1982 Map of Blackcap Mountain

About this map

The Le Conte Divide defines the high-altitude boundary of this Sierra Nevada landscape, separating the headwaters of the San Joaquin and Kings Rivers. Mapping based on 1970s aerial photography shows a wilderness largely shaped by glacial activity, evidenced by the numerous alpine tarns and hanging valleys. Notable water bodies include the creatively named Devils Punchbowl, Schoolmarm Lake, Six Shooter Lake, and Wah Hoo Lake, all clustered within the Bench Valley and Blackcap Basin. Human footprints in this high-country environment are sparse, limited to the Meadow Brook Cabin and a Gaging Station located along Meadow Brook. Important transit points for early backcountry travelers are clearly marked, such as Crown Pass, Scepter Pass, and Chuck Pass, which provided essential routes through the granite ridges of the John Muir Wilderness and Kings Canyon National Park.