Firefall or #Firefail?

Could Firefall be a bust this year? #Firefail?

That has been a growing concern on social media with Horsetail Fall running at a trickle.

But some rain is expected this week along with up to up to a foot of snow at higher elevations by early next week. The timing could also be perfect.

Yosemite National Park has been anticipating record crowds for Firefall because no reservations are required this year to enter the park.

Firefall, when the setting sun backlights Horsetail Fall, making it look like a stream of flowing lava, is expected from Feb. 10-26, with the peak viewing from Feb. 19-23.

The spectacle brings thousands of additional tourists and photographers to Yosemite Valley, clogging roadways and parking areas.

An estimated 3,000 visitors watch from coveted spots off Northside Drive, near the El Capitan Picnic Area.

But because Horsetaill Fall is seasonal, it takes just the right mix of snow or rain ahead of the peak window, as well as clear evening skies in mid-February, to put on a show.

It’s by no means a guarantee. The forecast is key.

AccuWeather Meteorologist Kai Kerkow said a high pressure system has recently been keeping rain and snow to the north of the Sierra Nevada.

But there are signs it may be breaking up just in time.

“This high pressure system will weaken over the next few days, allowing for a more active weather pattern as we move into the middle of February. This will bring rain and snow chances back to the Sierra,” Kerkow said last week.

Those who make the pilgrimage can park at Yosemite Valley Lodge parking lot and walk 1.5 miles to the viewing spot near El Capitan Picnic Area.

When that parking lot is full, an alternative is to park at Yosemite Village or Curry Village and take a free shuttle to the Yosemite Valley Lodge.

Southside Drive will be open to vehicles, but parking, stopping, and unloading passengers will be prohibited between El Capitan Crossover to Swinging Bridge Picnic Area, according to officials.

Pedestrians will also be prohibited from traveling along the road in that area between Southside Drive and the Merced River.

On Northside Drive there will be no parking, stopping or unloading of passengers from Lower Yosemite Fall to the El Capitan Crossover. Along that section of Northside Drive there will be only one lane for traffic and the other reserved for pedestrians.

In 2017, a popular viewing spot along the Merced River was crowded with photographers and it created a safety hazard, damaging wildlife and leading to erosion along the river bank.

Visitors are asked to stay on trails and to stay out of meadows.

Visitors are warned they will need to walk to the viewing area and should prepare for it to be cold and dark walking back to vehicles after sunset. A flashlight is recommended.

Car pooling to the park or riding YARTS is encouraged.

For international visitors, YARTS will allow them to bypass the new $100 surcharge for non-U.S. residents.

In January, Yosemite National Park Superintendent Ray McPadden received a round of applause at a meeting of the Yosemite Gateway Partners when he told them no reservations would be required during this year’s Firefall.

“A bunch of boots on the ground is going to be our principal strategy,” McPadden said of Firefall plans.

He explained that any traffic congestion around prime viewing areas will be handled with personnel and perhaps redirecting traffic at El Cap Drive.

Many in the hospitality industry see Firefall as a potential test run. The National Park Service has yet to announce a reservation system for the summer season, and many suspect there will be none.