1966 Map of Homer Youngs Peak

About this map

The Continental Divide serves as the primary topographical axis for this mid-1960s survey, marking the border between Montana and Idaho along the crest of the Beaverhead Mountains. This high-altitude landscape is defined by its glacial cirques and alpine basins, which harbor numerous water bodies such as Slag-a-melt Lakes, Rock Island Lakes, and Upper Miner Lakes. The high-country terrain presented significant challenges for early resource extraction, evidenced by the presence of the Ajax Mine near Ajax Lake and the Ore Cash Mine situated along the high ridges. This map documents a period when access to these peaks and basins relied heavily on a network of primitive routes, including the Miner Lake Trail and various unnamed jeep trails and pack trails that weave through the Beaverhead National Forest and Salmon National Forest.