1952 Map of Seward B-5

About this map

The vast Sargent Ice Field dominates the southeastern portion of this glacial landscape, serving as the source for massive ice flows that carve through the Chugach National Forest. This 1952 topographic study illustrates the complex drainage systems where the Nellie Juan River and Kings River emerge from high-elevation ice masses. The map captures a moment in the mid-century when glaciers such as Langdon Glacier and Ellsworth Glacier maintained significant extent, documented here with precise contour lines and triangulation stations like VABM 20 Baker and VABM 9 Acorn. These survey markers, often placed on prominent peaks like Crown Peak, provide a detailed record of the elevations of the Kenai Peninsula before modern satellite mapping. The coastal interface at Kings Bay shows the direct connection between these alpine ice fields and the sea, revealing a wild environment defined entirely by ice and water.