Yosemite is one of the places you MUST see before you die. And I can honestly tell you my first time seeing Half Dome from Glacier Point truly took my breath away. And to think the Ahwaneechee got to LIVE here.
Well, after gold seekers about 1850 revealed the wonders of Yosemite to “civilization,” the U.S. Military ousted the native Ahwaneenechee in 1851 (another whole sad story), setting the stage for the area to teem with homesteaders, tourists, entrepreneurs, stagecoaches, inns, lodging, orchards, and livestock.
Many people were already concerned that the groves of Giant Sequoia would fall victim to loggers (sadly, many did), so President Lincoln took time during the raging Civil War to sign the Yosemite Grant, protecting the valley and the Mariposa Grove. This was the first territory ever set aside by Congress for public use and preservation.
The glory of Yosemite laid firm foundations in such notables as photographer Ansel Adams and naturalist John Muir. So it’s fitting that one of Glacier Point’s claims to fame, the controversial Fire Fall, ended as it did.
My hubby remembers seeing this man-made phenomenon when he was a little boy, but envirnomentalists halted the show in 1973.
Here’s the story. The “Fire Fall” was started in 1872 by James MacCauley, owner of the Glacier Point Mountain House Hotel, for the entertainment of his guests. Every summer night, he built a roaring campfire at the edge of Glacier Point, and at evening’s end, kicked the embers over the edge of the cliff. They’d tumble some 3,200 feet to the valley floor.
Visitors down in the valley began to clamor for more, and MacCauley and his family sensed an opportunity. Requesting donations, they were able to haul in more wood to the Point and produce more dramatic fire falls. After 25 years of “performances,” though, MacCauley was evicted, and the nightly spectacles came to a screeching halt. After a few false starts, the Fire Fall was reinstated in 1917. At nine p.m. each summer night, the ritual began.
A master of ceremonies at Camp Curry on the Valley floor would have the following exchange with the firemaster up at Glacier Point.
MC: Hello, Glacier Point?
Firemaster: Hello Camp Curry.
MC: Is the fire ready?
Firemaster: The fire is ready.
MC: Let the fire fall.
Firemaster: The fire falls!
At that moment, the enormous pile of embers from a fire started hours earlier was slowly and rhythmically pushed over the edge of Glacier Point, resulting in a flowing, glowing cascade. The golden site reminded spectators of Yosemite’s magnificent natural waterfalls. Down in Camp Curry, the visitors would break out in the song, Indian Love Call.
The Fire fall was temporarily halted during World War 11, with many wishing it would permanently end. Environmental consciousness was already brewing, as was the “hypocrisy” of cheering on something artificial in the realm of such natural splendor. Furthermore, huge crowds on the valley floor were damaging meadows and vegetation and bothering wildlife. However, public outcry was intense. Despite protests from the National Park Service, the fire falls soon commenced.
However, in 1968, George Hertzog, director of the National Park Services, ended the Fire Fall permanently. A ceremonial final fall was held on January 25 that year. It was said to have ended in a glorious, dramatic spurt with an attendance of only 50 people. Not the thousands of a summer night.
Three fun bits of trivia about The Fire Fall:
1. Red fir bark resulted in the best embers, and after 1920, only red fire bark was used.
2. The Firefall is featured in a scene in the 1954 movie, The Caine Mutiny.
3. The only time the Fire Fall did not start promptly at 9 p.m. occurred with good reason. When President Kennedy visited the park in 1960, he was taking an important phone call, so the Fire Fall started thirty minutes late that night.
Well, amazingly, in 1973, just a few months past the 100 year anniversary of the original unnatural fire fall, photographer Galen Rowel “discovered” Yosemite’s true and natural fire fall.
Seems every February, the fire fall returns to Yosemite at sunset. The setting sun illuminates one of Yosemite’s lesser known waterfalls, Horsetail Falls, so that it looks like a fire fall flowing over El Capitan. It’s tricky, though. Horsetail is so scant it’s often not even marked on maps. During the last two weeks of February, IF there is water coming off El Capitan, and IF it is clear at sunset –often it isn’t due to storms, the rays of the setting sun illuminate the falls for a short time to appear as a stream of golden fire. Photographers sometimes wait two or three days, often waist deep in snow, to catch the elusive, ethereal moment.
How about you? Did you ever see the Fire Fall? How about something that literally took your breath away?
