RON HENGGELER

Each year, during the last two weeks in February, the setting sunlight creates the famous and much anticipated firefall in Yosemite Valley

The ice cold Merced River, near Cathedral Beach and the El Captain Bridge in Yosemite Valley

Text

A detail of the ice cold south fork of the Merced River, near the Pioneer Yosemite History Center in Wawona, inside Yosemite National Park

A detail of the ice cold south fork of the Merced River, near the Pioneer Yosemite History Center in Wawona, inside Yosemite National Park

The record dry winter in February 2012. . .the south fork of the Merced River, near the Pioneer Yosemite History Center in Wawona

Normally in February, the stones of this river bed would be under many feet of snow or fast moving waters.

The Pioneer Yosemite History Center in Wawona, inside Yosemite National Park

The Pioneer Yosemite History Center in Wawona, inside Yosemite National Park

Melting snow rolling downhill and forming into cinnamon roll shaped snowball, on Badger Pass Road near the Badger Pass Ski Area

The Pioneer Yosemite History Center in Wawona, inside Yosemite National Park

A view of the Yosemite Valley, seen from the Tunnel View on Wawona Road

A view of the Yosemite Valley, seen from the Tunnel View on Wawona Road

The view and sunset sky from Old Inspiration Point on the Badger Pass Road

The Merced River on Highway 140, the El Portal Road, leading into Yosemite National Park

The El Portal Road, leading into Yosemite National Park

The El Portal Road, leading into Yosemite National Park

The dry winter Merced River on Highway 140, the El Portal Road, leading into Yosemite National Park

The Merced River on Highway 140, the El Portal Road, leading into Yosemite National Park

The Merced River on Highway 140, the El Portal Road, leading into Yosemite National Park

The Merced River on Highway 140, the El Portal Road, leading into Yosemite National Park

The Merced River on Highway 140, the El Portal Road, leading into Yosemite National Park

Algae covered trees on the trail to Glacier Point, near the Summit Meadow and the Badger Pass Ski Area

The Merced River in Yosemite Valley, seen from the Southside Drive

Dry winter, Southside Drive, Yosemite Valley

El Captain (7,569 ft) seen from the Southside Drive in Yosemite Valley

Melting snow rolling downhill and forming into cinnamon roll shaped snowball, on Badger Pass Road near the Badger Pass Ski Area

A view of the Yosemite Valley, seen from the Tunnel View on Wawona Road

Dry winter in Yosemite

February 2012

The face of El Captain in Yosemite Valley

Badger Pass

A view of the forest in Yosemite from Inspiration Point on the Badger Pass Road

Dry winter in Yosemite, trees near the Mariposa Grove , on the far southwestern end of Yosemite National Park

A view of the forest in Yosemite from Inspiration Point on the Badger Pass Road

Idle snow plows during a dry winter in Yosemite, on the Badger Pass Road

A coyote on the Badger Pass Road near Inspiration Point

The Bridal Veil Fall in Yosemite Valley seen from the Tunnel View on Wawona Road

Close up of the Yosemite Valley seen from the Tunnel View on Wawona Road

A French tourist sketching the Yosemite Valley from the Tunnel View on Wawona Road near Inspiration Point

A view of the Yosemite Valley from Inspiration Point on the Badger Pass Road

The Merced River on the floor of Yosemite Valley, always in Half Dome’s shadow, seen from the Southside Drive

Badger Pass Ski Area near the Summit Meadow

Trees along the Badger Pass Road in Yosemite National Park

Trees along the Badger Pass Road in Yosemite National Park

The setting sun’s light in late February creating the much anticipated firefall

Trees in a old forest fire-burnt area on the valley floor in Yosemite National Park

The ice cold Merced River, near Cathedral Beach and the El Captain Bridge in Yosemite Valley