6 ms·

In California, a journey to the end of the road: the Salton Sea

34 points by parenthesis 6y ago

jschveibinz 6y ago
Pay wall
- MilnerRoute 6y ago
  It's about the Salton Sea. https://www.watereducation.org/aquafornia-news/california-journey-end-road https://www.watereducation.org/aquafornia-news/california-jo...
- neonate 6y ago
  https://archive.is/DULIv https://archive.is/DULIv
neonate 6y ago
https://archive.is/DULIv https://archive.is/DULIv
- yaboy 6y ago
  you da real MVP
xeromal 6y ago
The Salton Sea is such an interesting phenomena. An accidental diversion of the colorado river creates the largest lake in California (I think) and a community springs up around it. You have jet skiing, sun bathing, and other activities that local californians can partake in. Agricultural runoff and a lack of an outlet slowly kills the artifical lake until its completely poisoned and millions of fish die and wash up on the shores spelling doom for the new community. I've camped there several times and I recommend anyone near Socal to go check it out. It gives off very dystopian vibes but you can't help but awe and gawk while watching the locals like you're watching the last of humans in planet of the apes. It's wild. I can't find the pic of missing kissing a fish bone but here a few pics I could scrounge up. The jesus loves you mountain is outside the salton sea but I find it amazing. https://imgur.com/a/39lJ047 https://imgur.com/a/39lJ047
- tomcam 6y ago
  Sort of like... Burning Man with all the good parts left out
  - pengaru 6y ago
    > Sort of like... Burning Man with all the good parts left out Considering there's no playa dust and plenty of Burners with more infrastructure, I think you've got that a bit inverted.
    - s0rce 6y ago
      Salton sea area is very dusty, one of the worst on the continent.
      - pengaru 6y ago
        The dust I encountered there was child's play compared to the playa @ BRC, at least the Bombay Beach region I spent some time in. It wasn't even worse than the average desert dust levels I deal with regularly in the high desert around JT, which are a far cry from BRC playa. There's just more moisture/humidity in general around the Salton Sea, that goes a long way towards keeping dust clumpy and on the ground. BRC is next level misery in this department. I attended once in 2012 and left with my first ever sinus infection, that took a month to clear, and for at least a year afterwards every time I got a cold or otherwise congested (which newly became common) my snot would taste of playa dust. It's fucking awful. I'm convinced the dust in BRC dust storms shorten life expectancy of those breathing it. If you're lucky enough to attend BRC after a recent good rain, then it's a much better situation. But that's moot; the same is true for Salton Sea or any desert region. The Salton Sea enjoys the advantage of a persistent local moisture reservoir, for now. The nearby agriculture responsible for the effluent sustaining the Salton Sea also humidifies the air.
- suzzer99 6y ago
  I've always wondered if it was truly accidental.
boxmonster 6y ago
The Salton Sea area has its environmental problems, but it's less of a disaster than the author writes. There are picnic areas along the water that are nice. On the other hand, Slab City is more of a disaster than he writes. The residents seem to be of the mind to treat journalists nicely. Maybe they expect something good to happen in return. When I visited there Salvation Mountain had been taken over by acid casualties who put up threatening signs reading "keep out." When I stopped to take a picture they came towards me car and I feared I might be shot, expecting to hear the whiz of a bullet by my ear. Slab City is a disgusting homeless camp, full of mental illness and anger.
- the_watcher 6y ago
  I grew up within an easy drive of the Salton Sea and had the same reaction: it's a pretty sad and gross sea, and it's a tragedy for the people who live there, but it's not a Mad Max wasteland (seriously, Indio is a 20 minute drive away). I don't know much about Slab City though.
  - boxmonster 6y ago
    If you watch the multitude of videos on YouTube about Slab City, some by reputable media outlets, you might get the impression that its an artists colony with complete freedom of expression. "The Last Free Place On Earth" says the sign at the entry. It's actually where the dregs of society congregate because they've been run out of town everywhere else.
    - spaetzleesser 6y ago
      I think it’s good to have such places though where misfits can go.
    - recursive 6y ago
      You say "but" as if there was some contradiction.
- gkop 6y ago
  I was just down there for the first time a couple weeks ago, in a shiny new Outback full of millennial Bay Area yuppies. We poked around and got lost in the neighborhood, but experienced only welcoming kindness, directing us to the library and the hot springs, and apologies for other diversions being closed due to Covid. People we spoke with acknowledged that many residents are vets suffering PTSD, criminals on the lam, meth heads, and others that prefer to be left alone. But that some members of the community have built infrastructure for tourism, and it’s tolerated. People considering visiting Slab City: just bring a warm heart and open mind, it’s really not scary or dangerous to go as a tourist. (Edit: also bring your street smarts of course, just like when visiting Union Square in SF)
hprotagonist 6y ago
https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/sea-worth-salt/ https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/sea-worth-salt/ A good treatment of this some years ago on 99 Percent Invisible
taylorfinley 6y ago
