2023 Map of Monte Cristo

About this map

Galena sits at the confluence of Howard Creek and the North Fork Skykomish River, representing a point of human settlement within a landscape largely defined by the protected boundaries of the Snoqualmie National Forest and Wild Sky Wilderness. The topography is dominated by high-altitude features and passes that have long challenged travel through the Cascades, including the aptly named Poodle Dog Pass and Sheep Gap. This 2023 survey illustrates how water systems like the South Fork Sauk River and Silver Creek carve through the high peaks.