"Yosemite Firefall"...final display, Summer of 68

<p>I received an eMail stating this was a natural occurrence, only able to be viewed for a brief two (2) weeks, during February. <br>

Angle of the sun to the cliff face, right time of day, etc... Bunk!</p>

<p>Does anyone have memories of these summer displays in the park?<br>

Man made, not a natural occurrence at all, however, it must have been a sight to see, and photograph.</p>

<p>http://firefall.info/</p>

<p>Also, mid page, click on, "The End of a Tradition".</p>

<p>Those photos seem to be making the rounds. I received the same set of photos via e-mail from two different friends during the past couple of weeks. Never heard of this phenomenon before but I've never visited Yosemite or read much about it.</p>

<p>Thanks, Lex. At least I'm not the only person being duped, (though, be it innocently) also, from well-meaning friends & family.</p>

<p>I saw this as a student when we went camping at Yosemite, in '65 or '66. It was quite the thing then.</p>

<p><Chas></p>

<p>As I understand it, there are two things here.<br>

First there is the kicking of the bonfire off the cliff (now stopped), but there is also a natural phenomenon in which the sun comes in at sunset in February, if you're lucky (see discussion of both at <a href="http://blogs.howstuffworks.com/2010/02/08/how-the-yosemite-firefall-works/">link</a>). The two have been confused.</p>

 

<blockquote>

<p>These days you can see and photograph a natural firefall, but the conditions have to be just right. The first ingredient you need, oddly enough, is sunlight. You can’t capture this effect throughout the year, and the setting sun is only in the right position during the last two weeks of February, when it can shine a golden spotlight down the center of Yosemite Valley. Wintertime can bring clouds and storms that block the sunlight, so timing is everything</p>

</blockquote>

<p>The natural fire fall is <a href="http://www.panoramio.com/photo/8491500">horstail falls</a> on the north side of Yosemite valley. The light is only right in February. Unfortunately the weather is typically not very good. Another factor is that you need enough water for the waterfall to flow (horsetail falls is dry most of the year.). Since the 70s rainfall has become increasingly variable.Now it seams like California is constantly switching from drought to flood. Some years you don't get the light. Other years you don't have enough water.</p>

<p>Galen Rowell has a nice shot of the <strong>"<a href="http://www.mountainlight.com/gallery.classics/images.html">firefall"</a></strong> on his site. The copyright date is from 1973.</p>

<p>I stand corrected. Thank you all for the additional info, and links.<br>

With the ever increasing number of 'digital alterations' being passed along as real, my skepticism got the better of me.</p>

<p>Marc, the man-made firefall was for real, and quite a spectacular sight to behold. I can still hear the cry from Camp Curry, "let the fire fall!" I was fortunate to witness it many times from the mid 50's up to 1968, the last year it was held. From your link, click on reader contributions for personal accounts. Also PBS has available a DVD from a California's Gold segment on the history of the firefall, for those interested.</p>

In the movie, The Caine Mutiny, The ensign and his girl are vacationing in Yosemite. You can see the firefall in this clip:

 

 

I wonder how Ansel Adams felt about that practice?

<p>It really was something to see. I saw it on a family trip in about 1960 or so. Even then parking and traffic was a problem as people tried to get to the better viewing areas. OTOH, as the natrual firefall becomes more well known, it wouldn't surprise me if there won't be crowds of people trying to catch it as well.</p>