HORSETAIL FALLS YOSEMITE MAGIC
Horsetail Falls is a annual phenomena that can be witnessed in February. Horsetail Falls only flows when there has been snow on top of El Capitan and it becomes warm enough to begin the snow melt. During Lat February the sun sets at an an angle that lights up the falls just as the sun is setting have the appearance of fire falling off the cliff. In 1973 photographer Galen Rowell took the first-known photograph of the natural Yosemite Firefall. Rowell’s photo greatly increasing the Firefall’s fame among landscape photographers and Yosemite aficionados, but it wasn’t until the advent of digital photography and social media that the Firefall achieved global fame. As dramatic images of the Firefall spread around the world, more and more people came by for a look. These days hundreds of photographers and spectators visit Yosemite Valley each February, hoping to catch a rare glimpse of this amazing natural phenomenon.
Some times referred to as “FireFall” this event should not be confused with the Firefall off of Glacier Point which took place nightly for may years.
The Yosemite Firefall was a summer time event that began in 1872 and continued for almost a century, in which burning hot embers were spilled from the top of Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park to the valley 3,000 feet below. From a distance it appeared as a glowing waterfall. The owners of the Glacier Point Hotel conducted the firefall. History has it that David Curry, founder of Camp Curry, would stand at the base of the fall, and yell “Let the fire fall,” each night as a signal to start pushing the embers over.
The Firefall ended in January 1968, when George B. Hartzog, then the director of the National Park Service, ordered it to stop because the overwhelming number of visitors that it attracted trampled the meadows, and because it was not a natural event. The NPS wanted to preserve the valley, returning it to its natural state. The Glacier Point Hotel was destroyed by fire 18 months later and was not rebuilt. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yosemite_Firefall )
This years Horsetail Falls event was my forth attempt to photograph the falls and my most successful. Last year the view was obscured the day i was there by clouds to the west blocking the sunset. The year before there was so little water flowing ther was not much to see.
What do you think about this years attempt?
Happy Trails – The Photo Alchemist
Joseph Hawkins
Check out previous posts:
Corlieu Falls – Which do your like Best?
Social Distancing - Take a Hike in the Woods During these uncertain times with the global pandemic of COVID-19 virus we are all looking for ways to stay safe and occupied. I was able to get outside and take a hike in the Sierra National Forest along the Lewis Creek...
Does if have to be Black & White to be Real Landscape Photography
Black and White Landscapes Those who have seen and followed my photography know if like Color - Vivid deep saturated color. It has not escaped me that many of the famous, well known photographers only published in black and white. It got me thinking about how my...
Ansel Adams Wilderness
Ansel Adams Wilderness - Sierra Nevada This trip into the Eastern Sierra Nevada was into the Ansel Adams Wilderness. We hiked into the Wilderness along the Pacific Crest Trail from Agnew Meadows up to Thousand Island Lake where we spent two beautiful nights. The...
John Muir Wilderness
John Muir Wilderness - Sierra Nevada I took a weekend trip to the central Sierra Nevada into the John Muir Wilderness in preparation for a longer trip next month. This tree day two night trip started at Lake Thomas Edison from where we hiked up to Devils Bathtub the...
Utah – Photography Heaven
Southern Utah is a Photographers Dream Location A road trip to southern Utah should be on every landscape photographer’s wish list. With six national parks, five national monuments, and other national recreation areas and historic sites the natural landscape offers...
Milky Way over Half Dome
In June the Milky Way appears arching over Half Dome seen from North dome in Yosemite National Park
0 Comments