1943 Map of Big Pine Mountain

About this map

Pelch Cabin sits within the complex drainage of the San Rafael Mountains, a landscape defined by sharp elevation shifts and remote outposts. This 1943 survey by the Corps of Engineers highlights the logistical network of the Los Padres National Forest during the war years, marking essential fire and management infrastructure like the West Big Pine Lookout and the Alamar Guard Sta. The map captures a critical period for wildlife conservation with the designation of the Condor Sanctuary near Sisquoc Falls, where the high ridges of Samon Peak and Big Pine Mtn tower over the Sisquoc River canyon. Historically significant landmarks such as Mission Pine Basin and Bluff Camp provide specific locations for researchers studying early 20th-century forest service history and backcountry habitation in Santa Barbara County.