Go have a beer in the VFW hall some time, the people who live out there aren't a different species to be thought of like zoo animals, they're just regular folks with some interesting stories. When I lived in LA a friend inherited property out there, we had a memorable week checking things out and shooting shotguns at washing machines with some of the locals. One of them even brought out a propane fueled potato cannon! Good times.
- digitaltrees 6y ago
  People that shoot potato guns treat people that eat sushi and live in LA like a different species too. Humans are tribal and focus on what divides. There is a big divide between the culture of the Salton Sea and LA but your point is well intended. I say all this as someone that grew up with family in both potato gun and sushi cultures.
  - pengaru 6y ago
    Having both shot potato guns and eaten sushi in LA, I don't quite understand your choices for defining lines of division. Most the assclowns shooting things in the desert near me are LA residents treating the desert as their personal wasteland on weekends.
  - RobRivera 6y ago
    whats your sociology education and experience? I am curious bc you make some broad category claims, presented as fact, to build up ignorant perspectives on a bed of sandy logic.
    - dang 6y ago
      Please don't cross into personal attack or name-calling. If another comment is wrong, the thing to do is supply correct information. If you know more, please share some of what you know, so the rest of us can learn. You can do that without breaking the site guidelines. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://hn.algolia.com/?dateRange=all&page=0&prefix=true&sort=byDate&type=comment&query=share%20know%20learn%20by:dang https://hn.algolia.com/?dateRange=all&page=0&prefix=true&sor...
jbullock35 6y ago
The article doesn't say much about the infrastructure there. Does anyone know what it's like? I'm wondering about its suitability for remote work.
- burnthrow 6y ago
  You may want to visit first.
- reaperducer 6y ago
  Can't speak about internet, but water and power are available. But probably not with the same cost, reliability, quality, or quantity you'd like. Groceries are also an issue. You'll have to drive up to a big box store in Indio to shop. All of the local options are little more than low-end convenience stores. There have been a number of these articles and videos about the Salton Sea on the internet in the last few years. I can only think that most are based on what other people have posted on the internet without actually going there. The reason I say this is because almost none mention the SMELL of the region. It's terrible, and I once lived in a small valley with a paper mill. It's like living 24/7 with a kiddie pool full of dead fish in your yard. Because that's quite literally what it is. When you go to a "beach," it's not sand. It's billions and billions of not very ground up fish bones you're walking on. Just squat down and take a look.
  - cbeley 6y ago
    Apparently how badly it smells can vary pretty widely. Last I was there it was moderate. I've read accounts online saying everything from it doesn't smell at all to saying it is absolutely terrible. Neat place though, but not for everyone.
    - wcarron 6y ago
      It varies with wind and heat, yes. Some days it's fine, others are god awful.
    - pengaru 6y ago
      It depends on hydration of all the desiccated shores composed of dead sea life. So if it rained recently, or after a foggy night, the pungent odor fills the air.
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
niklaslogren 6y ago
"Bombay Beach (2011)" is a documentary that depicts life in a once-bustling settlement by the Salton Sea, can recommend: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1758576/ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1758576/
- darrenf 6y ago
  See also “Plagues and Pleasures on the Salton Sea”: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0438327/ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0438327/ I’ve watched it several times after becoming fascinated by the place upon watching this (much) shorter piece on Youtube: https://youtu.be/otIU6Py4K_A https://youtu.be/otIU6Py4K_A Thanks OP for posting this article, I always eagerly enjoy new pieces about the area.
mullingitover 6y ago
Article is 100% paywalled, so no idea what this post is about, but I have a friend with property out there and I've spent some time there for the Bombay Beach Bienalle. It could be a great place if the lake was rehabilitated, but nobody wants to spend the money (or water) to make it happen. The place is below sea level, and it might be possible to simple dig a canal to the ocean and fill it with seawater. It would instantly create some extremely valuable real estate if the lake wasn't so horrifically disgusting and toxic.
- tomc1985 6y ago
  As a local, rehabilitating Salton Sea would be a tragedy. There are plenty of out-of-the-way resorts and Oasis towns to go to. The Salton Sea, the dunes surrounding it, and Anza-Borrego itself are unique pieces of desert that don't really have any nearby analogues. I think that area is better off in its current, dessicated form, as do most of the people who reside there. Land is cheap, and it is really, really far away from civilization.
  - mullingitover 6y ago
    Fixing the Salton Sea isn't just about real estate values. It's going to be a huge health hazard if things keep going in their current direction. > Imperial County already has the highest rate of asthma-related emergency room visits for children in California, and the problem is expected to get worse as tens of thousands of acres of lakebed are left high and dry around the lake over the next decade. [1] https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/environment/2017/11/06/near-salton-sea-many-young-children-suffer-asthma-study-finds/837857001/ https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/environment/2017/11/06/...
system2 6y ago
Why does HN allow paywalled articles?

