On Thursday, August 22nd with all of the disruptions in the Yosemite Area due to the Rim Fire, it made an especially spectacular sight from our tour along the Glacier Point Road. Thankfully, the smoke has not obscured the views either from Glacier Point or Yosemite Valley, and the air quality in the Park remains excellent. One benefit from the lightning storms that ignited the fire is that some of the rain has raised the level of the Merced River, so Vernal and Nevada Falls have renewed vigor and volume though it may not last too long.