Yosemite National Park is bracing for thousands of visitors who will descend on the area to see the setting sun illuminate a waterfall so that it looks like fire. The so-called firefall phenomenon takes place each February at Horsetail Fall, which flows over an eastern ridge of El Capitan. This year, the projected viewing period began Tuesday and runs to Feb. 26.
The Lower Yosemite Falls Trail is a short, paved loop just under a mile that winds through shaded forested areas and rocky outcroppings. It's ideal for families, casual hikers, and anyone who wants to enjoy beautiful scenery without a long or difficult climb. Even though the walk is brief, the views feel generous. You soon find yourself surrounded by the sight and sound of the waterfall.
For as long as there have been people in what is now California, the granite peaks of the Sierra Nevada have held masses of ice, according to new research that shows the glaciers have probably existed since the last Ice Age more than 11,000 years ago. The remnants of these glaciers, which have already shrunk dramatically since the late 1800s, are retreating year after year, and are projected to melt completely this century as global temperatures continue to rise.
"This breaks my heart," said Elisabeth Barton, a founding member of Echo Adventure Cooperative that guides tourists several days a week along the same trail. "It's that constant battle between safety and exploration."
"I enjoyed digging up my memories, trying to put a word to an emotion. It was a valuable way to continue the efforts of my career, which was to tell the world how important the natural world is."
"We gathered them up to the best of our ability, trying to save them all, but as they were pretty badly mangled and terribly dirty, it was decided to destroy."
