It took me 3 visits and 8 hrs total but I managed to dig the lowest pool out. There is no more 4 feet of rotting mud. This happens because people plug the drain pipe from the inside when outside plug gets lost making it very difficult to unplug it once the pool gets some hillside mud especially after the rains we had yesterday. Nobody would dive to the bottom in complete darkness and dig thby Sam D. - California Hot Springs
Hot Springsby Sam D. - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I visited the springs yesterday 06/28/2015. I almost got the source pipe flow right. I could not spend too much time on that as there were 500+ yellowjackets getting water sip near the source. It might be a fall/winter project for me. The middle and bottom pools cannot be drained on their own. I brought some pvc ball valves but could not get to empty the pools. The drainage openings nowby Sam D. - California Hot Springs
I visited the springs yesterday 06/28/2015. The middle and bottom pools cannot be drained on their own. The drainage openings now are below the mud, so I need few laborers to bucket the water out and to dig. If anyone wants to help, please PM me or post here.by Sam D. - California Hot Springs
I was able to drive all the way in a higher clearance suv. I don't recommend the road to a sedan for the last 2 miles or so. May I ask how you know the folks who built the springs? Who is the Little Caliente historian?by Sam D. - California Hot Springs
Spillway is few miles down from the springs. It has become a really bad area. 2 people drowned recently and there's been a spike in gang activities there.by Sam D. - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Looking to get in touch with people who maintain Little Caliente HS. I just replaced the metal pipe that was connected to the source. It rusted through, broke in the middle and was unable to allow water flow. I could not completely tap into the source. There is still small flow through the dirt channel. So if you have the knowledge, please PM me. The top tub has a couple of small leaks I was aby Sam D. - California Hot Springs
http://www.vvng.com/victim-in-fatal-apple-valley-accident-identified/by Sam D. - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Came to the BR at around 11:30 ish. There were 5-6 cars – not too bad. I saw 3 cars in the freedom trail lot. The FJ Cruiser group did a decent cleanup job. The trail looked as good as I’ve seen it in years. Nevertheless, I collected 1.25 bags of trash along the way. I collected only what I could reach on the trail not hiking up and down as I usually do – I had been plagued by leg cramps asby Sam D. - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
sent you a PM.by Sam D. - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Hi! I appreciate in advance the pics of the pile. I told some of my friends about it and they did not believe me. Please do not post the pics on the forum. I sent you a PM with my email. Many thanks in advance, Sam D.by Sam D. - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I got an unusual request. Can somebody please take a picture of the pile by the sign? I talked to few folks who thought I was exaggerating. Do not post it here please. PM me your email address and I can email you mine. Many thanks, Sam D.by Sam D. - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Laura, Thank you for taking care of the trash. Please post here few days in advance when your workparty is going to the springs. I might come and I am certain other people might join the efforts. Many thanks, Sam D.by Sam D. - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I was going to visit another HS but fire related hwy closures steered me towards DC. I arrived at the ranch at 12:00. There were 7 cars there. I encountered 2 single guys and 1 couple leaving the springs. It was raining decently at the ranch and first half of the trail. It took me 1.5 to get down to the springs. I collected 2.5 bags of trash on the trail where I could reach. I hanged one on thby Sam D. - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
http://news.msn.com/us/girl-9-killed-by-brain-eating-parasite-in-waterby Sam D. - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I encouter all the time people who think I like trash and that's why I am collecting it. On Sat I actually ended up taking some trash from few folks who were going to leave it at the springs. I gave them my usual talk but nevertheless...by Sam D. - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I am not going to leave any more bags for people to carry unless I tape a sign to the bags saying something like: There is no trash services at the springs. Do not add your trash to these bags - these bags are what volunteers picked up after inbred nitwits. Please help the springs by carrying some of it. P.M. me the wording if you feel strongly about it. Coming to think of it... if you aby Sam D. - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I arrived at the Bowen Ranch around 12 PM. There were 5 cars in the lot. It took me about 1.5 hrs to hike down as I picked up some trash on the trail and lower parking lot. I left one bag on the trail and somebody took it up. Thank you whoever you are. There were about 20 people at the springs. Overall it was a mellow crowd though I prefer less screaming. Only 2.5 people were CO. The water tby Sam D. - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Every time I visit I gather at least 2 lbs of broken glass. I will never go barefoot in that place.by Sam D. - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
$7,000 /hr for helicopter up to medium SUV. I've heard of a guy who got billed $23,000 after his truck broke down on a one way Titus canyon in Death Valley.by Sam D. - California Hot Springs
Currently, both passes are in decent shape for a passenger car with stiff suspension to make it BUT the last 7 miles are very bad. I am not sure how a passenger car can make it without hitting undercarriage. Washboard has already come back after the roads got graded. There are laser sharp rocks waiting to puncture your tires. Airing down helps with washboard, deep sand and rocks but leaves sideby Sam D. - California Hot Springs
Inyo County is responsible for plowing and grading. Usually the N. Pass gets graded once every 3 years unless it becomes impassible. I do not believe the county plows the snow. There is a working mine at the Willow Creek, so the miners might've used their equipment to plow or hired county's resource to plow. Most of the times the roads to Saline HS stay snowed in. This year both passes got grby Sam D. - California Hot Springs
Permit might not be necessary for hikes less than 500 mi and some trails have "self-issued" permits. One just fills out a form and drops it in the box.by Sam D. - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I found that PCT hikers contribute significantly to the trash problem. I've never seen anyone carrying a shovel for # 2 and I find that during their stay the used TP situation is at its worst. PCTA lists some Areas of Special Concern: http://www.pcta.org/discover-the-trail/permits/ We should write to the association to include DCHS vicinity in there. At another hot springs I visit volby Sam D. - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
3 years ago I was climbing the hill to Bowen Ranch when I saw a very large cat running to what I think was the down-the-wind side from where I was. I stopped, shined my light at it and let it know I saw it. The cat stopped and then crawled behind some rocks. It was definately stocking me. I walked down 50 yards towards the cat letting him know I was not afraid of it and I was not going to be an eby Sam D. - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
http://sometimes-interesting.com/2011/06/29/over-200-dead-bodies-on-mount-everest/by Sam D. - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Trip Report 06/21/2013 Spent a wonderful day at the springs. It took me almost 1.5 hrs to hike from Bowen Ranch. Somebody carried out a heavy bag of trash I collected and hid in the bushes half way to the lower parking lot when I was there last week. I really appreciate your help. I collected on the trail and left another 50 lbs bag in the same spot and carried it out to the lower parking loby Sam D. - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Just came back from the springs. The heat is in its full force. Just about 500 yards from the Bowen Ranch I encountered a couple who said they got lost for a while. They asked for water so I gave them 2 bottles including 1 enhanced with electrolytes. On the way back, there was another young thing that either got dehydrated or experienced a mild form of heat stroke. I gave her my last 1/2 bottle oby Sam D. - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Thank you for caring and carrying. I assumed you checked both sides of the creek for the bags? I sincerely appreciate the "mules" who hauled the bags. I am commanding all spiritual forces to send some karma to themby Sam D. - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
To Escape... I am not sure how to respond to your post. Are you asking me not to collect trash? Are you more concerned about trash locations? If so, what do you suggest? when I bag way more than I can carry? Should I just leave all the drek as is? Having a trash location is always on my mind. That's why I brought a marker to make the sign I mentioned in my previous posts. Unfortunately, I wby Sam D. - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California