Firefall - The magical event
Place : Yosemite National Park , California
Date : 20th Feb- 2021
This piece of magic doesn’t always happen except in the last two weeks of February , there must be good water flow (snowpack) and clear skies to the west so the sun rays backlight the waterfall .
This was my 1st time and I consider myself lucky enough to witness this magic as there are many natural things that have to align to make this possible.
Galen Rowell was the one to thank for this .
Curious to know why ? Read the below :
In a February 1973 evening, photographer Galen Rowell (He was a was a wilderness photographer, adventure photojournalist and climber) saw the setting sun lights Horsetail Fall against the dark shadowy East Buttress of El Capitan in Yosemite Valley. This reminded him of the old Yosemite Firefall from Glacier Point. The next day he was riding around the valley with a park ranger who had never seen this amazing display before.
“I broke the speed limit racing the light to the base, where I jumped a signed fence with my 300mm lens to get a clear view,” Galen writes in his book The Art of Adventure Photography
The waterfall looks so faded (1st picture) and then few minutes before the sunset it starts shining ( 2nd picture ) and then slowly turns to red (3rd picture) and finally looks like lava flowing from the above ( 4th picture). This would last for 10 to 15 minutes . This was one of the most beautiful and magical event I have ever witnessed.
Tips for planning your trip in the future :
Now that I have been there and experienced it I thought not to keep this to myself and provide some tips to the people who are planning to visit this in the future.
I have created the below list of things to keep in mind while planning for the trip.
Entry pass : Make sure you have an entry pass. You can book your entry pass in the NPS official website . The entry pass is valid for 1 week once you enter on the day you have booked it for.
Stay : Want to save your time here by recommending the place that I have booked during my trip. I would highly recommend this place - Yosemite View Lodge , which was just 5 minutes away from the West Yosemite Nation Park entry point and also has a small kitchen . I have been there for 5 days . They do have Wifi available for purchase (10$ per day for 2 devices) which is super fast that you can also consider working from here .
First and the most important : Wear your masks, carry sanitizers . It is really crowded and safety is the most important thing in this pandemic time.
Arrive early : If you want a spot to park and to find the best spot to witness the Firefall make sure you reach at least by 3 PM.
Note : You better be prepared for 1.5 miles of walk one way from the parking area.
Water and Food : I would recommend you to carry water and food if you are arriving early. If not you might have to walk back more than 1.5 miles to the Yosemite Valley Lodge food area for food and restrooms.
What to wear : The temperature drops immediately after the sunset. Be prepared for the cold weather and pack layers accordingly .
Good to have :
Flash light / Head lamp
Chairs or tarp , as you would be waiting there for hours .
Sun Glasses
Gloves / hand warmers
Hiking / Walking shoes
Couldn't end the post without sharing the BTS
Thank you for reading this .
Stay tuned for more stories !
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