VESPER PEAK, WASHINGTON field trip

Item Description

This item is part of a special benefit auction for the Rice Museum of Rocks & Minerals (ricenorthwestmuseum.org). Items are either deaccessions from the museum's collection or were donated by generous supporters listed below.

Auction open April 1, 2021 through April 17, 2021.

Billing for this auction will occur on Monday, April 19, for payment using PayPal or credit card. Shipping will be billed at cost, or please contact brandy@mineralauctions.com if you'd like to plan on picking up items at future shows or during a stop through Dallas.

Donated by the claim owner: I am offering access for a trip to collect and keep what you find in a day at the world-famous Vesper Peak claim atop the Cascade Mountains. People can expect to find gemmy hessonite garnets and other skarn minerals. A self-scheduled helicopter ride up is suggested, and for which i can provide info on the companies that offer that service and meet you at the site (since you pay the helicopter and travel yourself, we can take as many fit in the copter, 3-4 people if you bring friends). This is surely the most scenic mine in America there are spectacular views of the Cascades and a beautiful nearby pristine lake. It is at 6200 ft elevation in the beautiful Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Donated by James Zigras, mine owner (note the donation and the auction is for the exclusive access to be the first to go up under new ownership, but the visitors pay associated travel costs). This is the first time it has been accessible in many years, and it has produced nice garnet over the initial restoration of old workings here. You WILL find something and have a special and unique experience atop the Cascades! Spectacular views such as the image shown here (Wikipedia) and others here (Wiki image search: Vesper Peak) await, while we collect garnet! For an unbiased point of view, see this excellent travel blog by collector Ian Merkel from a past trip: http://www.ianmerkeljewelry.com/blog/2015/10/25/cascade-mountains-washington-garnets-and-amethyst-1. Donated by James Zigras, mine owner, for the benefit of the Rice Museum.