1965 Map of Smelser Pass

About this map

Buffalo Mountain and the high ridges of the Tobin Range dominate this high-desert landscape during the mid-1960s. The terrain is defined by the steep descent from these peaks into the Pumpernickel Valley, where local water sources like Summit Spring and the Pumpernickel Reservoir provided essential points of relief for livestock and early travelers. The presence of Tipton Ranch along the western foothills suggests the area's continued reliance on ranching and seasonal grazing, while the inclusion of a Gravel Pit and a simple Jeep Trail reflects the limited but functional infrastructure of this rural interior. Straddling the boundary of Humboldt and Pershing counties, the map records the natural drainage of Ragan Creek and Wilson Creek as they cut through the arid valley floor, illustrating the geographic challenges of the Great Basin during this era of post-war mapping.