It's true! I found it! I made vids and I have posted pics... samples below because derr!
It was amazing! I swam in mud for hours 2 days in a row! Now that I know its there you can bet your sweet furry booties I will be going a lot more often!
The alkali dust that kicks up in both the Salton Sea and Owens Valley area is a hazard but keep in mind that unless you live in the area or have respiratory issues, a brief visit should pose no great risk. I've been in the Salton Sea area several times and it is indeed best to avoid the area when the wind is high.
TheGungeKing, Is the mud in your pictures only there after a rain? Any hint of which side or area of the lake it is at?
We love your pics but care about your safety, that matters more.
Aww... I can definitely appreciate that... I guess the only poop in the party is the absolute fact that every mudder faces..... there is poop in the earth we swim in! As far as the Salton Sea being toxic - sure - this planet is toxic and we made it that way.
...not that it is a consolation for safety...
I was plenty far enough away from the main water itself... and by the Salton Sea by standards of the west, I was still about 45 minutes away from the actual coast of Salton Sea just northeast. I was along the road to the Painted Canyon Trailhead which if you find on a map isn't really close enough to worry.
A couple of years ago when I moved here I did plenty of research to find that there is in fact a mud spa even closer to the Salton Sea than I was camped and if it wasn't cost associated I would've visited. I also found that even if you lack all sense of smell you still didn't want to go into the Salton Sea itself because the water its highly toxic. Look at all the farming and manufacturing along the whole shore! So yes, naturally the water will recede more and it will smell more and it will be more toxic before it gets cleaner but I will mind my distance to the danger.
quarryman said: The alkali dust that kicks up in both the Salton Sea and Owens Valley area is a hazard but keep in mind that unless you live in the area or have respiratory issues, a brief visit should pose no great risk. I've been in the Salton Sea area several times and it is indeed best to avoid the area when the wind is high.
TheGungeKing, Is the mud in your pictures only there after a rain? Any hint of which side or area of the lake it is at?
There hasn't been rain in a while but this area is a small pond or lake that's between Painted Canyon Road and Coachella Canal Road that seems to come and go... there's enough vegetation to provide evidence the lake comes back full force and there will be even more mud at times!
On the map I attached its the gray pin which is about 5 miles away from the shores of Salton Sea. I think I should be good. It wasn't tooooo windy the other day and the spot seems perfectly protected by some hills as you can see.
quarryman said: The alkali dust that kicks up in both the Salton Sea and Owens Valley area is a hazard but keep in mind that unless you live in the area or have respiratory issues, a brief visit should pose no great risk. I've been in the Salton Sea area several times and it is indeed best to avoid the area when the wind is high.
TheGungeKing, Is the mud in your pictures only there after a rain? Any hint of which side or area of the lake it is at?
There hasn't been rain in a while but this area is a small pond or lake that's between Painted Canyon Road and Coachella Canal Road that seems to come and go... there's enough vegetation to provide evidence the lake comes back full force and there will be even more mud at times!
On the map I attached its the gray pin which is about 5 miles away from the shores of Salton Sea. I think I should be good. It wasn't tooooo windy the other day and the spot seems perfectly protected by some hills as you can see.
Oh, man. That looks like so much fun. I've never managed to wallow in a mud pit like that and it's on my bucket list. I hope to get to try that some time.
blondbear said: Oh, man. That looks like so much fun. I've never managed to wallow in a mud pit like that and it's on my bucket list. I hope to get to try that some time.
cool part is.. it isn't that far and very much worth the 3 hour ride from San Diego... during the summer I wouldn't count on it although it would be worth checking.. but rainy seasons yes!
Mess = Life, get with it.
5/17/23, 11:11am: This post won't bump the thread to the top.
Love you, too
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