34 points by parenthesis 6y ago

jschveibinz 6y ago

Pay wall

MilnerRoute 6y ago
It's about the Salton Sea. https://www.watereducation.org/aquafornia-news/california-journey-end-road https://www.watereducation.org/aquafornia-news/california-jo...
neonate 6y ago
https://archive.is/DULIv https://archive.is/DULIv

neonate 6y ago

https://archive.is/DULIv https://archive.is/DULIv

yaboy 6y ago
you da real MVP

xeromal 6y ago

The Salton Sea is such an interesting phenomena. An accidental diversion of the colorado river creates the largest lake in California (I think) and a community springs up around it. You have jet skiing, sun bathing, and other activities that local californians can partake in. Agricultural runoff and a lack of an outlet slowly kills the artifical lake until its completely poisoned and millions of fish die and wash up on the shores spelling doom for the new community. I've camped there several times and I recommend anyone near Socal to go check it out. It gives off very dystopian vibes but you can't help but awe and gawk while watching the locals like you're watching the last of humans in planet of the apes. It's wild. I can't find the pic of missing kissing a fish bone but here a few pics I could scrounge up. The jesus loves you mountain is outside the salton sea but I find it amazing. https://imgur.com/a/39lJ047 https://imgur.com/a/39lJ047

tomcam 6y ago
Sort of like... Burning Man with all the good parts left out
- pengaru 6y ago
  > Sort of like... Burning Man with all the good parts left out Considering there's no playa dust and plenty of Burners with more infrastructure, I think you've got that a bit inverted.
  - s0rce 6y ago
    Salton sea area is very dusty, one of the worst on the continent.
    - pengaru 6y ago
      The dust I encountered there was child's play compared to the playa @ BRC, at least the Bombay Beach region I spent some time in. It wasn't even worse than the average desert dust levels I deal with regularly in the high desert around JT, which are a far cry from BRC playa. There's just more moisture/humidity in general around the Salton Sea, that goes a long way towards keeping dust clumpy and on the ground. BRC is next level misery in this department. I attended once in 2012 and left with my first ever sinus infection, that took a month to clear, and for at least a year afterwards every time I got a cold or otherwise congested (which newly became common) my snot would taste of playa dust. It's fucking awful. I'm convinced the dust in BRC dust storms shorten life expectancy of those breathing it. If you're lucky enough to attend BRC after a recent good rain, then it's a much better situation. But that's moot; the same is true for Salton Sea or any desert region. The Salton Sea enjoys the advantage of a persistent local moisture reservoir, for now. The nearby agriculture responsible for the effluent sustaining the Salton Sea also humidifies the air.
suzzer99 6y ago
I've always wondered if it was truly accidental.

boxmonster 6y ago

The Salton Sea area has its environmental problems, but it's less of a disaster than the author writes. There are picnic areas along the water that are nice. On the other hand, Slab City is more of a disaster than he writes. The residents seem to be of the mind to treat journalists nicely. Maybe they expect something good to happen in return. When I visited there Salvation Mountain had been taken over by acid casualties who put up threatening signs reading "keep out." When I stopped to take a picture they came towards me car and I feared I might be shot, expecting to hear the whiz of a bullet by my ear. Slab City is a disgusting homeless camp, full of mental illness and anger.

