SB Winter Sunset

 Enjoying a "winter sunset" in Santa Barbara...

A Hike Through the Utah Backcountry

Before heading back to California, we decided to go on a little hike through the backcountry. I had planned to climb to the top of a ridge to take a photo of the surrounding landscape... however, the snow was much too deep and I did not have proper equipment (needed snowshoes and pants!). Therefore, I was limited to taking photos from the trail. Next time I will plan better. Utah has a very beautiful landscape!

Sunsets Over SLC

Salt Lake City is one of the most polluted cities in the United States during the winter months. It's unfortunate, because there are some incredible views that get covered in haze. The reason for the pollution is not because of factories or cars... but rather a "Winter Inversion". Inversions occur during the winter months when normal atmospheric conditions (cool air above, warm air below) become inverted. Inversions trap a dense layer of cold air under a layer of warm air. The warm layer acts much like a lid, trapping pollutants in the cold air near the valley floor. The Wasatch Front valleys and their surrounding mountains act like a bowl, keeping this cold air in the valleys. The snow-covered valley floors reflect rather than absorb the heat from the sun, preventing the normal vertical mixing of warm and cold air. Fog exacerbates the problem, facilitating chemical reactions that create even more particles and higher pollutant concentrations. The longer the inversion lasts, the higher the levels of pollution trapped under it. The warm inversion air layer is usually displaced by a strong storm system which restores air quality to healthy levels.

One positive effect of the inversion is that it makes for some unique sunsets! The air almost glows... and it makes it seem like you're looking at an abstract painting. These are a few photos I took just as the sun had dipped below the mountains.

Sunrise Over SLC

I traveled to Utah for the Outdoor Retailer tradeshow... and instead of staying in one of the downtown hotels, I opted for a "Luxury Ski House" that I found on airbnb. The house was very well designed and was within a short distance of both the ski resorts and downtown. However, the best part about it was the view from the balcony. The house was perched on top of the foothills in Salt Lake City... and you had an incredible view of the entire valley. Unfortunately, the pollution was so bad that we could barely see the mountains the first few days (the smog did make the sunsets glow a bit more, but kind of ruined the sunrises)... luckily, a wind came through later in the week and pushed the smog away. These are a couple of photos I took on the last (and clearest) day just as the sun had risen.

Sunset Hike Part VIII - "La Fin"

Love the glow of the sky after the sun dips below the horizon. However, about 30 seconds after I took this photo, I realized that I had to hike back down the mountain without a light (other than the glow from my cell phone)... made for an interesting end to the evening. It was worth it though!

Sunset Hike Part VII - "One Last Gasp"

One last breathe before submerging beneath the ocean...

Sunset Hike Part VI - "Red Glow"

Sunset Hike Part V - "Making the Decent"

Sunset Hike Part IV - "The Climax"

Sunset Hike Part III - "Hints of Red?"

Sunset Hike Part II - "The Glow"

Sunset Hike Part 1 - "Blinded By the Light!"

The Wonderful World of Santa Barbara - "The Pier"

When I first visited Santa Barbara, the pier was one of the first places I went. However, I've only gone back a few times since I've moved here (and the times I've gone have been to take people visiting from out of town). It's a bit touristy... but there are some decent restaurants (recommend the Santa Barbara Shellfish Company) and it's a beautiful place to hang out and watch the sunset. These are a few photos I took from a somewhat recent walk.

Peru - Non Surf Photos

Staircase up to Chicama Surf Resort

Finally adding the rest of the photos from my Peruvian adventure back in May. This set features a bunch of random non-surf photos that I took over the course of two weeks. Peru is an incredible place. Everything about it is massive in scale... waves whose length can be measured in miles, giant mountains, barren desserts, lush jungles, and friendly people with big hearts. I really enjoyed my time in the country and look forward to returning.

Isolation 

The coastal town of Chicama. The Chicama Surf Resort was one of the top employers in this area... and also one of the only businesses offering year round employment. At the far end of the town was a fishery that's open for just a few months out of the year. When the fishery is in operation, there is a massive influx of men that pour into the town looking for work (it was closed when I was there). After the fishery shuts down for the season, all the men move on to the next town/job... and apparently, leave a bunch of single mothers behind them. I was told that this was quite a big problem for the area. However, they were hoping that more businesses like Chicama Surf Resort can offer year round employment.

Contemplation

Post-surf enjoyment. Cristal and Cusqueña were two of the local beers... they were quite good. 

The beautiful Chicama Surf Resort

A super friendly Brazilian surfer I met during the trip. 

On the cliff looking toward Chicama. 

The coastal areas of Peru receive less than an inch of rain per year... and it causes the landscape to look like the surface of the moon. The ground is a mixture of sand, rocks, and dirt. Never before in my life had I seen so many rocks! One interesting thing I did while staying in Peru was take a walk into the desert. When walking in the dessert and not having anything to use to measure scale, everything ends up being much farther away then you anticipate (such as that mountain in the background). On this particular day, there was a lot of wind gusts blowing (as is common for this area)... and as you walked up and down hills,  you would get blasted by the wind. It was rad to stop in between hills where the wind was blocked and just listen to the sound of nothingness.

The road leading out of the desert and into the town.

The coastal areas of Peru receive an incredible amount of wind... and apparently, this windmill used to power the entire town. However, it broke about 2 years ago. Instead of trying fix it, the government decided to bring in power from elsewhere. It seemed like a waste to not use such a plentiful and renewable natural resource. At least the windmill made for a good back drop on the photos. 

Morocco - "The Sand"

The seaside town of Tifnit (one of the favorite spots I visited).

Morocco is a very beautiful country with a unique culture and interesting landscape. When I visited, I spent the majority of my time close to the town of Agadir. The climate in this region is very dry and desert-like (If you go a bit further south, you will be in the Western Sahara). These are a few pictures I took from the beaches around Agadir. I loved the washed out colors of the buildings and the bright/blue contrast of the ocean.

Sand Dunes at another deserted beach.

Loved the washed out colors of the homes mixed with the desert sands.

Cool color combination.

Can I get some flare?

Another charming seaside village on sand dunes.

Yes?

The fleet of fishing boats at Tifnit

Loved the doors on the buildings in Morocco. Seemed like every house had a unique entry.

Making the trek to the reef break at Tifnit.

Could I get some building with my satellite TV? (only about 5 of the 500 channels were in English) I stayed in one of these apartments featured on the right.

Flying from Casablanca to Agadir... Atlas mountains in the background.