1970 Map of Climax

About this map

Industrial activity dominates the high mountain passes of the Continental Divide on this 1970 survey, centered on the massive mining complex at Climax. The landscape is a network of subterranean engineering and surface extraction, from the Phillipson Portal and Storke Portal at the north to the Glory Hole near Fremont Pass. This era represents a peak of operations for one of the world's primary molybdenum sources, reflected in the extensive infrastructure of tailings, pipelines, and the Colorado and Southern rail line. To the south and east, the map reveals the legacy of earlier silver and gold rushes. Steep gulches like Platte Gulch and Buckskin Creek are dotted with dozens of claims, including the North London Mine, South London Mine, and American Mine. These high-altitude sites, often situated above 12,000 feet near Mosquito Pass, showcase the extreme conditions miners faced while following veins through the Pike and San Isabel National Forests.