1971 Map of Philip Smith Mountains C-4

About this map

The Sagavanirktok River dominates this portion of the North Slope, carving a wide valley through the northern foothills of the Philip Smith Mountains. Surveyed just as the region became a focal point for trans-Alaska logistics, the map captures a landscape defined by braided river systems and Arctic tundra. Significant elevation changes are marked by Imnavait Mountain in the northwest and the steep walls of Atigun Gorge to the south. A lone Winter Road traces a path along the Sagavanirktok, illustrating the seasonal nature of transportation in this environment before permanent highway infrastructure was established. Smaller watercourses like Accomplishment Creek, Toolik River, and Kuparuk River drain the surrounding slopes, while Section Creek cuts through the eastern uplands, showing the complex drainage patterns of the Brooks Range foothills.