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1956 Map of Wiseman

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Wiseman
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1971
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1971

About this map

The Endicott Mountains define this interior Alaskan landscape, where the headwaters of several major river systems converge. In the eastern portion of the sheet, the settlement of Wiseman and the site of Coldfoot (Aband) sit along the Middle Fork Koyukuk River, connected by the Hickal Highway. This corridor represents a critical transport artery in the Brooks Range, supplemented by the Winter Trail leading south toward Ninemile Cabin.

Deep valleys carved by the John River, Tinayguk River, and Wild River cut through massive terrain features like Boreal Mountain and Frigid Crags, which mark the southern reaches of Gates of the Arctic. Evidence of early 20th-century industry is found at a Placer Mine near the river forks, while numerous remote landing areas and high passes like Chimney Pass indicate the reliance on aerial and foot travel for navigating these high-latitude watersheds.