1943 Map of Mt Cowen

About this map

Absaroka National Forest defines the high-altitude landscape of this 1943 edition, which captures the headwaters and drainage basins of the Boulder River and its numerous tributaries. Surveyed by J. L. Lewis and team between 1938 and 1940, the map illustrates a complex network of glacial cirques and alpine lakes, including Pine Creek Lake, West Boulder Lake, and Crystal Lake. High peaks like Mt Cowen and Black Mtn tower over the terrain, connected by passes such as Silver Pass. The detailed topography reflects a landscape shaped by water and ice, where drainages like Froze-to-Death Creek and Great Falls Creek carve through the mountains. This era of surveying provides a clear view of the wilderness before later development or trail changes, serving as a primary source for the early 20th-century character of these peaks.