(Book Five in the Hearts Crossing Ranch series is coming soon!)
I never heard of, nor saw the Fire Fall but what beautiful pictures. Sounds facinating though.
There have been many things that take my breath away…a newborn be it a child, puppy, kitten, foal,calf…..they are just too precious. A sight that left me breathless has to be my first sight of the mountains.
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 1:47 am.
I have never heard of this or seen it. Your pics are beautiful and makes me want to see it. The first time I saw the ocean it took my breat away.
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 5:43 am.
Wow, Tanya! I’ve never seen a fire fall, and nature’s fire fall is awesome! Those pictures are gorgeous. Last summer I went up to the Big Horn mountains in Wyoming to do some research and I’ve never seen so many wildflowers in all my life. Definitely took my breath away. Also, the view of the Tetons through the window at the Chapel of Transfiguration always steals my breath with the cross over the peaks.
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 7:37 am.
Loved this post, Tanya! Yosemite is one of my favorite places on earth. I’ve only been there twice, but it made such a huge impact on me. I can’t wait to take my kids there and hike to all the waterfalls. (I’m a waterfall junkie. My husband and I went to Maui once and all I wanted to do was hike the waterfall trails. Beach smeach. Who cares about that? We did do a snorkeling trip, though. Had to give my hubby his ocean time.)
I never knew about the fire fall in Yosemite. And how poetic to have the natural one discovered so soon after the man made version was outlawed.
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 9:56 am.
Tanya, that looks so awesomely beautiful. I’d love to see that. I’ve never been to Yosemite. But hopefully I’ll get to go before I pass on. One of my favorite places is Cripple Creek, Colorado. It’s high in the mountains and full of historical buildings and old mines and it’s really a neat place to go.
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 10:55 am.
While I’ve not been to Yosemite… been to a number of other National Parks. Denali.. you have to see it in person… go to Alaska if you ever have the opportunity!
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 11:24 am.
Hi Connie, thanks so much for stopping by today. Indeed, life has much breathlessness LOL. There is nothing as precious as a baby anything. (I speak as a gramma here LOL and animal nut). I grew up going to the mountains, but even then, Glacier Point was beyond awesome.
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 11:51 am.
hi Quilt Lady, I live about a mile from the ocean, and even after all these years, I don’t take it for granted. I hope you get to visit Yosemite some day. I’ve always said it’s where God lives. Thanks for the post. It’s always good to see you here at P and P.
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 11:53 am.
Hi Kirsten, Wyoming is such an icon of the west, isn’t it? We saw the snow cross at Mt. Tallac at Lake Tahoe last summer, and it was indeed breath-catching. I was happy to learn there are other snow crosses! And the Tetons themselves, wow. Thanks for stopping by today.
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 11:54 am.
Hi Karen, I know! The natural one merging timewise with the fake one. Hubby said the fake one was awesome, but nothing beats out mother nature. I love the idea that photographers wait days and days for the right moment. Thanks for the comment, filly sister. xoxo
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 11:55 am.
Hi Linda, we’re taking a trip to Colorado in June and I’ve just put Cripple Creek on my list. I love old historic towns, Harpers Ferry West Virginia and Virginia City Nevada springing right in my mind. Jerome Arizona was awesome too but it was raining so hard we couldn’t do much exploring. Maybe we can meet up in Yosemite someday. It’s a treasure to be sure. oxoxox
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 11:57 am.
Hi Cate, Alaska is definitely on our list of places to see. We also want to take the Rocky Mountaineer train across the Canadian Rockies. So much to see, so little time (and money LOL). Thanks so much for posting today!
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 11:58 am.
Interesting post, Tanya! I’ve never seen or heard of the fire fall and sorry I missed it. Must make a point to visit Yosemite one of these days.
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 12:24 pm.
Howdy Linda, I’ve never seen either the fake one or the real one LOL but even still, Yosemite is just a wonder of the natural world. Half Dome is one of the best sites ever. Thanks for stopping by today! xoxo
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 12:39 pm.
My favorite place, it is where God lives. I’ve never seen the fire fall, but Glacier Point is one of the most breath taking places I’ve seen and the rainbows on the mist trail are spectacular! Lovely pictures.
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 1:29 pm.
I have never heard about this before… the pics are amazing! Thanks for sharing them with us! :D
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 1:37 pm.
