1951 Map of Mount Hayes B-6

About this map

Glacial ice and high-altitude drainage systems dominate this mid-century survey of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. The landscape is defined by the massive Maclaren Glacier and the headwaters of the East Fork Susitna River, where numerous crevasses mark the slow movement of ice across the high mountains. Human activity is concentrated along the riverbanks, where sparse infrastructure like landing strips and scattered cabins provided essential outposts in this unforgiving environment. Evidence of early resource exploration is found at a lone mine near the Clearwater Fork. The map documents a network of primitive trails following the natural breaks of Cathedral Creek and Cottonwood Creek, reflecting a period when access to this interior region of Alaska relied almost entirely on light aircraft and seasonal ground routes.