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1962 Map of West Baldy

Name: 1962 Topographic Map of West Baldy
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1964
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1964

About this map

The Continental Divide winds through this high-altitude landscape along the border of the Gunnison National Forest and Rio Grande National Forest. This 1962 field-checked survey reveals a remote wilderness defined by water and high peaks, where numerous headwaters like Right Hand Barret Creek and Needle Creek begin their descent. A notable human element in this isolation is the Hughes Mine, accompanied by the Hughes Mine Grave, signifying the solitary and often harsh life of early prospectors in these mountains.

Lower elevations and meadows such as Lower Park provide a contrast to the heights of West Baldy and Needle Rock. Evidence of seasonal use and historic travel is found at the Cow Camp Spring and Shortys Cabin, while a network of pack trails and the Barret Creek Trail trace old routes through the gulches. The Needle Creek Reservoir stands as a focal point for water management in a region where geography dictated the patterns of movement and industry.