1959 Map of Monument Peak

About this map

Oriflamme Mountain and the high ridges of the Sawtooth Range dominate this mid-century survey of the San Diego backcountry. The landscape reveals a complex overlap of land uses, from the Laguna Indian Reservation to the recreational facilities within the Cleveland National Forest, including the Sierra Club Guymon Lodge and Al Bahr Shrine Camp. The transition from the high meadows of Laguna Meadow and Big Laguna Lake down into the arid expanse of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is clearly defined by the steep descents of Storm Canyon and Oriflamme Canyon. Cultural markers of earlier eras remain visible through the Old Overland Stage Route in the northeast and the Noble Mine to the southwest. The presence of the USAF Sta Mt Laguna near Monument Peak highlights the region's Cold War era strategic importance atop the high crests.