Stamp My Passport: The golden 'Firefall' - Horsetail Fall, Yosemite National Park (California, USA)

Written by Ljupka Andonovska (Stamp My Passport)

'The best things in life aren't things.' - Art Buchwald

As this well known aphorism and quote says, life is too short to overindulge into the material world which surrounds us. People should enjoy more and firmly grasp the moments filled with glimpses of happiness and pure joy alongside with their family and friends. It's the untouchable world in our lives that counts.

There is one rare and rather unique experience which is able to put a smile on one's face while gazing upon one of the most incredible and breathtaking views in the world.

Horsetail Falls Yosemite by Stan Rapada

This spectacle known as the FIREFALL or the Falls of Fire, takes place in California, USA, at the Yosemite National Park's Horsetail Fall, on the east side of El Capitan, a vertical rock formation located on the north side of Yosemite Valley. It's a seasonal and ephemeral waterfall, flowing only twice a year, in winter and early spring. If all conditions are in order, if there is enough water, if the waterfall is flowing with enough water in February, and there is a perfect sunset on the horizon, the sun starts to illuminate the waterfall and the falling water is colored in hues of gold, orange and red, making an impression and a perfect illusion of a liquid gold falling at around 470 m of height! It's like the water drops are staring to transform into liquid lava particles. For around two weeks in February, the sunset is 'kissing' the waterfall and it is creating a deep golden glow.

The name "Firefall" pays homage to the Firefall event that once took place in Yosemite. It started in the summer of 1872, with an annual continuum for almost a century. 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. It was conducted by the owners of the Glacier Point Hotel. The 'firefalls' ended in January 1968, when the National Park Service ordered it to stop because of the overwhelming number of visitors it attracted, plus the fact that it was not a natural event. The hotel itself was destroyed by fire one year later and was not rebuilt. The Firefalls were performed at 9pm seven nights a week as the final act of a performance at Camp Curry. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yosemite_Firefall]

However, the fame which started to travel around the world, regarding this natural phenomenon, was actually created by photographer, Galen Rowell, who in 1973 took the first photograph of the Firefall known to the public, and the fame and popularity only increased with the rise of the digital photography, Internet and social media.

Annually, hundreds of professional photographers, amateurs and tourists gather at Yosemite National Park, just to see a glimpse of this short theatrical play in which Nature is the main protagonist. Yosemite National Park spans over 3,000 km and attracts 3.5 million visitors a year.

Useful tips and info, if you ever decide to go & visit:

- Coordinates of the waterfall: 37.729124°N 119.628475°W
- Coordinates of the picnic area: 37°43’37.75″N 119°37’16.60″W
- Yosemite Entrance Fee is $20.
- Come early to get a good spot
- In order to take the perfect photographs and to pick a good angle and moment, the weather conditions must be right. If not, you are going to get back without a single shot of the 'golden waterfall'.
- Needed equipment for the perfect shot:
--- 200mm to 300mm lens to isolate the waterfall
--- tripod
--- cable release
- To see Horsetail Fall, park at the El Capitan picnic area (on Northside Drive west of Yosemite Lodge) or in turnouts just east of the picnic area. You can see the waterfall from the road. http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/waterfalls.htm
- How to get at the waterfall:
"There is a small picnic area (GPS below) about 1.7miles from Yosemite Village. From here, walk about 200m east to a small clearing. You cannot miss the spot. If you arrive at the correct time of the year, a group of photographers always eagerly awaits the sunset at this location. Pick a spot with a good view of the face of El Capitan. Try to position yourself further to the left of the group." - [How to photograph the Yosemite Firefall, http://ca.myphotoscout.com/2009/01/28/yosemite-firefall-horestail-fall/]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyoa-QfeGho

Useful links:
http://yosemitefirefall.com/the-natural-firefall-horsetail-fall/
http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/waterfalls.htm
http://ca.myphotoscout.com/2009/01/28/yosemite-firefall-horestail-fall/
http://www.yosemitepark.com/horsetail-fall.aspx
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1359143/Horsetail-Falls-The-amazing-2-000ft-natural-firefall-strikes-Yosemite-National-Park.html

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