Sunday, February 27, 2011

Horsetail Fall, Yosemite National Park, CA


Horsetail Fall, February 2016, Yosemite National Park, CA
Horsetail Fall, February 2016, Yosemite National Park, CA

For many years, I have desired to visit Yosemite National Park to photograph the natural fire-fall. No, these aren't the lava spewing, heat dispensing falls of fire like the ones in the LOTR movies. Rather, for a few days in February, the sun's angle is such that it lights up 'Horsetail Fall' in Yosemite National Park as if it were on fire. It really is a spectacular sight and one that I have been fortunate to photograph many times over the years.

Horsetail Fall, February 2021, Yosemite National Park, CA
Horsetail Fall, Yosemite National Park, CA, February 2021

This fall was made famous by Galen Rowell through his photograph 'Last light on Horsetail Fall.' Since then, throngs of photographers descend upon Yosemite during the month of February, to capture this natural wonder. This event happens twice a year - in October and in February. During October, the fall is dry and hence one cannot see the event. There are exceptions though. In October 2021, a rainstorm led to the fall flowing during the peak event window and the “firefall” came alive for a day in the park. Even in February, a few conditions have to be met before one can see this beautiful phenomenon - there should be sufficient snow melt for the fall to flow and the sun should not be obstructed by clouds around sunset (when this phenomenon takes place). During this window in February, as the evening sets in and the sun goes down, the light falling on El Capitan assumes a rich golden color. As the sun nears the horizon, the light falling on either side of the fall, gets narrower and narrower, until the light is focused just on the fall, giving the illusion that the fall is on fire.

Horsetail Fall, Yosemite National Park, CA
Horsetail Fall Progression, Yosemite National Park, CA, February 2021

Traditionally, there have been two good locations to view and photograph Horsetail Fall. The most famous one is on Northside Drive, near the El Capitan Picnic Area. The other viewpoint is on Southside Drive, around a mile East of the Cathedral Beach Picnic Area. In 2019, due to increased visitation and the devastating impact on the riverbank and vegetation, Yosemite decided to close access to the Southside Drive viewpoint. Currently, visitors can only view Horsetail Fall from the Northside Drive viewpoints. A few brave ones scramble up the cliffside near the 4 mile trailhead to get an unrestricted view of the phenomenon. However, scrambling up the cliffside, strewn with snow and ice, with a 45 to 50 degree incline in places, is not for the faint of heart. I remember my first time visiting Yosemite for the ‘firefall’. My friend and I arrived at Yosemite National Park around 1 pm and found a great spot with a clear view of the fall on Southside Drive (before the restrictions went into effect). We set our chairs down, mounted our cameras on tripods and high-fived each other, excited that we had got a prime spot to photograph this event. While gorging on sandwiches and washing them down with coke, we waited for sunset and watched as the initially empty landscape, began to fill up with photographers. By 4 pm, all the good spots had gone and panic was setting in among the late arrivals. Some took to the trees and some waded into the river water to try and get that perfect composition. As the excitement mounted and the friendly chatter of all present drowned the babbling of the Merced river, 'Ra' decided to play dirty and hid behind some clouds.

Horsetail Fall, Yosemite National Park, CA
Horsetail Fall, February 2011, Yosemite National Park, CA

Some of us started to get nervous, thinking that we might not see the fire-fall, while others started to pray for the clouds to part. It was really interesting to watch the reaction of people around us - people from different walks of life and interests, all hoping and praying for the clouds to part and let the sunlight through. Fifteen minutes before sunset, the clouds were completely obscuring the sun and most of us had lost hope of seeing the event. And then... Magic! The bottom of the fall started to light up as the sun's rays broke through the clouds. "It's happening", I shouted out to the other photographers nearby, who then looked up and ran towards their gear. Slowly, but surely, 'Horsetail Fall' transformed into the 'Fire-Fall' right before our eyes. Noisy chatter was replaced by shutter clicks as awe-struck spectators marveled at the sight before their eyes. And then, ten minutes later, it was all gone. The 'Fire-fall' reverted back to 'Horsetail Fall', as everyone let out a collective sigh of disappointment.

Horsetail Fall, February 2016, Yosemite National Park, CA
Horsetail Fall, February 2016, Yosemite National Park, CA

One thing is for sure - I will be back as often as possible to capture this event. I for one, just want to be in the presence of, and soak in, this indescribable beauty.

Here is a vlog of the event from February 2021:



10 comments:

  1. I have no idea about it!
    http://www.sitohogan.com

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  2. What weekend in February did you go? We were just there couple days ago, it was amazing. I'd love to go back and witness incredible light of horse tail this year. Let me know!

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    1. Hi Tasha. This phenomenon happens in the 3rd and 4th week of February. You can witness it from the 12th of Feb until the 26th of Feb. The peak time to witness this would be between 18th to 22nd of Feb.

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  3. Hey Nikhil...that's amazing! Thanks for posting. Was the point you ended up at, off the 4 mile trail?
    - Andy

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    1. Hi Andy - thanks much for your note. You can either do the 4 mile trail or head around 400 feet West from the 4 mile trailhead and then scramble around 500 feet, up the hillside. It is very treacherous (45 to 50 degree incline in places with ice and snow).

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    2. Thanks for the tip. I were there last weekend (2/19-2/20) and on the 20th we tried to do the 4 mile trail but didn't find a spot with the right angle. We then headed west towards presidential boulder west of 4 mile trail but the conditions were completely cloudy by about 4:30pm so we didn't venture to do the off trail climb as it seemed sketchy and we were not travelling light :)

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    3. Yeah - glad you didn't attempt the climb if it was cloudy. It is a treacherous climb and you would not have been happy had the event not happened due to clouds. Hopefully the water flow is better next year and you can capture the event.

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  4. Beautiful! You have the shots from up high without trees, but then show an image with pine trees at the end to the video. Is this the same area, just lower, or from a different area?
    Thanks Steve

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    1. Hi Steve - the one with the pine trees was taken from Southside Drive (at the valley level). That area is now out of bounds. You can still get that kind of a shot be walking along the trail from the 4 mile trailhead (head West and walk South of Southside Drive road, until you get a clear view of the falls). You are now not allowed to be present between Southside Drive road and the river from 12 PM to 7 PM (i.e. during the time of the event). The other shots are from high up the treeline.

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