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1961 Map of Difficulty

Name: 1961 Topographic Map of Difficulty
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1985
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1985

About this map

The Medicine Bow River winds through the southern portion of this high-altitude landscape, a stark contrasts to the elevated reaches of the Shirley Mountains and the Freezeout Mountains that frame the quadrangle. Life in this corner of Carbon County is defined by the drainages of Difficulty Creek and its many draws, such as Hay Draw and Watkins Draw, which carve through the Little Basin.

Isolated homesteads and ranching outposts provide evidence of the rural settlement patterns of the early 1960s. Named locations like the Schmale Ranch, Beer Mug Ranch, and the curiously named Paradise are central to the local history of the region. Distinctive landmarks including Beer Mug Mountain and the deep incision of Difficulty Canyon dominate the topography, while a remote Landing Strip near the river suggests the logistical challenges of managing such a high, arid territory.