1987 Map of Crooked Creek

About this map

Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest and the high-elevation terrain of Inyo National Forest dominate this mid-1980s provisional study of the White Mountains. The landscape is defined by its verticality and deep drainages, notably Royal Gorge and the winding course of Crooked Creek. Evidence of historic resource extraction is scattered throughout the slopes, including the Wilkerson Mine and numerous unnamed prospects that follow the geology of Roberts Ridge. Sparse human habitation is centered at the Roberts Ranch, while the surrounding peaks like Iron Mountain and Sentinal Peak remain accessible primarily via a network of 4wd tracks. This map documents a remote transition zone where biological conservation meets the legacy of mountain prospecting.