Another Golden Tunnel Mine Update

I have a visitor who sent me a comment earlier this month about the Golden Tunnel Mine,  here is the cleaned up version.

9/21/15
“Just went up there this weekend and camped out with a couple of buddies of mine. If you’re saying there’s nothing to see there, you’re just the result of being lied to by somebody who knows how to get there and wants people to stay out.  I’ve pulled crystals out of that place that would make you sh** your pants.  Literally.  We got caught in a rain storm on the way in and the way out, and had to hike through that intensely thick fog that always lingers around the area. If you don’t know somebody that has that hike completely wired that will take you there, you will never find that mind (mine).  Let me repeat that, you will NEVER find it. There are such unique crystals there, you just have to know how to go about finding them.  Like I said, if I posted pics of the sh** me and my friends have dug out of there since we found it last summer, you’d be in shock and awe. Trying to sleep in there sucks though, the entire thing is on a huge slope."


Just for fun,  I am posting a couple of documents which were sent to me a long while back and have been available on my GhosttownsandMines.com website.

Golden Chimney Group Area Mine Map

Golden Tunnel Mine (Golden Chimney) Ore Veins Map

I am 60+ years old, and as I said previously, I would never make it to that mine, I can only rely on what I am told, and am passing on that information.  Whether this visitor is telling the truth, or just sh**ting (;-) me is up to you to decide.  The fun is in the looking and finding! 

Golden Tunnel Mine New Links

Golden Tunnel Mine Claim Map

Many thanks to Tom A. for sending me this link to a 1901 prospectus for the Durango Boy Mining Company who owned the Golden Tunnel Mine.

Here is the link: http://hdl.handle.net/2027/uc1.31822031028566

And here is the mill site and vein map.

Ore Veins and Mill Site of Golden Tunnel Mine Area

The Golden Tunnel Mine Controversy

This post isn't about rockhounding, but I really wanted to put this info out there for others in the state to enjoy, if you can get to it...

Cadastral Survey Page Showing Aerial Tramway and Township and Range of Mining District

Recently I read a book called Discovering Washington Mines written by Northwest Underground Explorations (NWUE) and became intrigued by a mine named the Golden Tunnel located in the Index Mining District in Washington State. They described the mine as, "a natural cavern, perched 4,200 feet above sea level... It was reported to be 15 feet high, 20 feet wide, and 65 feet long with streaks of high grade copper pyrites in large crystals carrying gold and silver." It sounded interesting, but they described it's location as being inaccessible. This was strange I thought, because they had a photo of them visiting the tunnel and obviously they had been there. 

I decided to do a Google search for the mine and ran across this hostile exchange on NWHikers.net regarding the location of this mine. Click here to read the thread.

As I read the discussion, I could almost smell the testosterone in the air. Apparently a select group of self-elected "keepers of the Golden Tunnel mine" (in this case NWUE),  and a curious hiker who had somehow acquired a map to the mine were arguing about disclosing the location of this very special mine on the internet. The privileged "mine guards" (NWUE) were worried that someone would haul away a 500 pound tram wheel with a helicopter or some such nonsense. Apparently they, (NWUE) are the only ones allowed to tour the secret site and bring in news crews and helicopters (in this case Channel 7 News out of Seattle sometime in the 1980's). Why they feel that they and their friends and families are the only ones who should be allowed access to the site is beyond me. It's just mining artifacts that will rot away to nothing, when they could at least be viewed in photos or sit in a museum. I could almost feel an Indiana Jones movie sequel in the making. This piqued my curiosity and I decided to try to locate this illusive mine.

Because I didn't want to make a trip to Olympia to locate the info, I decided to use the internet. After reading the entire discussion on NWHikers.net, I felt I had a fairly good idea of it's location and decided to start my search on the BLM Cadastral Survey website. I started by viewing the Washington Master Title Plat Map Grid.

I knew the basic area to search which was south of Highway 2, near the town of Baring, so I clicked on a few off the townships there and checked out the Cadastral Survey Links until I found a good detailed map of each area. I usually start by choosing the largest file size surveys, since they typically have the most information. I hit the jackpot on my second try.

I looked closely at the survey map, which was made in 1921 and recalled a few facts. Because some older mines may not be on the map, I looked at the artifacts. One thing I knew for certain was that the Golden Tunnel had an aerial tramway from the pictures and description in the NWUE book. Low and behold I noticed an aerial tramway on the map in sections 20 and 21. No mine was marked, but the hikers' veiled descriptions from NWHikers.net had basically described the route to the mine area, and sure enough, this notation on the map, matched that description.

Golden Tunnel Mine - Cadastral Survey

I noticed that this tramway was located slightly northwest of Crater Lake on the northeast side of Red Mountain above Salmon Creek. There also appeared to be a large valley below where the mill site could have been. I also noticed a notation on the survey map of "Tunnel" north of the tramway. I'm not sure what this is either. Maybe someone could fill me in. I next looked at the topographical map (Mt. Si) of the area on the USGS website. I noticed that no mines were marked on this map either. The only way to be sure the mine is there is to visit the site. According to NWUE it is at 4,200ft. elevation (they could be misleading us though). It looks like a long way in and a long way out of this area. Not a good trip for me, being up in years and having a bad knee. Maybe someone will take pity on me and send me some photos of the site and area. I sure hope so. I want to see these wonderful "historic artifacts" that are rotting away up there for the Eagles to enjoy.

USGS Topographic Map of Golden Tunnel Mine (approx. locations)

I next checked out the Satellite images of the area on Google Earth and Bing.com maps. It definitely looks like where the Golden Tunnel should be. The mill site should be on the west bank of Salmon Creek. Possibly under the trees.

Golden Tunnel Mine Location - Google Earth Image

Here's to the adventurous few who want to track down this elusive AND exclusive piece of Washington State history. Please let me know if you find it.