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1951 Map of Waucoba Wash

Name: 1951 Topographic Map of Waucoba Wash
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1966
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1966

About this map

The Inyo Mountains dominate the western portion of this 1951 survey, giving way to the stark expanse of the Saline Valley (Depression). This landscape is defined by its extreme isolation and a mid-century mining economy focused on specialized minerals. Industrial activity is concentrated in the canyons, where names like the Waucoba Tungsten Mine, White Eagle Talc Mine, and Grey Eagle Talc Mine indicate the diverse geological resources being extracted. Near Willow Creek, the presence of Willow Creek Camp suggests a vital base for operations in this arid environment.

Water sources are carefully documented, distinguishing between the thermal Palm Spring (Hot) and the hazardous Badwater Springs (Undrinkable). The terrain transitions from high peaks like Mt Inyo down to the shifting topography of The Dunes on the valley floor. Transportation is limited to rugged tracks and the Pat Keyes Trail, reflecting a period when access to these remote Inyo County claims remained difficult and dependent on established springs like Pat Keyes Spring.