1956 Map of Stepladder Mts

About this map

The Stepladder Mts dominate this mid-century survey, rising sharply from the surrounding desert floor between Homer Wash and Chemehuevi Wash. This arid landscape, documented in the 1950s, reveals a sparse industrial presence defined by mining and utility infrastructure. A north-south Pipeline cuts across the northern flats, while evidence of extraction is found at the Shafts near the high point of Big Chief. These peaks provided critical vantage points for early surveyors, evidenced by several triangulation stations like Chief and Conical. A lonely Jeep Trail in the north and a Beacon suggest the area’s role in navigation and travel through the remote San Bernardino County backcountry. The map captures a moment when the rugged interior of the Ward Valley was accessed primarily by high-clearance vehicles and surveying teams.