Each year, the valley of Yosemite National Park fills with tourists looking to admire the annual ‘Firefall‘ in February. Nature lovers travel from both out of the state and out of the country in hopes of catching a glimpse of this natural wonder.

As the sun begins to set over the valley, its golden light reflects off of Horsetail Falls. The light meeting the water flowing down the mountain gives off the illusion of fire falling down the waterfall. From 1872 to 1969, the United States forestry service celebrated this natural occurrence by dumping burning logs down Glacier Point. After a wildfire was started in ’69, the ceremony was ended. Ever since, visitors of Yosemite travel only to see the natural occurring fire.

With the specific timing and weather conditions needed, too cold of a day or a single cloud can stop the Firefall from happening. In the two week window where the conditions line up, many photographers travel to Yosemite hoping for good weather.

Valley landscape photographer, Keaton Baker, has traveled to Yosemite for four years hoping to get a photo of the Firefall. This year, he finally achieved that goal.

“It was several years ago I heard the stories of the where Yosemite Firefall got it’s name,” Baker said. “Ever since then I was captivated, and even though it wasn’t actually falling embers as it used to be I still wanted to see it. The first year I tried to see Firefall, 2017, I went twice and both times, I was skunked due to weather. Last year 2018 we didn’t have enough snowmelt to supply water to the falls and I was devastated. But this year I knew there was a slim chance to see it, so I took it last second and I finally got to see what I have been waiting so long to see. It was worth every second.”

With the period of viewing for the falls over, nature lovers and photographers anticipate capturing the next year of Firefall. The time where the Firefall is visible lasts between the second and third weeks of February.

The video below, captured by video editor, Blake Deffenbacher, ’20, and photographer, Keaton Baker, shows the Yosemite Firefall:

The author can be reached via email: Blake Deffenbacher, Instagram and Twitter.

For more on Yosemite National Park, read: California Bests: National Parks.