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1963 Map of Thumb Tank Peak

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Thumb Tank Peak
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1965
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1965

About this map

Grandview Mesa dominates the central landscape of this Sierra County region, providing a high vantage point over a complex network of drainage basins. In the early 1960s, the area was characterized by its cattle-ranching infrastructure, with numerous family-named landmarks and water sources like Evans Ranch, Avilas Camp, and East Avilas Tank scattered throughout the rugged terrain. The nomenclature of the land reflects a storied frontier history, evident in place names like No Mans Land and the imposing Thumb Tank Peak.

Water management is the defining human element here, with an extensive system of windmills, tanks, and springs such as Lobo Tank, Indian Tank, and Lee Windmill sustaining life between the major watercourses of Salado Creek and Palomas Creek. The convergence of various canyons—including Deadman Canyon and Antelope Canyon—illustrates a landscape carved by seasonal flows, while peaks like Panther Peak and Double S Peaks serve as prominent navigational waypoints.