1985 Map of Danby

About this map

Danby sits at the junction of rail and desert drainage in this mid-1980s survey of the Mojave. The Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad cuts a straight line across the landscape, paralleled by an Underground Pipeline and protected by occasional levees against the seasonal flows of Schuyler Wash. The terrain is defined by the broad Fenner Valley, which is framed by the dramatic heights of the Old Woman Mountains and the distinct peak of Castle Dome. Local industrial activity is evidenced by several prospects located in the higher elevations, while a network of 4wd trails suggests the persistent use of the area by miners and desert travelers. This map captures the stark infrastructure of the high desert, where transport corridors are dictated by the natural paths of Watson Wash and the surrounding mountain ranges.