Uncle_Tricky Posted January 21, 2003 Share Posted January 21, 2003 Hey kids, I was wondering if anyone out there has any info on a feature up near Washington Pass. An old guy I know who lives in Twisp says he's heard people refer to it as M&M cave, but he's not sure if anyone has ever explored it. Let's say you're driving East on highway 20. After you cross Washington Pass and descend around the hairpin, you go maybe another half mile. There, if you look up and left towards the slide chutes and gullies that come off of Cutthroat Peak, you can see a big cave in the middle of a granite wall. The mouth of cave itself is maybe 30 feet tall and 50 feet wide--not sure how deep it is. There's a hanging grotto in the mouth of the cave, with some large trees growing out. It's probably a few hundred feet off the deck, and maybe 200 feet from the top. Anyway, I wonder if anyone has ever made it into this cave? It's such a neat looking feature that I wouldn't be surprised if someone has explored it. Not sure if there is a feasible route up to it, or if it might be possible to rap down to it from the top. ? Any info out there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dru Posted January 21, 2003 Share Posted January 21, 2003 m&M Wall is listed as an aid route in Beckey red guide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle_Tricky Posted January 21, 2003 Author Share Posted January 21, 2003 My Beckey red guide is currently awol--do you have it in front of you? Does he mention the cave? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelle Posted January 21, 2003 Share Posted January 21, 2003 You can check my guidebook tomorrow. I'll bring it to the gym. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dru Posted January 21, 2003 Share Posted January 21, 2003 Mines at home but I know he mentions the cave in his route description somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erik Posted January 21, 2003 Share Posted January 21, 2003 HO DUP ILL GO CHECK.... Â LEAVE THOSE BABIES IN MY CAR!!! Â ERIK Â Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erik Posted January 21, 2003 Share Posted January 21, 2003 IV 5.8 A4 600FT Â HE MENTIONS THE CAVE..AS A MAJOR LAND MARK..THOUGH THE ROUTE ASCENDS AN OBVIOUS DIHEDRAL Â DOESNT SAY WHETER YOU CLIMB INTO IT OR NOT...BUT HE DOES CALL IT A SUPER CAVE Â Â Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dru Posted January 21, 2003 Share Posted January 21, 2003 maybe you can pedulum or traverse in... Â Erik and Wallstein - First winter Ascent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erik Posted January 21, 2003 Share Posted January 21, 2003 WITH A BIG SMOKING CAVE AND NOW A SNOW MACHINE AT OUR DISPOSAL OUT OF MAZAMA.... Â I CAN ALMSOT SAY YES!!!!! Â Â Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catbirdseat Posted January 21, 2003 Share Posted January 21, 2003 This is tangential to the discussion, but a friend told me about a mineral he discovered near Washington Pass in pockets in the rock that mineralogists refer to as "fugs". It is a complex lithium- sodium-aluminum silicate known as zeksterite and it is found there and nowhere else in the world, except for an inferior grade found in Kazakistan. Anyone ever find crystals up there, maybe near Kangaroo Ridge? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dru Posted January 21, 2003 Share Posted January 21, 2003 That's Vugs not Fugs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dru Posted January 21, 2003 Share Posted January 21, 2003 Did a google search, one hit, "Zeksterite crystals from India $12.00" so much for the uniqueness theory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshK Posted January 21, 2003 Share Posted January 21, 2003 Is this compound useful or valuable in any way? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klenke Posted January 21, 2003 Share Posted January 21, 2003 I did the search too. Thought I might have a picture of it in my awesome Minerals Encyclopedia, but it's not in there. This is the link Dru probably saw: http://www.ke4gems.com/rmeleecat2.html   Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CascadeClimber Posted January 21, 2003 Share Posted January 21, 2003 Did a google search, one hit, "Zeksterite crystals from India $12.00" so much for the uniqueness theory. Â I'm pretty sure the description is under the name, so both of the listings are from Washington: Â Zeksterite $12.00/each Light straw colored eye clean round cut stones from Washington averaging 2.0mm. Â Zeksterite $20.00/each A light straw colored eye clean round cut stone from Washington averaging 2.9mm. Â -L Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erik Posted January 21, 2003 Share Posted January 21, 2003 WHO SAID NUGS??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr._Natural Posted January 21, 2003 Share Posted January 21, 2003 purps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erik Posted January 21, 2003 Share Posted January 21, 2003 OOOO THE PURPS... Â SO BUTTER SMOOTH Â Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dru Posted January 21, 2003 Share Posted January 21, 2003 well wha d'ya know... Â then again if they are only worth $12.00 maybe no one has looked for them anywhere else.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catbirdseat Posted January 21, 2003 Share Posted January 21, 2003 What do you know? $12. You guys amaze me. My information came from the fellow after whom it was named (in the 1970's, I believe). His info was surely dated. The specimen that he showed me was not particularly attractive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dru Posted January 21, 2003 Share Posted January 21, 2003 "zeksterite" sounds like a long term customer of Zeke's Diner near Index. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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