High Sierra Topix

I drive the section of Old Mammoth Road that heads up to the Lakes Basin frequently. I've noticed that over the past month, the area around the Panorama Dome Trailhead and Mammoth Rock Trailhead consistently stinks like either sewage or sulfur. I hiked Mammoth Rock Trail today and so was in the bog of stench for quite some time, and decided to ask. The smell is similar to the fumarole on Mammoth Mountain, but much, much worse. In the evening, the smell drifts down to the Valentine reserve area and Red Fir Rd.

Is this something volcanic? Or is there a sewer somewhere out there in the middle of nowhere?

Dollars to donuts. Volcanic.
L.A. Times: 10/9/15

Nearly three dozen earthquakes have rattled the Mammoth Lakes region in less than 24 hours as the area continues to experience ripple effects of "volcanic unrest," according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The temblors -- all between magnitude 2.5 and 3.8 -- have struck since 9 a.m. Thursday, with the latest recorded at 1:49 a.m. Friday, according to the USGS. The 3.8-quake occurred at 9:21 p.m. with an epicenter six miles from Mammoth Lakes.

Heightened earthquake and ground uplift activity have been measured at Mammoth Mountain and the Long Valley Caldera over the last few decades.

I bet Mark will have an answer. The Long Valley Caldera has been bulging for quite some time. Maybe a volcanic gas release? (fart) Path of least resistance?

I thought this was going to be a restaurant review!

LOL, I thought it was going to be political.

What stinks in Mammoth you ask?
Could be an old dirt bagger but I think I changed my shorts, just this month.

Seriously though, could be, most likely volcanic and sporadic - sulfur smell and all...lots of recent activity. BTW, pretty normal here in Mammoth.
I seldom go up that way - using Old Mammoth to get the lakes basin, (use Lake Mary rd instead), but just last month they had a drain/ fix-it crew at Twin Lakes, many trucks/rock vacuums working down deep, large pipes - asked why - "a clog with 'spillage' overflow"...has to be going down to somewhere, maybe deep, down the old road runoff?

To add, taken directly from this week's local Mammoth Times -

"The Mammoth Community Water District has just completed work on the sewer system (thank you!) and that's a good thing, because you know, open sewer lines really don't smell that good, no matter how good the crews are at their job..."

Cracker Jack local reporting here

markskor wrote:What stinks in Mammoth you ask?
Could be an old dirt bagger but I think I changed my shorts, just this month.

Seriously though, could be, most likely volcanic and sporadic - sulfur smell and all...lots of recent activity. BTW, pretty normal here in Mammoth.
I seldom go up that way - using Old Mammoth to get the lakes basin, (use Lake Mary rd instead), but just last month they had a drain/ fix-it crew at Twin Lakes, many trucks/rock vacuums working down deep, large pipes - asked why - "a clog with 'spillage' overflow"...has to be going down to somewhere, maybe deep, down the old road runoff?

markskor wrote:To add, taken directly from this week's local Mammoth Times -

"The Mammoth Community Water District has just completed work on the sewer system (thank you!) and that's a good thing, because you know, open sewer lines really don't smell that good, no matter how good the crews are at their job..."

Cracker Jack local reporting here

Ah, thanks. I remember seeing those trucks and long hoses and having to dodge them on the way up to the lakes. Though, seems such a weird place to route a sewage pipe. That indeed must be what I am smelling. With the rain last week, it probably "reactivated" itself in stagnant puddles.