Horsetail Firefall
Yosemite puts on a unique show this time of year.
Horsetail Falls is a small seasonal waterfall that only appears in late winter and early spring. It flows over the east side of El Capitan, so as a backdrop it has one of the most impressive walls of granite in the entire park. Then – only for part of February, and only when the sky is clear – the very last sunrays of the day selectively linger on the falls, lighting it up with a golden glow that makes the water look like lava.
After seeing amazing photos of this scene from many different photographers here on Flickr, I decided to try my hand at it too. Originally I planned to drive to Yosemite this past weekend, but the weather forced me to reconsider. On Thursday the forecast showed clouds and snow moving in on Friday and potentially sticking around for a long time. So I pulled the trigger early.
I took Thursday afternoon off work, rushed out of San Francisco just before 1pm, and found myself in Yosemite Valley a little after 4pm. The sky was not encouraging. A hazy layer of high clouds covered the entire route from San Francisco to Yosemite and I began to worry that the odds of catching the full ‘firefall’ effect were slim to none. But you don’t know if you don’t go, so I crossed my fingers and kept driving.
By 4:30 I’d joined a crowd of 20 or so other photographers who had gathered near a pull-off on the south side of the valley loop road. It wasn't easy to find an unoccupied spot with a clear view of the falls, but I scouted out an ideal location right on the edge of the Merced River. At this point the sun started to peek through, and – at the risk of jinxing it – I let myself begin to hope I might actually get the shot.
The layer of high clouds never backed off, but an opening on the horizon let direct light pass through once the sun dropped low enough. At about 5:20 the firefall effect started to emerge, followed by the sound of rapid clicking from all 20 cameras around me. I took this shot at 5:28, which turned out to be the peak. A minute later the clouds shut down the show.
I’m thankful the clouds opened as much as they did, but I really wish I could have captured the effect at full strength... I've been ready for a second try, although it’s looking like the weather may not cooperate again this year.
Comments and faves
MedEvac71, hanson_s_lee, sjj62, Automatt, and 975 other people added this photo to their favorites.
KirkOls (27 months ago | reply)
fantastic shot! what great timing and an interesting story. thank you!
ChKESE (27 months ago | reply)
I've read about this in Galen Rowell's writings...this is indeed an amazing sight! Great shot!
ColdSummerPics (27 months ago | reply)
It actually looks like lava! Superb and unique shot! Bravo!
Bob Kent (27 months ago | reply)
WOW at first I thought they had started the firefalls again. Great shot!
sjj62 (27 months ago | reply)
Thanks for posting this. It's a great shot and an interesting story. I can only dream of being able to jump in my car and driving over to take this type of shot.
mm767cap (27 months ago | reply)
I've been dying to get this shot, and this just absolutely KILLS me!! Great job getting it, and it looks pretty darned close to peak to me!!! Next year I guess. Sigh.
Dante Laurini Jr (27 months ago | reply)
This is awesome, Rob!!
srednierm/Marty (27 months ago | reply)
Incredible!
srednierm/Marty (27 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Celebrate California , and we'd love to have this added to the group!
smiles7 (27 months ago | reply)
Lucky you............most most incredible.
jjamv OFF/UK (27 months ago | reply)
an outstanding capture. it made all the effort very worthwhile. congrats. a Gave
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JaveFoto (27 months ago | reply)
Nice!
davesix (27 months ago | reply)
Spectacular!
As they say, good luck is careful planning, properly executed.
kcvensel (27 months ago | reply)
This is amazing, right place, right time!
Raymond's Glass Eye (27 months ago | reply)
I like this looser comp showing the surrounding foreground trees.
mark willocks (27 months ago | reply)
Thanks for sticking out the long drive and sharing your treasure with us.
joe defao (27 months ago | reply)
Well, it looks like you nailed it. That glow is perfect. Great job making it from SF to Yosemite in 3 hrs. too ;)
Ana Santos (27 months ago | reply)
Oooh, I love this.
tschaus (27 months ago | reply)
great catch. "don't know if you don't go..."
stevenbulman44 (27 months ago | reply)
Fire on the mountain. Superb capture, I always wondered if this was possible. Superb work
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IM4UF (27 months ago | reply)
WOW! Amazing shot and great story too. I never saw anything like this before, wow!
mawa_73527 mawpix.com (27 months ago | reply)
Magic!
Extra Medium (27 months ago | reply)
It's on my list of places to go. Been there, but never to see this. Perfect location here!
Dan Wiklund (27 months ago | reply)
Looks fantastic. I have also seen this scene on flickr before and it looks amazing. You have managed to get the rest of the scene well lit and the details for instance the trees on top of the mountain helps convey the scale.
A Sutanto (27 months ago | reply)
Perfect!
derooynell (27 months ago | reply)
Magical picture of what looks to be hot molten lava OR what also looks to be beautiful liquid gold streaming down the giant granite rockface. of the mountain. Absolutely well done and oh so lucky you were to have been at the right place at the right time to get "THAT shot!" FABULOUS!
pixlperfect (27 months ago | reply)
Very cool- it really does look like molten lava... well done!
wasatchreflections (27 months ago | reply)
Great timing and wonderful shot. An instant Fave.
kinoshaman (27 months ago | reply)
awesome shot. Definitely goes on my list.
2HandzUp1913 (27 months ago | reply)
Spectacular!!!
mcmillend (27 months ago | reply)
stunning shot of this classic view!
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lkylindy (27 months ago | reply)
I have always wanted to see this in person!! What a stunning shot!!
Photo Nut2010 (27 months ago | reply)
Great shot. It's amazing what opportunity opens up to you when you least expect it.
anslatadams (27 months ago | reply)
Wow! That's amazing! I really thought it was lava at first! Great capture! Congrats! And congratulations on making "Explore"!!
gargaro (27 months ago | reply)
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dgt0011 (27 months ago | reply)
That. Is. Hot.
Mick h 51 (27 months ago | reply)
Wow !
great shot !
José Miguel - www.josemiguelmartinez.es (27 months ago | reply)
Fantástica!!!!
i.lavrovsky (27 months ago | reply)
Truely amazing!
Arild Heitmann Photography (27 months ago | reply)
That is just unbelievably cool!
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keithtrueman (27 months ago | reply)
Awesome awesome....brilliant capture. Your so lucky to have been there.
Michael Scott | scottphotographics.com (27 months ago | reply)
Epic Shot!
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J a ƒ ƒ a (27 months ago | reply)
This is amazing. I've never heard of this before.
Janet 59 (27 months ago | reply)
What a wonderful story and photo!
Seen in Explore
Joni N (27 months ago | reply)
Wow, fantastic capture.
Tomas Turecek Photography (27 months ago | reply)
Fantastic!
Martinca (27 months ago | reply)
Whoa, awesome!
Congrats on Explore!
elh70 (27 months ago | reply)
Amazing shot. If it's this beautiful at less that full sun it must be mind blowing with full sun.
(seen in explore)
yeoldeblackhippie (27 months ago | reply)
beautiful
raxman (27 months ago | reply)
Really amazing