Last spring, I went looking for obsidian (volcanic glass) and pumice (lightweight volcanic rock) down at Obsidian Hill on the southeast end of the Salton Sea. I even found some. Lots ! ! ! Recently, I read about “mud pots” down there, and when I dug out the map I was surprised. They are shown as being at the corner of Shrimpf and Davis roads. Huh ! ! ! I went down Shrimpf road to get to Obsidian Hill, so last weekend I went down there again, (it’s only about 50 miles from home) and after a political photography stop at the Coachella Canal, I went on south on Hwy 111 thru Niland and a couple more miles to Shrimpf road. Way on down this dirt road to Davis and stopped. What ?? Canal and bird sanctuary on 1 side, open dirt field with some truck loads of gravel dumped on the other..but wait………..

Were those really piles of gravel ?? I parked the truck (sorry, in this heat and humidity, Der Bug stays home - no a/c) and walked out there. Well, glory be - get up close, and it IS different…..

In some areas, there is bubbling water, some have bubbling mud, and from inside the hills comes the most amazing gurgling, belching, popping noises. The loudest came from inside the “volcanoes” and the temptation to grab a shovel and tear the top off of one was pretty high, but it would spoil it for later visitors……..

I’d read on the internet (google “Salton Sea Mudpots”) that the bubbling was caused by carbon dioxide escaping, and that the mud wasn’t boiling. Well, it sure looked boiling, and I was very cautious about getting near it. Finally, I stuck a finger into it, and it was cool ! ! ! Cooler than the outside air, which isn’t saying much…..

That shot showed liquid mud forming a bubble. This one shows muddy water “boiling.”……….quite a sight……

This one is about 1/2 way in between……

A little caution is needed, too. The crust is just that - a crust - and underneath is a sticky, gooey mud that proved very difficult to get off my boots……except for the gobs of it that messed up the inside of the Diesel Dodge. Those came off real easy. Here’s a print of Lar’s hind hoof where he learned an easy lesson…….

The area around the Salton Sea is flat…flat and almost totally barren, yet all these opportunities for entertainment are all around it. Except for that wonderful vacation last summer, most of my trips published here this year have been within a few miles of the Sea, such as Bat Cave Butte, Ladder Canyon, The Grottoes, Santa Rosa Peak, Borrego Springs, etc., etc. Interesting, eh ?? Actually, there isn’t that much at the mudpots, and I wouldn’t suggest making a trip to see them, but if you find yourself in the vicinity of Niland / Calipatria, CA, then it’d be worth a stop.

Posted: October 6th, 2007 under 06 California, 06-9-3 Mud Pots.
Comments: 6