The Santa Ana Winds are clearly evinced using an inadvertent smoke dye in the sky. These hot, dry winds are the cause of some of California’s — and the world’s — most costly wildfires (courtesy NASA/BBC).
I am a child of Southern California. Though I feel more out of place there than anywhere else […]

The underwater topography of Mavericks is what creates monster waves. The large reef known as “The Thumb” helps propel walls of water as high as 100 feet or more. Image courtesy The San Francisco Chronicle.

In 1994, legendary big wave surfer Mark Foo died while riding an 18-foot wave. The location was at Mavericks; and he […]

Eureka Valley Dunes, Death Valley National Park

My first experience at the Eureka Dunes was with a Geography field course in college. We learned the basics of the barchan dune, crescent dune, transverse dune… But what I remember most about it was its music.
These sand dunes literally sing. The cacaphonic wave resembles a far away […]