1954 Map of Gulkana D-1

About this map

Mankomen Lake sits in the northwest corner of this interior landscape, marking a rare point of stillness in a region dominated by glacial drainage and river forks. In the mid-1950s, human presence was defined by utility and transit, visible in the Tractor Trail that weaves along Ahtell Creek and the small Cabin structures located near the southern Mine. The drainage network is complex, with the Chistochina River branching into its East Fork and West Fork, while the Slana River cuts across the northeastern reaches. A remote Landing Strip near the lake highlights the era's reliance on bush aviation for reaching these high-elevation valleys. Prominent topographic features like The Dome rise above the confluence of Grubstake Creek and Quartz Creek, where early mineral exploration is evidenced by the presence of a mapped mine.