the_watcher 6y ago
I grew up within an easy drive of the Salton Sea and had the same reaction: it's a pretty sad and gross sea, and it's a tragedy for the people who live there, but it's not a Mad Max wasteland (seriously, Indio is a 20 minute drive away). I don't know much about Slab City though.
- boxmonster 6y ago
  If you watch the multitude of videos on YouTube about Slab City, some by reputable media outlets, you might get the impression that its an artists colony with complete freedom of expression. "The Last Free Place On Earth" says the sign at the entry. It's actually where the dregs of society congregate because they've been run out of town everywhere else.
  - spaetzleesser 6y ago
    I think it’s good to have such places though where misfits can go.
  - recursive 6y ago
    You say "but" as if there was some contradiction.
gkop 6y ago
I was just down there for the first time a couple weeks ago, in a shiny new Outback full of millennial Bay Area yuppies. We poked around and got lost in the neighborhood, but experienced only welcoming kindness, directing us to the library and the hot springs, and apologies for other diversions being closed due to Covid. People we spoke with acknowledged that many residents are vets suffering PTSD, criminals on the lam, meth heads, and others that prefer to be left alone. But that some members of the community have built infrastructure for tourism, and it’s tolerated. People considering visiting Slab City: just bring a warm heart and open mind, it’s really not scary or dangerous to go as a tourist. (Edit: also bring your street smarts of course, just like when visiting Union Square in SF)

hprotagonist 6y ago

https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/sea-worth-salt/ https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/sea-worth-salt/ A good treatment of this some years ago on 99 Percent Invisible

taylorfinley 6y ago

Go have a beer in the VFW hall some time, the people who live out there aren't a different species to be thought of like zoo animals, they're just regular folks with some interesting stories. When I lived in LA a friend inherited property out there, we had a memorable week checking things out and shooting shotguns at washing machines with some of the locals. One of them even brought out a propane fueled potato cannon! Good times.

digitaltrees 6y ago
People that shoot potato guns treat people that eat sushi and live in LA like a different species too. Humans are tribal and focus on what divides. There is a big divide between the culture of the Salton Sea and LA but your point is well intended. I say all this as someone that grew up with family in both potato gun and sushi cultures.
- pengaru 6y ago
  Having both shot potato guns and eaten sushi in LA, I don't quite understand your choices for defining lines of division. Most the assclowns shooting things in the desert near me are LA residents treating the desert as their personal wasteland on weekends.
- RobRivera 6y ago
  whats your sociology education and experience? I am curious bc you make some broad category claims, presented as fact, to build up ignorant perspectives on a bed of sandy logic.
  - dang 6y ago
    Please don't cross into personal attack or name-calling. If another comment is wrong, the thing to do is supply correct information. If you know more, please share some of what you know, so the rest of us can learn. You can do that without breaking the site guidelines. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://hn.algolia.com/?dateRange=all&page=0&prefix=true&sort=byDate&type=comment&query=share%20know%20learn%20by:dang https://hn.algolia.com/?dateRange=all&page=0&prefix=true&sor...