There are just so many things in this world to learn about. This is amazing, both the artifical fire fall and now the natural one.
Beautiful pictures.
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 1:40 pm.
Quite a story, Tanya. I’d never heard about the firefall, but it makes about as much sense as feeding the bears from cars in Yellowstone. Glad someone had the sense to stop it.
I’ve flown over Yosemite a number of times but never visited there. Beautiful place. Someday.
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 2:10 pm.
Tanya,
I have never been to Yosemite, but would love to go. I had never heard of the firefall until, ironically, about 3 days ago–there was something about it on the NATGEO channel. I got in on the end of it–didn’t know anything about the man-made one, but saw the natural one –I just got to see the very end of the program, but the pictures were just awesome, and so are these that you posted. Something that takes my breath away…like Connie says, anything newborn. The view at Hawk’s Nest in West Virginia. Come to think of it, I guess there are lots of sights in nature that take my breath away. AWESOME POST, Tanya.
Hugs,
Cheryl
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 4:19 pm.
Tanya, The natural fire fall sounds and looks more breathtaking than the man made one.
Hell’s Canyon where the Snake River has carved out a deep craggy canyon between Oregon and Idaho is breathtaking.
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 5:48 pm.
Hi Nancy , so good to see you here! I remember some good times at Yosemite when our kids were little. It’s something special, that’s for sure.
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 6:33 pm.
Hi Colleen, I’m so glad you enjoyed today’s post. I guess I’ve always known about the unnatural fire fall, but I also didn’t know about the sunlight one until recently, so I just had to share. Gorgeous!
Mary, it’s amazing what people think to do. I just love how the real sunset fire fall parallels the Glacier Point one.
Thanks to you both for posting today.
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 6:41 pm.
Hi Elizabeth, yeah, folks sure do think of nutty ways to entertain themselves. Like taking a picnic and sit on a hillside to watch a battle, like happened in the civil war.
My husband said it was pretty cool to watch the fire fall when he was little,but we are both glad it’s a thing of the past.
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 6:47 pm.
Thanks, Cheryl. On my bucket list is getting to see an eagle fly. I saw some doing just that on the show Sweet Home Alabama the other night and even got chills.
How fun and wonderful that you just saw the sunset fire fall! Wished I’d seen that program. Thanks for posting! Xoxox
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 6:54 pm.
Hi Paty, thanks for stopping by today! My grandparents-in-law lived in Idaho for a time and I remember hearing about Hells Canyon. The part of the Snake we did visit was indeed breathtaking. We live in such a beautiful land, don’t we?
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 6:58 pm.
I had never heard of the fire fall, but my first visit to Sequoah was breathtaking. I was fifteen and had never been much of anywhere. My sister and brother-in-law took me up there.
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 7:57 pm.
Hi Caroline, Sequoia is glorious, too. Seeing General Sherman, the largest living thing on earth, still thrills me. Thanks so much for stopping by today.
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 8:42 pm.
Tanya, Thank you for an interesting post. I was not aware they had the old “fire falls.” I vaguely remember hearing of it being done, but no details of when or where. It may have been something I read or heard while visiting the park. We went to Yosemite in the mid- 1980′s, but it was so crowded, it wasn’t all that enjoyable. Hard to commune with nature in bumper to bumper traffic. It was impossible to get away from the crowds.
We have been lucky enough to visit many of our national parks. They are all special in their own special way. You really can’t compare Acadia NP to the Grand Canyon, to the Smokey MTN. to Yellowstone, to Bryce, to Zion, to the Olympic NP, to White Sands, to Mesa Verde. They are all so very different and all a pleasure to visit.
Great pictures of the natural fire fall.
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 11:19 pm.
Lovely pictures, Tanya. I’ve never seen a fire fall. Simply amazing. I’m off to get your latest book on my Kindle, Soul Food!!
Posted on March 1, 2012 at 3:17 pm.
Whoops, couldn’t find Soul Food on Amazon. Then I noticed it’s Coming Soon… when is that?
Posted on March 1, 2012 at 3:20 pm.
I’m a few days late, but I have to say I have seen the fire fall in Yosemite from Camp Curry and also from above. I was young and it was amazing. I had no thoughts about the environmental issues, we didn’t know about such things then. I love the sunset “fire” falls photographs. Now that’s amazing. Thanks for posting them.
Posted on March 5, 2012 at 6:14 pm.