This is what Yosemite Valley looked like last spring. Don't worry though - this was a prescribed fire and is fully under control. Still a surreal experience, especially when after taking this photo I drove back to my campsite on a road flanked by the fire from both sides and felt the emanating heat inside my car. The thick smoke didn't seem to discourage climbers though - if you look carefully you can see lights from their headlamps as they climb up El Capitan.