Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Hot Creek

When we think of thermal areas we usually think Yellowstone. Eastern California with its volcanic remnants has many thermal pools and a few geysers (I have never seen any erupt).

Hot Creek is near Mammoth Mountain, the remnant of an ancient volcano.

In past years the creek and thermal pools were a popular place for bathers but after some earthquake activity the pools became much hotter and the forest service fenced it off.
Cited? Cooked is more like it!
It is unfortunate that we can no longer get close, we must keep our distance to protect the foolish.
There are still many thermal pools in the area that are less dangerous. Guide books have been written to direct people to pools on public land and people enjoy soaking in them.

Find more watery sites here.
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26 comments:

  1. JimOctober 27, 2009 at 2:18 PM

    Great photos. Great tour.
    Sydney - City and Suburbs

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  2. Photo CacheOctober 27, 2009 at 3:12 PM

    "...to protect the foolish" = LOL

    I wanna go there, now!

    Mine is at www.ewok1993.wordpress.com

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  3. CarlettaOctober 27, 2009 at 3:24 PM

    Love how the sky is reflected in that second shot!
    Carletta’s Captures.

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  4. GaelynOctober 27, 2009 at 4:07 PM

    Ahhhh, how I love to soak in natural hot springs. The fencing is a shame, seems like a few interpretive warning signs would be sufficient.
    Thanks for reminding me there's hot springs in E CA. I'm thinking of going to Death Valley and there are few around.
    Nice Captures of the rich mineral colored waters.

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  5. eileeninmdOctober 27, 2009 at 4:43 PM

    Great shots of the hot spring pools.

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  6. EbieOctober 27, 2009 at 5:40 PM

    We were here too! And I enjoyed it! Great capture on the second shot!

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  7. MarthaOctober 27, 2009 at 6:10 PM

    Cooked!
    Great shots, I would love to see this sometime!

    My WW

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  8. ArijaOctober 27, 2009 at 6:37 PM

    I like the extra excitement of being somewhere that chan change in the blink of an eye. There is so little adventure left inthe world with all the occupational health and safety. Learning to take care where you step is part of normal survival.
    Beautiful shots Martha.

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  9. AnonymousOctober 27, 2009 at 6:42 PM

    wonderful...wonderful...wonderful...

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  10. Lilli & NevadaOctober 27, 2009 at 9:11 PM

    great photos

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  11. Carolyn FordOctober 27, 2009 at 9:30 PM

    I have been there and enjoyed submersing myself in those great hot pools. Yes, they are hot in places and you will jump when you set a foot in the wrong place. But, hiking sandals prevent those kinds of problems. My husband and I were going to visit there during the summer but ran out of time. I guess it was just as good to miss it if it is fenced off now...so sorry to hear that. Great photos of a wonderful natural setting!

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  12. JapaOctober 27, 2009 at 9:34 PM

    We have similar post. Very cool.

    And thanks for dropping by. So nice of you.

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  13. EJOctober 27, 2009 at 10:57 PM

    Very interesting!

    Come and see some parts of South Korea. Have great day!

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  14. PERBSOctober 27, 2009 at 11:55 PM

    Love those hot pools! Beautiful captures of them by you also! In Idaho, we had lava Hot Springs and I enjoyed going to the hot pools with my parents when I was young. Nothing as refreshing. In Alaska, when I visited friends, there was the pool Chena Hot Springs and it was very hot and refreshing also. If I rememebr right, one pool was from directly outside springs and the other was cooled enough for swimming.

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  15. AnonymousOctober 28, 2009 at 12:43 AM

    That's quite exciting! And lovely pictures, too; the water's a nice colour.

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  16. JaneOctober 28, 2009 at 2:21 AM

    Pity it is too hot, I wouldn't mind dipping my feet in it, wonderful scenery as well. Thanks for sharing:)

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  17. Hand-Made Crystal DesignsOctober 28, 2009 at 5:40 AM

    Great tour and beautiful photos.

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  18. EG CameraGirlOctober 28, 2009 at 5:57 AM

    Hot springs are so fascinating, aren't they? How interesting that earthquakes have changed the temperature of the water. Makes sense, I just hadn't though of that happening.

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  19. PatOctober 28, 2009 at 8:28 AM

    The colors of those hot pools are unbelievable, aren't they? Just gorgeous. Thanks for sharing.

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  20. Amanda MooreOctober 28, 2009 at 10:42 AM

    Martha this is awesome, I cannot believe I have lived in CA all my life, never been to Mammoth never have I seen these pools, this will be on my list of places to see for sure.... thanks for sharing!

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  21. LoracOctober 28, 2009 at 11:30 AM

    Look at the colour of those pools. Amazing! Love your shots and the tour of Hot Creek.

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  22. sunnymamaOctober 28, 2009 at 4:23 PM

    Great pictures of a fascinating place! Thanks for showing us round :)

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  23. BarbOctober 28, 2009 at 5:02 PM

    Hi Martha,
    The thought of scald is somewhat comforting - we're having a winter storm warning here in Breckenridge! Do you think the color of the pools is from mineral deposits - calcium maybe?

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  24. JudyOctober 29, 2009 at 9:35 AM

    too bad you could not have gotten closer to take the photos!!! these are cool, anyway!!

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  25. Guy DOctober 29, 2009 at 10:45 AM

    Martha these are absolutely fantastic.

    All the best
    Guy
    Regina In Pictures

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  26. Linda ReederOctober 30, 2009 at 1:24 PM

    Wow. I didn't know anything about this area. Very interesting.

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