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Field CollectingDarrington WA. Garnets locality anyone?

1st Sep 2009 18:27 UTCMichaelV

I wanna find some garnets in matrix anyone with info on the WA. Darrington area?

Thanks Michael.

13th Oct 2009 00:07 UTCWes Gannaway

Michael, try going up the Sloan Creek road off the Mtn Loop highway. There is a nice garnet producing outcrop to the left along the road just before you cross the upper bridge, the concrete one. There used to be a mining claim on this outcrop but I would guess that it has been abandoned many years ago. There used to be a short road up the slope to the outcrop but I don't know if there is or if it has been overgrown with alders, etc.

Is this the outcrop you are referring to? I also collected garnets at the Bonanza Queen Mine in the late 1970s but they weren't of any quality and most were imbedded in the arsenopyrite ore.

15th Oct 2009 23:12 UTCMatt Neuzil Expert

embedded in arsenopyrite ore? I wonder what the chemistry of those garnets would be.

3rd Nov 2009 19:58 UTCSheldon White

>Michael, try going up the Sloan Creek road off the Mtn Loop highway. There is a nice garnet >producing outcrop to the left along the road just before you cross the upper bridge, the >concrete one.

Wes, approximately how far up Sloan Creek Road is this bridge?

3rd Nov 2009 22:58 UTCSal Noeldner

Then there's the garnets in green rock matrix at the Shamrock Mine near Troublesome Creek- you've got to come over Jack's Pass and ride in on a mtn. bike, though.

3rd Nov 2009 23:28 UTCEzekiel Hughes

There is also Vesper Peak...if you don't mind the hike. Too late this year though I'd imagine. I went for it a couple of months ago, but only had time to figure out where the skarns were before I had to turn back.

4th Nov 2009 07:44 UTCEzekiel Hughes

What do other folk know of that locality....I only made it to the site on the saddle of the opposit peak, but could see a mirror site on vesper accross the saddle. I did find small garnets there, but just plebs, nothing pretty...and higher up reddish orange ribbon chert.

4th Nov 2009 19:09 UTCSal Noeldner

Ezekiel,

I would try and get ahold of one of the claim owners of the area, they would doubtlessly give you some more information. BUT since much of that area is geologically active, not to mention hearing stories of long ago, offer credence to other localities. Prepare yourself though for extremely rough terrain and different classifications of land.

Best of luck,

Sal

4th Nov 2009 23:16 UTCEzekiel Hughes

I just looked up the claim area...I thought it wasn't active. the Sperry side is open for collecting though....but you have to really want it:-) it should also be possible to pan for the garnets in the creek below the lake, but it is a steep cascading creek. The Vesper skarns are all claimed. personally I don't plan on tackling this locality agian. the hike is harsh, and you need several days to get a proper hunt in, which means you have to pack in a lot. Then, if you are going to attack the skarns you need hard rock equipment (and permission for Vesper)....just too much for casual rock hounding....go to Sloan. My interest is just in the geology now, and skarn formation.

20th Dec 2009 06:25 UTCEd Molsee

I had a star garnet claim up on sloan creek back in the 70's and know of other locations around Darrington its my back yard,also have found same on the Skykomish river drainage if interested contact me at Edmolsee@comcast.net

15th Oct 2010 03:52 UTCJim Benthuysen

I hike up to the Vesper trail to the lake - where are these skarna exactly? Also, how does one get out on the Saddle between Vesper and big 4?

It's exhausting trying to find this place so any directions are welcome!

Thanks!

Jim

19th Oct 2010 10:53 UTCJohn Lindell Expert

Jim, I own the Vesper Claim with Bart Cannon. We usually allow collecting with hand tools on day trips with prior permission, but contact us first. The lake is about 1/2 of the way to the claims, but you have to go over the top of Vesper Peak and down the ridge to the NW on the other side. It can be a real climb, depending upon conditions. A very long day trip.

John

8th Nov 2010 05:44 UTCJiim Benthuysen

John

Wow thanks so much for your reply! I hiked the ridge above the lake basin shooting photos this last year. Looking over the sides to the west the drop is essentially vertical. So it seems like getting to that area exceeds my abilities - essentially technical climbing skills. Is this the case? If it's just long day that could be fun and I would be interested in pursing a visit to the area,

Thank You

Jim

30th Jun 2013 02:47 UTCTarom

Hey John. I wanted to take the hike up there and stay a night and look for garnets. Looking to get permission for a one night stay. Is the trail clear? Thanks, Tarom.

18th Sep 2013 15:51 UTCSteve M.

Hello all,

I located a large outcropping of garnets about 23 miles outside of Darrington Washington. A short hike would take you right up to the face of the outcropping. Really beautiful garnets in a deep purple with the ability to show stars. I have many quite large ones from the area. Let me know if you would like more information.

20th Sep 2013 03:43 UTCJeffrey Taylor

Hi Steve,

Yes I would like to know how to get to your garnet location. It would be great if you could post some photos of your find.

thanks

Jeff

23rd Oct 2013 19:35 UTCroxanne

Would you be willing to take me to see these before the weather gets too bad. I am in pretty fit shape so should be able to keep up with you. Roxanne

7th Jul 2014 16:41 UTCDominique T

Hello, I am very interested in checking out your claim area, I am very new to the hobby and am looking for a place for gems. You mention day trips, Do you guys plan on going up there this year again at all? I would be highly interested in joining. Thanks

7th Jul 2014 16:45 UTCDominique T

Hello again, I too am very interested in garnet locations. I am new and would highly appreciate any guides/map or direction to a collection spot. Thank you much

15th Jul 2014 21:37 UTCNoonie

I'm also interested in garnet hunting - Darrington is fairlly close to wehre we live, and my son would LOVE to find garnets! WE are new to rock hounding. We've gone on trips with Bob Jackson with Geology adventures and found amber, quartz, jet, and fools gold, and those were amazing, but we've no idea how to start looking on our own. If anyone is willing to help us locate places to look, we'd love to try!

