Featured A Day at the Mud Pots near Slab City

Matt Derrick

Retired Wanderer
Staff member
Joined
Aug 4, 2006
Messages
10,563
Reaction score
13,912
Location
Portland, OR
Website
youtube.com
One of the less well-known spots near Slab City is an area about seven miles southeast, called the Mud Pots. The mud pots are bubbling pools of mud that are the result of geothermal areas with a shortage of water. They also form something called gryphons, small mud volcanoes about 6-7 feet high. Located at the corner of Davis and W Schrimpf road, it’s a fun place to go spend the day getting dirty as hell. Most everyone that visits comes back with a decent coat of grey mud all over their bodies, since the grey mud usually isn’t too hot to play around in, but damn, it’s a pain to wash off.

In late December 2011, I took some friends visiting us at East Jesus out to the mud pots and spent the day getting dirty and taking some great pictures.

Walking to the mud pots_12-29-2011_001.jpg


About half a mile further north of the Mud Pots is an abandoned building most people in The Slabs refer to as the old brothel. Rumor is that it was a house of ill repute back in the day, but I’ve never tried to research or confirm this, so take it with a grain of salt. Nonetheless, if you like exploring abandoned wastelands as much as I do, it’s a place worth visiting.

Mud pots rock video_12-29-2011_019.jpg
 

Attachments

  • Ainhoa_12-29-2011_012.jpg
    Ainhoa_12-29-2011_012.jpg
    413.3 KB · Views: 402
  • Around the pit_12-29-2011_023.jpg
    Around the pit_12-29-2011_023.jpg
    425.3 KB · Views: 428
  • Brothel exterior pano front_12-29-2011_027.jpg
    Brothel exterior pano front_12-29-2011_027.jpg
    226.6 KB · Views: 407
  • Brothel exterior rear pano_12-29-2011_034.jpg
    Brothel exterior rear pano_12-29-2011_034.jpg
    170.9 KB · Views: 412
  • Brothel rear closeup_12-29-2011_040.jpg
    Brothel rear closeup_12-29-2011_040.jpg
    161.1 KB · Views: 377
  • Digging for more warm mud_12-29-2011_009.jpg
    Digging for more warm mud_12-29-2011_009.jpg
    508.9 KB · Views: 405
  • Digging for warm dirt_12-29-2011_004.jpg
    Digging for warm dirt_12-29-2011_004.jpg
    412.7 KB · Views: 395
  • Doorway to decay_12-29-2011_031.jpg
    Doorway to decay_12-29-2011_031.jpg
    560.5 KB · Views: 452
  • Group on top of volcano_12-29-2011_008.jpg
    Group on top of volcano_12-29-2011_008.jpg
    526.3 KB · Views: 392
  • Hole in ground_12-29-2011_017.jpg
    Hole in ground_12-29-2011_017.jpg
    836 KB · Views: 406
  • Inside main building_12-29-2011_028.jpg
    Inside main building_12-29-2011_028.jpg
    487.8 KB · Views: 410
  • Katlyn (I think-)_12-29-2011_002.jpg
    Katlyn (I think-)_12-29-2011_002.jpg
    532.7 KB · Views: 436
  • Liz - 211 Spokeswoman_12-29-2011_015.jpg
    Liz - 211 Spokeswoman_12-29-2011_015.jpg
    422.3 KB · Views: 426
  • Liz 211_12-29-2011_014.jpg
    Liz 211_12-29-2011_014.jpg
    306.6 KB · Views: 360
  • Liz and Scott_12-29-2011_013.jpg
    Liz and Scott_12-29-2011_013.jpg
    410.3 KB · Views: 422
  • Liz with stick_12-29-2011_005.jpg
    Liz with stick_12-29-2011_005.jpg
    468.9 KB · Views: 432
  • Magpie in doorway_12-29-2011_030.jpg
    Magpie in doorway_12-29-2011_030.jpg
    462.3 KB · Views: 409
  • Magpie looks down_12-29-2011_007.jpg
    Magpie looks down_12-29-2011_007.jpg
    567.9 KB · Views: 400
  • Magpie shoots Liz_12-29-2011_016.jpg
    Magpie shoots Liz_12-29-2011_016.jpg
    484.7 KB · Views: 401
  • Morsby in mud_12-29-2011_006.jpg
    Morsby in mud_12-29-2011_006.jpg
    609 KB · Views: 413
  • Mud bath bathroom_12-29-2011_038.jpg
    Mud bath bathroom_12-29-2011_038.jpg
    459.8 KB · Views: 424
  • Mud bath close up_12-29-2011_036.jpg
    Mud bath close up_12-29-2011_036.jpg
    426.8 KB · Views: 385
  • Mud beard_12-29-2011_026.jpg
    Mud beard_12-29-2011_026.jpg
    357.6 KB · Views: 415
  • Mud Pot Pano_12-29-2011_011.jpg
    Mud Pot Pano_12-29-2011_011.jpg
    304.7 KB · Views: 387
  • Mud Pots - Large Pano_12-29-2011_022.jpg
    Mud Pots - Large Pano_12-29-2011_022.jpg
    168.8 KB · Views: 379
  • Nothing left_12-29-2011_033.jpg
    Nothing left_12-29-2011_033.jpg
    592.2 KB · Views: 404
  • Now im scared._12-29-2011_025.jpg
    Now im scared._12-29-2011_025.jpg
    444.9 KB · Views: 401
  • Old spa baths_12-29-2011_035.jpg
    Old spa baths_12-29-2011_035.jpg
    206.8 KB · Views: 418
  • Outer wall_12-29-2011_032.jpg
    Outer wall_12-29-2011_032.jpg
    423.9 KB · Views: 405
  • Pit pano_12-29-2011_020.jpg
    Pit pano_12-29-2011_020.jpg
    538.8 KB · Views: 526
  • Scott poses with mud_12-29-2011_010.jpg
    Scott poses with mud_12-29-2011_010.jpg
    448 KB · Views: 391
  • Scott squishes it_12-29-2011_003.jpg
    Scott squishes it_12-29-2011_003.jpg
    508.7 KB · Views: 405
  • Sitting around the pot_12-29-2011_021.jpg
    Sitting around the pot_12-29-2011_021.jpg
    877.2 KB · Views: 432
  • Stairs to salt_12-29-2011_037.jpg
    Stairs to salt_12-29-2011_037.jpg
    489.1 KB · Views: 403
  • The gang at Mud Pots_12-29-2011_018.jpg
    The gang at Mud Pots_12-29-2011_018.jpg
    786.4 KB · Views: 422
  • Window to emptyness_12-29-2011_039.jpg
    Window to emptyness_12-29-2011_039.jpg
    349.8 KB · Views: 407
  • Window to the wastes_12-29-2011_029.jpg
    Window to the wastes_12-29-2011_029.jpg
    651.4 KB · Views: 419
  • You have a large chin_12-29-2011_024.jpg
    You have a large chin_12-29-2011_024.jpg
    448.6 KB · Views: 401
  • slide.jpg
    slide.jpg
    105.1 KB · Views: 67,320
Last edited:

roadohio

Member
Joined
Sep 7, 2010
Messages
13
Reaction score
2
Location
ohio
These are some badass pics man, thanks for sharing them. I really want to get out to the desert sometime.. maybe stop by slab city and east jesus :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Matt Derrick

About us

  • Squat the Planet is the world's largest social network for misfit travelers. Join our community of do-it-yourself nomads and learn how to explore the world by any means necessary.

    More Info

Latest Library Uploads