1953 Map of Valdez A-5

About this map

The Richardson Highway carves through the high mountain passes of the Chugach Mountains, tracing a vital path along the Tsina River and through the Lowe River valley. This 1950s record captures the immense glacial landscape of the Valdez region before significant modern retreat, highlighting the massive Worthington Glacier and its intricate drainage patterns. The map documents remote aviation and transit infrastructure of the mid-century era, including a Landing Strip and the small station at Ptarmigan. Extensive fields of Crevasses are marked across the Deserted Glacier and Marshall Glacier, providing a detailed look at the ice conditions that once challenged travelers and surveyors. Terrain features like Girls Mtn and Heiden Canyon further define this frozen wilderness where the highway was the only link between the coast and the interior.