Valley of the Smoke

We are subject to weather inversions here.  Warmer air above traps air near the ground and prevents mixing of warm and cold air.  It creates hazy conditions near the ground, as you can see in this picture.  You can see the upper air is clear,  and the ground air looks hazy and smoggy. This is not necessarily a pollution problem. The Indians (Native Americans) called the area Valley of the Smoke because of the phenomenon, which existed long before automobiles and industrial pollution.  If you look carefully, you may be able to see the lake in front of the mountains.