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1979 Map of Pacific Valley

Name: 1979 Topographic Map of Pacific Valley
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1979
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1979

About this map

The high Sierra Nevada landscape where Alpine County’s steep granite ridges meet the North Fork Mokelumne River is captured here as it appeared in the late 1970s. This survey details a transition point between several protected wilderness areas, including the Eldorado National Forest, Toiyabe National Forest, and Stanislaus National Forest. The map is particularly valuable for tracing historical footpaths and pack routes, such as the Pack Trail segments that navigate the drainage around Twin Lakes and Lower Blue Lake.

Evidence of early human presence in this high-altitude terrain is noted at the Stevenot Camp and a lone Grave in the north. The geography of the Pacific Grade Summit and Hermit Valley illustrates the challenging paths of early travelers through the Mokelumne Wilderness, where seasonal outposts like the Mosquito Campground served as vital rest points. Numerous high-elevation meadows, including Cliff Meadow and Avalanche Meadow, define the drainage patterns that feed the headwaters of the Stanislaus River.