1956 Map of Tower Peak

About this map

Stanislaus National Forest, Toiyabe National Forest, and Yosemite National Park converge in this high-altitude landscape dominated by the peaks of the Sierra Nevada. The map captures a transition in alpine resource use during the mid-1950s, where mining history at the Montezuma Mine sits alongside early conservation and recreation infrastructure. High-altitude meadows like Emigrant Meadow and Lunch Meadow provide historical context for the movement of people through the granite passes, while Piute Cabin suggests a quiet human footprint in the backcountry. A network of glacial lakes, including Middle Emigrant Lake, Dorothy Lake, and Mary Lake, defines the hydrology of the High Sierra before modern water management further altered the downstream valleys. This survey documents the crest of the range from Relief Peak to the massive Tower Peak, illustrating the complex terrain of the Mono and Tuolumne County line.