1956 Map of Philip Smith Mountains

About this map

The Brooks Range dominates this mid-century topographic survey, where the Philip Smith Mountains and Endicott Mountains converge. The landscape is defined by its massive drainage networks, characterized by the northern-flowing Sagavanirktok River and Itkillik River systems. Notable landmarks such as Itigaknit Mountain and Imnavait Mountain rise above the high-latitude tundra, marking a territory devoid of roads or permanent settlements at the time of annotation in 1956. The map reveals the intricate hydrology of the region, from the high-altitude Itkillik Lake and Galbraith Lake to the headwaters of the Middle Fork Chandalar River, which flows south toward the Yukon basin. This survey captures a pristine Arctic wilderness just prior to the era of large-scale industrial exploration, preserving the indigenous and descriptive toponymy of the northern interior.