Mission Firefall 2019
We had just finished shooting sunrise at Alabama Hills — it was barely 8:00 in the morning — and we bounced right out of there and stepped on the gas as hard as we could. After all, we had at least 6.5 hours on the road ahead of us. Why, you ask?
Firefall — a term familiar to most of you reading this and other photography enthusiasts.
The first time I heard of this natural phenomenon was sometime around October 2018, and naturally, as a photography enthusiast myself, I was intrigued & interested in capturing it. So began the quest for the next possible Firefall event, which wasn’t as easy as I imagined.
If you still don’t know what I’m talking about, Firefall is the rare, magical sight resulting from the sun lighting up Horsetail Falls as it sets at a certain angle in Yosemite Valley every mid to late February. However, for Firefall to actually happen, several conditions need to be met. Basically, there needs to be:
enough melted snowpack that Horsetail Fall is actually flowing
a visible sunset from the valley grounds — meaning little to no clouds blocking the sun
If nature doesn’t cooperate during those 15-ish days in February, then Firefall won’t happen. Other (uncontrollable) factors make it difficult to witness this scene even when conditions are prime. For one, you need to be able to get into Yosemite National Park & the valley. Because this winter brought almost 200% of the average snowpack to the Sierras — we were still getting snow in May! — me not having access to an AWD and road closures were a common struggle. Once you’re in the valley, may the force be with you in finding a parking spot (or getting a permit) among the hundreds of visitors hoping to catch the same sight as you. Did I also mention, depending on where you parked, be prepared to hike (or snowshoe your way) at least a mile to where you can see the waterfall on El Capitan? Now that you have an understanding of how challenging it is to experience Firefall, allow me to share the crazy story of how my friend Wes & I pulled it off.
Back to the story… Since Tioga Pass was closed during the winter, it would take us 6.5 hours minimum from Alabama Hills to Yosemite Valley, and that’s without stopping. Sunset was around 5:35pm on the day we went. If you did the math right, you’d realize we’d be cutting it reaaal close. We had known that already but nevertheless decided to risk it even with so many factors still up in the air — the biggest one being “can we even get into the park?”
Entering the park wasn’t promised because there was a big storm over the Sierras the last couple of days. We had heard from other photographers already in the park that the sky finally cleared, roads were being plowed, and there was a good chance for Firefall to finally happen this February. So like any other photography enthusiast would (right? you would all go as well), Wes & I made a split-second decision to send it — and I am so, so glad we did instead of following the original plan to head home back to the Bay Area. This whole mission was one of the coolest (and no doubt a bit stressful at the time) experiences I’ve ever had — photography or otherwise — and one of my favorite memories this year so far.
Sunrise at Alabama Hills
As we sped towards Yosemite, I was contacting as many of our friends as possible with AWDs or snow chains for their cars to see if they would want to meet us at the base of the valley and drive in together because I had neither. As expected, no one was willing to drive 3+ hours from the Bay to Yosemite on such a short notice. After a quick stop in Bakersfield to grab breakfast and driving for a little over 4 hours, we visited Fresno (my first time ever!) to get snow chains for my car. As we closed the gap towards Yosemite, I was getting more and more excited even though we weren’t certain if we could get into the park.
Yosemite Winter Wonderland
Two hours later, we found ourselves at the 120 entrance of the national park, stuck behind a long, barely-moving line. We had no idea why there was a hold up — are they checking snow chains? — and why some cars were exiting— are they being turned around or simply leaving? After almost 30 minutes of agonizing eternity, we finally made it into the valley. People must have been leaving on their own because there was no park ranger on shift. Nevertheless, we decided to put on snow chains as a precaution. The time was 3:44pm — we were just righttt on time for the super last-minute plan we came up with this morning. Even while worrying about the remaining steps, I was captivated by the magic of Yosemite in so much snow. It felt like Christmas arrived two months later, and we drove straight into the most pristine Winter Wonderland. It took every ounce of my focus to not be distracted and self-control to not stop & take out my camera. (This #shotoniPhone photo was the best I could manage to show you just how Christmas-y it looked!) Just when we thought we had no luck in finding parking, I spotted an opening and whipped the car around. The time was now 4:22pm, and we were ready for the last leg of this mission. Even though sunset was around 5:35, Firefall happens about 15 minutes before the sun sets and lasts for about 10 minutes. Finally, after 35 minutes or so (the last 5 walking in almost knee-deep snow), we came across an open space where many photographers were already set up with their tripods and lounging in their foldable chairs. There was no way Wes and I could fit in the line of photographers so we went along further and found a decent enough spot with the little time we had. After setting up and testing a few shots, it finally hit us that WE ACTUALLY MADE IT to Yosemite Firefall 2019!
Soon enough, right around 5:20, we could all see the light hitting the top of Horsetail Falls and the water start to change color. The crowd of photographers and spectators grew quiet. The only things you could hear were the birds chirping away and the rush of the Merced River below and next to us. The chatter died down because everyone was focused on the waterfall, ready to snap the shot. Finally, after what seemed like another eternity, Horsetail Falls lit up and became Firefall. The talking started again, shutter clicks were firing off, and we were all just mesmerized by the glowing sight in front of us. When the light fell off the waterfall, everyone clapped and cheered. It was no doubt one of the most incredible things I’ve seen and also one of the most awesome things to have experienced. Wes and I looked at each other and shouted “We did it!!!” At that point, the photos didn’t matter to me. I was just so happy we were actually able to witness Firefall after a crazy day of what seemed impossible. As with the many things I do (and the sleep & comfort I sacrifice) for photography,
“it is really the experience that makes it all worthwhile and the thrill of adventure & beauty of these places that make us go back again & again, wanting more. ”
So, there you have it, my wild & unbelievable story of capturing Firefall 2019. This adventure taught me to embrace the unknown and take risks, and I hope it inspired you in some way! Be spontaneous, go after what sparks you — because you never know what could be waiting for you on the other side.
Firefall 2019
For those of you wanting to take your shot at Firefall in the future, Wes found this website with annual Firefall prediction dates and times a couple days later (how convenient, right?). Before you embark on a Firefall mission, it’d probably be a good idea to be as prepared as possible and give yourself ample time to get to Yosemite.
If you have any questions about Firefall or how to photograph this phenomenon, leave a comment below! Hope you all enjoyed my first adventure story on the blog, and I’ll see you on the next post!
Credit: Aaron Meyers www.aaronmphotography.com