1966 Map of Gash Point

About this map

Gash Point serves as a prominent landmark within the high-elevation divide of the Bitterroot National Forest along the Montana and Idaho border. This mid-1960s survey documents a landscape defined by its alpine basins and remote drainage systems, where the massive Selway Bitterroot Wilderness encompasses the western half of the quadrangle. The mapping reveals a network of high-country water bodies, including Big Creek Lakes in the north and the secluded Hidden Lake and Bear Lake tucked beneath the peaks. Movement through this terrain is restricted to the established Pack Trail system, which follows the contours of the North Fork Bear Creek and Sweathouse Creek. The absence of roads underscores the area's protected status, providing a clear record of the backcountry before modern management shifted, while identifying summits like Sky Pilot that have long anchored the local geography.