Yosemite Firefalls

Some of you old fogies might recall the firefalls from Glacier Point where burning embers would be pushed over a cliff.  They stopped that nonsense in 1968.  For more information on that check here: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yosemite_Firefall

There is a natural “fire”falls that is visible for a few days each year when the conditions are just right.  Caught my first one today.

“Although Horsetail Fall is visible from multiple viewpoints in Yosemite Valley, several factors must converge to trigger the Firefall. If conditions are not perfect, the Yosemite Firefall will not glow.

First and foremost, Horsetail Fall must be flowing. If there’s not enough snowpack in February, there will not be enough snowmelt to feed the waterfall, which tumbles 1,570 feet (480 meters) down the east face of El Capitan. Likewise, temperatures must be warm enough during the day to melt the snowpack. If temperatures are too cold, the snow will stay frozen and Horsetail Fall won’t flow. (Lack of runoff is also why there is no Firefall in autumn. Although the sun hits Yosemite Valley at the same angle in October as it does in February, Horsetail Falls is usually dry in October because the runoff that feeds it has long since dried up.)

Second, the western sky must be clear at sunset. If it’s cloudy the sun’s rays will be blocked and Horsetail Falls will not light up. Winter weather can be highly variable in Yosemite, however, and days that start off cloudy can clear up by sunset.

If everything comes together and conditions are just right, the Yosemite Firefall will light up for about ten minutes. To see Horsetail Fall glowing blood red is an almost supernatural experience”

https://yosemitefirefall.com/yosemite-firefall-horsetail-fall/

Took the family to check it out today.  There wasn’t much flowing water but the upper part of the falls was frozen to the wall and gave off a beautiful orange and pink glow.  Pretty cool stuff.  Like, nature, Man.  Dig?