Huge Waves hit the Big Sur coast!!!

Ok,

In keeping with everyone's warning I decided to go and shoot the big waves yesterday early morning at Garrapata.

Seriously though I do appreciate the words of caution as it was very dangerous. And I wanted a closer view of things so as you are about to see it got a bit scary. I will share links this time since I would need to wait ~ 4 more days to post more photos.

In this first image the spray shot up way above the cliffs at least 50'+ in the air:

http://landandseaphoto.smugmug.com/Seascapes/Big-Sur-Seascapes/10828392_2Vfh7#762866546_uVGNr-A-LB

I was shooting from behind a large rock/seastack so I had some protection from the oncoming waves. But the spray was obviously shooting above my head:

http://landandseaphoto.smugmug.com/Seascapes/Big-Sur-Seascapes/10828392_2Vfh7#762102786_56wwF-A-LB

This is the sequence of the largest one which came the closest to getting me wet:
http://landandseaphoto.smugmug.com/Seascapes/Big-Sur-Seascapes/10828392_2Vfh7#762803147_nz2u3-A-LB

http://landandseaphoto.smugmug.com/Seascapes/Big-Sur-Seascapes/10828392_2Vfh7#762242479_cjgqF-A-LB

All in all it was a spectacular sight to watch. While the light wasn't the greatest the wave size more than made up for it. But being carefull is something I still need watch. As an old surfer these big waves really get the adrenaline pumping.

Derek

The big waves could be related to the recent seismic activity? There was a recent 6 quake off the coast. Enjoy the drama generated for your compositions while it lasts, but yes don't get swept away.

Glad you are still alive!! In my younger foolhardy days I almost got pulled out to sea by a large wave at "acid beach", just north of Santa Cruz. To this day I can't relax around large waves....

Tony,

I am fairly familiar with the Santa Cruz area. But I have never heard of Acid Beach. So I did a quick google of it and found one mention of it above Scott Creek? Is that the place you are talking about? And just out of curiousity how did you almost get pulled out to sea there?

BTW, on my wedding day I surfed Scott Creek before walking down the aisle in a small chapel in the Santa Cruz Mtns.

Derek

Hmmm, that sounds like a beach reference from foolish young punks trying new experiments... with what might have been legal products at the time?

Actually, probably illegal at the time. The beach access is marked (at least it was 30 years ago) only by a lone cypress on the east side of the highway, somewhere north of Davenport. Getting to the beach involves walking down a funky path from high up on the cliffs. Once on the beach, to the north is a sea cave which you can walk through to another larger beach. I mistakingly thought it was high tide, because on a previous visit I couldn't walk through because there was too much water. So four of us crossed over, took magic mushrooms, and didn't notice that the tide was actually coming in. When it was time to leave, we were trapped on the beach. It was obvious from the seaweed markers that sometimes the tide came in all the way to the cliffs, meaning we would be totally screwed. We stood at the rocks trying to figure out if we could make it through and out, or if we would get swept away. As we were contemplating this, a wave broke on the rocks and started pulling me out. One of my companions grabbed my shirt tail and held onto me with one hand and the rocks with another, until the swell died down. Now we were soaking wet, the day was giving way to night, and we had nothing else to do but to get as far up on the sand as we could and spent the night trading bottom position in a body pile hoping the tide wouldn't come all the way up to the cliffs. Miraculously it didn't, and in the morning we walked out, stiff from shivering all night but thrilled to be alive. That was the last sea cave I walked through, and the last time I took mushrooms.

Yes it always pays to be careful no matter where you are. Mountainside,cliffside or seaside I don't think the world's greatest image is worth getting seriously hurt or dead over, besides if your dead you can't post process it and bask in the glow of your accomplishments on NPN or on CANP. Nice images Derek on your links, but it does look like you might have been pushing the envelope a little.

Tony,

Wow that is quite a story! Yikes!!! Its amazing that you guys actually slept there all night until the tide went back out. It also makes one wonder how those of us who lived through the 60s and 70s actually survived?

Derek

Man that must have been awesome to shoot amongst such an angry sea. I can only imagine the sounds that accompanied those sights. Good stuff and well worth it IMO.

Derek, good stuff! Go on Wednesday if you can, there will be some ANGRY seas coming!

Derek,
Nice shots. Glade you managed the rough conditions. I had a buddy knocked around by a rouge wave that hit him at Lands' End about a week ago, while shooting the "big" waves. He's luck there were people around who pulled him out of the surf before he was swept away. It always pays to be extremely careful out there. Best Regards.

Impressive! Looks like there may be a lot more of this coming in next week, along with some pretty stormy weather.