Elena

esaldan@hotmail.com

19th Aug 2014 04:41 UTCMtMike

John Lindell Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Jim, I own the Vesper Claim with Bart Cannon. We

> usually allow collecting with hand tools on day

> trips with prior permission, but contact us first.

> The lake is about 1/2 of the way to the claims,

> but you have to go over the top of Vesper Peak and

> down the ridge to the NW on the other side. It

> can be a real climb, depending upon conditions. A

> very long day trip.

> John

Hi john my name is mike I am new to crystal hunting and an enthusiast for garnets! I was wondering if I could get permission and info to come and check out your claim, any info would be appreciated much thanks! Mike Eastsidemoto129@gmail.com

Also Steve i'd love to check out your claim too if you'd be down, please hit me up and let me know, thanks

24th Feb 2015 16:58 UTCKyle rex

Hey steve, saw your post about the garnets in darrington and would love to check out your specimens and go to the locality if possible, get back to me and thanks for reading this, kyle

23rd Jun 2015 19:22 UTCTashi

Hey there!

I'm in darrington for a few days rock hounding, if you have any suggestions on where to go scout out any tid bits are greatly appreciated!

Thanks and cheers,

Tashi

13th Jul 2015 04:49 UTCSteve M.

Hi Steve.

Would you be able to tell me the location?

Thanks, Dave M.

31st Aug 2015 00:07 UTCSandy

Hi Steve,

We're local rockhounds and would love more information on getting to this location. You can write us at emily.wittenhagen@gmail.com. Thank you!

Sandy & Bill

1st Dec 2015 05:51 UTCTravis White

Hi Steve,

I would certainly like to ad your garnet spot to my list of places to visit when the snow melts! If you don't mind sharing, e-mail me. Thanks and happy holidays!

danielwhite05@hotmail.com

20th Mar 2016 22:43 UTCMissy

Hi Steve,

I am very interested in more info on this location, I was out in that area yesterday and would like to go back in the next week or two , I just don't know where to look as I'm very new to rockhounding. I look forward to hearing from you.

24th Mar 2016 17:11 UTCDan Iller

Hi Good Morning,

I will be near Sloan Creek this weekend 3/26/2016.

Would be kind enough to provide directions to the Garnet outcropping?

I would like to find the garnets.

My dad had taken me to a place up Sloan Creek in the mid 60's when I was just a young kid.

I would like to show my two boys where this is.....

Thanks kindly,

Dan Iller

650-296-7351

dan.iller@yahoo.com

27th Mar 2016 20:41 UTCDay hike

Good after noon I was wondering if you still owned the claim for garnets? My fiancee and I are looking to do a day hike and search for garnets

9th Nov 2016 21:13 UTCShelly

Hey Steve, I would love more info on the 23 miles out of Darrington that you found Garnets. I realize all this info on this feed was 10 yrs ago, but im hopong the people are still active, and garnets haven't all been found!

Thanks in advance to you for the time

12th Nov 2016 01:14 UTCThea Stender

Hello Steve! I would love more information about this garnet locality! I have a few other localities for garnets but I always have room for more to discover! Thank you.

14th Nov 2016 23:25 UTCIan Nicastro

I have some friends who collect in other areas around the North Cascades and spoke about Vesper peak before, and I will pass on what I have heard as it seems many folks here are totally unfamiliar with this locality:

The Vesper Claim is an active mining claim on National Forest land high up on a steep mountain peak, it's not a place for beginner hikers or rockhounds from what I have heard. Some but not all of the routes up have technical sections requiring ropes. The hike is over 10 miles round trip and involves over 4k ft in elevation gain. Specimens from this spot command high prices, because they are good quality and the crystals often form a modified crystal shape that is untypical for Garnets. This is not a place that the claim owners want people trying to just show up to, as they own the mineral rights to this deposit and earn income from what they collect. Also according to the BLM database the claim is held by Bart Cannon and John Lindell, and I have been told by locals that Bart is generally not receptive to letting folks he doesn't know collect on his claims.

5th Jan 2017 05:45 UTCRanger

Hello Steve, I was poking around and saw your post about the garnet in Darrington. I would love to see your specimens and collect some of my own if you wouldn't mind. I grew up in the Concrete/Lyman area and love to collect minerals from my home. You can write me at kungfujoeld@gmail.com

Thanks for posting

20th Aug 2018 05:29 UTCSheldon White

I'm replying to this ancient thread because it shows up when searching for "garnets washington state" on google.

I finally got around to visiting this location. I found the bridge easily enough, up on Sloan Creek. The second bridge, made of concrete, is close to the Sloan Creek Campground, and there isn't another bridge all the way up to the road end. However, the road is in basically level forest when it crosses this bridge and there are no outcrops here (and no slope unless it's a long distance from the road). I scoured the streambed under the bridge, and there was nothing remotely garnetiferous that I could see...

So I don't know what Wes Gannaway found or had in mind, but I found nothing up Sloan Creek.

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