote prospecting and water sources essential for survival in this arid environment. Dozens of sites marked simply as Prospect or Prospects are scattered across the slopes, indicating a long history of mineral exploration that predates the military's current use of the land. Critical water points like Denning Spring, Cave Spring, and Arrastre Spring appear along the mountain flanks, providing the necessary lifeblood for the early mining activities and travel through the Avawatz Pass. The terrain is defined by steep elevation changes and the transitional geology between the desert floor and these isolated peaks.