This is a photograph of Bridalveil Fall (Pohono) in Yosemite Valley. It was taken on a late Spring afternoon from the foot of the fall. Around this time, a lowering sun provides a great chance of seeing and capturing some spectacular rainbows created by the mist and spray. The fall is 620 feet (190 m) drop from Bridalveil Creek, which is just to the west of nearby Cathedral Rocks.
Moreover, the Fall was named on August 5th, 1856, by Warren Baer, who was the editor of the Mariposa Democrat. Specifically, his article A Trip to the Yosemite Falls, states “To our mind, it resembles a cambric veil, of ample folds, of the finest texture, the purest whiteness, and fringed with silver fleece or silken floss………. We make bold to call it the Bridal Veil.” To this day, this name has been used for the fall.
THE LEGEND OF POHONO (BRIDALVEIL FALL)
The indigenous people who lived in this part of Yosemite Valley were the Pohonochees. The Pohonochees were a group of Paiutes who lived on the south side of the River Merced. On the other hand, the Ahwahneechees lived on the north side of the river.
Their name for the fall was Pohono (Po-ho-no) meaning “evil wind” (or sometimes translated as “puffing wind”). However, the fear of the fall was built around this legend:
The Legend of Pohono
On a soft, spring day, the women of the valley were collecting grasses along the creek near the top of the fall. Generally, they used these grasses to weave baskets. Now, one of the young maidens ventured near to the edge of the water to gather some overhanging grass.
Here she stepped on a mossy rock, which had been set there by the Evil Spirit, called Pohono. who inhabited the mist. All of a sudden, she was snatched into the fall, never to be seen again. Her companions were horrified and, fearing the same fate, ran back to the village to raise the alarm. Shortly after, a band of young braves set out on foot to the fall. But, despite all their searches, they could not find the maiden.
Like others before, her spirit had been imprisoned by Pohono. Moreover, her spirit would remain thereafter until she finally succeeded in luring some other unfortunate person to their doom. Only then would her spirit be released to return to her spiritual home of the Great Spirit of the West.
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