My adventures takes me to the Salton Sea a place I have always wanted to see. Susan wasn't interested in this trip so I'm on my own. That's okay it gives me a chance to do some bird watching.
The Salton Sea is one of the world's largest inland seas and also one of the lowest spots on earth at -227 feet below sea level. It was created in 1905 when floods on the Colorado River breached the gates of the developing Imperial Valley. Consequently, over the next 2 years the entire volume of the Colorado River flowed into the Salton Basin creating a 45 mile long by 20 mile wide body of water, hence the Salton Sea was born.
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| The Salton Sea |
Lacking any outflow the Sea is becoming saltier and saltier accelerating many changes. Instead of nice sandy beaches the shoreline is riddled with crunchy white barnacles and dead fish. Contributing to the salinity of the water is the constant evaporation of the remaining water and the leaching of fertilizers from surrounding farmland.
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| Diminishing shoreline due to evaporation |
The Salton Sea State Recreation Park covers 14 miles of the northeast shoreline. The campground offers full hookups in basically the far end of the parking lot. Other state campsites are provided further down the road but with limited facilities.
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| State campground with full hookups |
As I continued down the road I came to Bombay Beach, a community founded in 1929. Once a thriving getaway for weekenders and boaters, it is now a skeleton of it's former self. The town was flooded in 1976 & 1977 due to tropical storms causing a dramatic rise in the Salton Sea. Now a dike separates the town from the sea. As I walked through the town I saw many photographers taking pictures of the shells that someone use to call home. When the temperatures during the summer reach 118 degrees the smell from the dead fish on the beach is intolerable.
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| All that remains of a popular mobile home park |
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| Skeletal remains of mobile home |
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| Abandoned RV |
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| Once a home |
When you get to Niland on CA-111 look for Main St turn left cause Salvation Mountain and Slab City are not too far away. Salvation Mountain is a 50 foot high and 150 foot long religious folk art monument created by Leonard Knight. It's made adobe style using bales of straw, cement, sticks and anything else Knight could get his hands on.
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| Salvation Mountain |
Knight had lived in the back of his truck until his declining health caused him to move to a nursing facility.
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| Knights home on wheels |
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| Knights cats have no names...they roam the mountain freely |
Turning to the right after exiting Salvation Mountain parking lot you get to Slab City.
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| Welcome to Slab City |
Once home to Camp Dunlap Marine Barracks in 1942, now all that remains from the military installation are the concrete slabs where buildings stood, hence the name. Today it is home for RV enthusiasts and squatters living off the grid. However, the city has several issues namely garbage and improper sewage disposal.
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| RVs and garbage everywhere |
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| Someones idea of folk art |
As you continue to drive around the 200 + acre area you see just about everything from brand new rigs to old junkers.
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| This one has solar and wind generated power |
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| Tin and tarps with pitbulls and barbwire...scary |
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| Once a 5th wheel now a burntout shell left to rot |
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| Garbage everywhere |
Not all is bad about this place. Many individuals are trying to get people to clean up their messes and to dispose of sewage properly. Also, every Saturday they host an open-air show at The Range where resident musicians and anyone else who wants to showcase their talent can get on stage and perform.
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| The Range open-air nightclub complete with stage, lights, speakers, and tattered couches |
As I was leaving Slab City to make the journey back home I couldn't help but stop to take a picture of the famous shoe tree that was featured on the movie Into The Wild.
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| Cool shoe tree |
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