jbullock35 6y ago

The article doesn't say much about the infrastructure there. Does anyone know what it's like? I'm wondering about its suitability for remote work.

burnthrow 6y ago
You may want to visit first.
reaperducer 6y ago
Can't speak about internet, but water and power are available. But probably not with the same cost, reliability, quality, or quantity you'd like. Groceries are also an issue. You'll have to drive up to a big box store in Indio to shop. All of the local options are little more than low-end convenience stores. There have been a number of these articles and videos about the Salton Sea on the internet in the last few years. I can only think that most are based on what other people have posted on the internet without actually going there. The reason I say this is because almost none mention the SMELL of the region. It's terrible, and I once lived in a small valley with a paper mill. It's like living 24/7 with a kiddie pool full of dead fish in your yard. Because that's quite literally what it is. When you go to a "beach," it's not sand. It's billions and billions of not very ground up fish bones you're walking on. Just squat down and take a look.
- cbeley 6y ago
  Apparently how badly it smells can vary pretty widely. Last I was there it was moderate. I've read accounts online saying everything from it doesn't smell at all to saying it is absolutely terrible. Neat place though, but not for everyone.
  - wcarron 6y ago
    It varies with wind and heat, yes. Some days it's fine, others are god awful.
  - pengaru 6y ago
    It depends on hydration of all the desiccated shores composed of dead sea life. So if it rained recently, or after a foggy night, the pungent odor fills the air.

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

niklaslogren 6y ago

"Bombay Beach (2011)" is a documentary that depicts life in a once-bustling settlement by the Salton Sea, can recommend: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1758576/ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1758576/

darrenf 6y ago
See also “Plagues and Pleasures on the Salton Sea”: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0438327/ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0438327/ I’ve watched it several times after becoming fascinated by the place upon watching this (much) shorter piece on Youtube: https://youtu.be/otIU6Py4K_A https://youtu.be/otIU6Py4K_A Thanks OP for posting this article, I always eagerly enjoy new pieces about the area.

mullingitover 6y ago

Article is 100% paywalled, so no idea what this post is about, but I have a friend with property out there and I've spent some time there for the Bombay Beach Bienalle. It could be a great place if the lake was rehabilitated, but nobody wants to spend the money (or water) to make it happen. The place is below sea level, and it might be possible to simple dig a canal to the ocean and fill it with seawater. It would instantly create some extremely valuable real estate if the lake wasn't so horrifically disgusting and toxic.

tomc1985 6y ago
As a local, rehabilitating Salton Sea would be a tragedy. There are plenty of out-of-the-way resorts and Oasis towns to go to. The Salton Sea, the dunes surrounding it, and Anza-Borrego itself are unique pieces of desert that don't really have any nearby analogues. I think that area is better off in its current, dessicated form, as do most of the people who reside there. Land is cheap, and it is really, really far away from civilization.
- mullingitover 6y ago
  Fixing the Salton Sea isn't just about real estate values. It's going to be a huge health hazard if things keep going in their current direction. > Imperial County already has the highest rate of asthma-related emergency room visits for children in California, and the problem is expected to get worse as tens of thousands of acres of lakebed are left high and dry around the lake over the next decade. [1] https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/environment/2017/11/06/near-salton-sea-many-young-children-suffer-asthma-study-finds/837857001/ https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/environment/2017/11/06/...

system2 6y ago

Why does HN allow paywalled articles?