1961 Map of Difficulty

About this map

The Medicine Bow River snakes through the southern reaches of this Carbon County landscape, providing a vital water source for the isolated homesteads dotting the high plains. In the early 1960s, ranching remains the primary footprint on the land, evidenced by the Schmale Ranch, Ellis Ranch, and the uniquely named Beer Mug Ranch. The terrain is defined by the convergence of the Shirley Mountains to the northwest and the Freezeout Mountains to the east, creating a corridor of draws and basins.