1971 Map of Philip Smith Mountains B-4

About this map

The Sagavanirktok River and Atigun River flow through this northern Alaskan landscape, documented just prior to the region's major industrial developments. The map reveals a transition between the high peaks and the braided river valleys, where seasonal routes like the Winter Trail provided the only overland access. Near the northwestern corner, Galbraith Lake sits as a significant landmark in a territory characterized by complex hydrology, including a natural Spring and a prominent Gorge along the river's upper reaches. This survey represents a period when the Bureau of Land Management predetermined land lines on paper for unsurveyed and unmarked locations, illustrating the administrative effort to organize the North Slope before extensive field checking was possible.