1965 Map of Engesser Pass

About this map

Engesser Mine and the Silver Prince Mine anchor this mid-1960s study of the arid interior mountains between the Kofa Mountains and the Tank Mountains. The landscape is defined by the intersection of mineral extraction and military geography, with the Kofa Game Range sharing its southern border with the Yuma Proving Ground. Transportation through this desert terrain relied on a network of unpaved routes, including the Wellton Kofa Road and Mohawk Road, which converge at Engesser Junction. Critical water sources like Middle Well, Charlie Died Tank, and Frenchman Tank illustrate the precarious nature of travel and resource extraction in the shadow of peaks such as Courthouse Mtn and Black Dome. The map captures a moment when the rugged Neversweat Ridge served as both a prospecting landmark and a boundary for restricted government lands.