1968 Map of Portuguese Mtn NW

About this map

Big Sand Springs Valley dominates this 1968 survey of the Great Basin, where the high desert floor meets the rising peaks of the Pancake Range. The topography, field-checked during the late 1960s and updated in the early 1980s, reveals a landscape defined by drainage patterns and remote access routes. Water is the primary shaper of the terrain here, as evidenced by the course of Sand Springs Wash and the presence of the Etcheverria Well, a critical watering point in this arid stretch of Nye County. The map provides a detailed view of the high-elevation flats and the network of unmaintained routes, including a primary Jeep Trail, that traverse the eastern slopes of the mountains, reflecting the area's use for ranching and exploration during this era.