1954 Map of Mount McKinley D-2

About this map

The Kantishna Hills dominate the southeastern portion of this mid-century survey, where the elevation rises sharply from the marshy lowlands of the north. The small settlement of Diamond sits at the edge of the wetlands, positioned near the VABM Diamond survey marker. This area represents a remote subarctic landscape where transport relied on specialized infrastructure, evidenced by the Sled Road cutting across the northwest and the Crooked Creek Airstrip tucked into the higher ground to the south. The drainage network is defined by the meandering Bearpaw River and numerous tributaries such as Bear Creek, Flume Creek, and Moose Creek. These watercourses create a complex pattern of muskeg and small lakes that characterize the interior Alaskan terrain before more modern road networks were established.