An unwritten policy has been in place for years: stay home during major holidays. This is obviously a way to avoid driving in heavy traffic under the influence of alcohol and other vices. This year, however, we made an exception to go camping in the High Sierras during the 4th of July weekend. As seasoned campers we are aware of the fact that most campgrounds are booked solid during major holiday weekends. But we also know quite a few places that don't take reservations and operate on "first come, first serve" basis. In other words, if one gets to the campground early enough, chances are that one might find an open spot. With that in mind, we got up around 6 in the morning on Friday, July 3, and left home around 7 o'clock.
这些年一直遵循一条不成文的原则：大的节日不出门；这样就不会与堵车，酗酒和其它危险为伍。但是，我们例外，决定在7月4日周末去内华达山脉（High Sierras）帐篷露营。作为资深露营者，我们知道在大节日的周末大部分露营地早就人满为患。但是有些几个地方不接受预订，而是按“先来后到”分配。换言之，如果来得足够早，找到营地的机会还是有的。因这样我们4号（周五）早上6点就起床，7点左右就从家出发了。
Even though California Route 4 is officially a state highway, for most part it's nothing but a well-paved two-way country road that goes straight in the flat lands and winds around in the hills. Under normal circumstances it takes roughly three hours to drive from San Francisco Bay Area to the Sierra Nevada. But we took a half hour break for breakfast at the halfway point. As a result, we arrived at Lake Alpine around 11 o'clock. Lake Alpine locates just before the Ebbetts Pass on the West side of the High Sierra. Even after a dozen visits, I always take great delight in the pristine environment created by the rocks, trees, water and flowers at this part of the world.
加州4号公路名义上是一条州际高速路，实际上大部分只是一条路况良好的两车道乡村道路。这条路穿过平坦的陆地，沿着高山蜿蜒向前。正常情况下，从旧金山到Sierra Nevada只需3小时的车程。我们半路休息了半小时享用早餐。因此，到达Alpine湖时，已经是11点钟了。Alpine湖位于Sierra公路西侧的Ebbetts Pass前面。虽然多次前往，但每次我都对这片由岩石、树木、河流、鲜花构成的美景喜不自禁。
Most of the time we dread about driving through the extreme hot condition of California's Central Valley for sometimes it reaches 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius). This year we were lucky. For whatever reason, the sky was overcast for more than half of the day. The thin clouds sheltered us from the scorching summer sun. Even when we arrived at Lake Alpine, the sky was still largely gray. So the lake didn't shine at first; and we didn't mind the grayness a bit.
一直一来，我们都对开车穿过加州中部山谷颇感头疼，因为那里的温度可高达华氏100（摄氏38）度。今年，我们特别幸运：大半天时间天空都被云层覆盖。淡淡的云层遮蔽我们免受夏季太阳的暴晒。到达Lake Alpine时，天空还是灰色的。湖面并没有显现波光粼粼的景色，但我们对此并不介意。
There are 4 sizeable campgrounds immediately around Lake Alpine, with a few more in the half-mile radius. We camped at the Pine Martin Campground on the East Shore of Lake Alpine last August; so, this year we wanted to try the West Shore which came up first anyway. When we got there, the "Campground Full" sign was up; and then the Lake Alpine Campground host was nowhere to be found. That was a bit disappointing. But no worries, for we could easily zip around the lake and try out luck at other sites.
在Lake Alpine周围有4个大型的露营地，半里内还有其它几个。去年8月，我们是在 Lake Alpine东岸的Pine Martin Campground露营的。今年，我们想尝试下在西岸露营。当我们到达时，却看到了“露营地客满”的牌子，而Lake Alpine Campground 露营地的主人不见踪影。这有点让人扫兴。但是，别担心！因为我们可以绕湖转一下，去其它岸边碰碰运气。
Ah, Pine Martin came up first. The "Campground Full" sign was also up. But the host was in. When we asked him if there was anything opening up, he responded affirmatively, with a friendly manner and Texan accent. That was very nice
首先到达Pine Martin camp。但是也挂起了“露营地客满”的牌子。但露营地的主人在场。我们向他打听有无其它空地时，这位非常友好、带着德克萨斯口音的主人给了我们一个“肯定”的回答。
Naturally we asked him about the old couple who hosted us last year. "Homer" the old gentleman had some heart condition and had to retire, so we were told. That was too bad, for we still remembered some stories Homer related to us.
我们向他打听去年经营露营地的一对夫妇, 被告知老先生“Homer”由于心脏病，不得不退休。太遗憾了！我们仍然记得与“Homer”在一起的一些故事。
Last year we camped next to the host. So, we talked with the old couple often. When we asked Homer if there were any bears coming at night, he said "yes." As a matter of fact, one old grizzly bear came once in a while to visit old Homer. Homer the grizzly man would give the old grizzly bear some food. Homer also held a one-way conversation with the bear. The bear would finished the food provided and leave without bothering any of the campers.
去年，我们的露营地就在主人家隔壁。因此，我们经常与这对夫妇攀谈。当我们问到是晚上是否会有熊前来时，Homer回答“是的”。事实上，有一只年老的灰熊常来拜访Homer索要食物。Homer也“私下与熊达成协议”。这只熊吃尽提供的食物后即刻离开，不会打搅其他露营者。
With the help of the host, we got the campsite closest to the lake. The tent was pitched and the water was inviting to swimming enthusiasts. I am not a swimmer so I took my camera for mountain trekking.
在主人的帮助下，我们把营地扎在尽可能靠近湖的地方。支起帐篷后，游泳爱好者投入充满诱惑力湖水中。我不喜欢游泳，因此带上相机向山里进发。
The sky was opening up a bit as I parked by the freeway at the Stanislaus Meadow trailhead. There were a large horde of cows with giant bells around their necks.
当我把车泊在Stanislaus Meadow路口时，天空已慢慢放晴。山坡上有一大群牛，脖子上系着大铃铛。
Soon, I was at the bottom of the valley and the river was gurgling.
很快，我到达谷底，倾听着汩汩流淌的河水，
and the rock formations amazing
观看着令人称奇的岩层，
The sky finally became blue and bright.
天空最终露出了蓝天白云
After becoming lost for a short while, I finally reached my destination of the day, Bull Run Lake. It's a real alpine lake, just under the majestic Bull Run Peak.
迷了一会路，我最终到达今天的目的地：Bull Run Lake， 这是一个位于Bull Run山下的真正的高山湖泊
It was a lot of walking up and down the mountains but the view was totally worth the effort.
常常需要沿着山爬上爬下，但是美丽的景色让你觉得所有的努力都是值得的
Some sights will linger in one's mind a long time; some views will last a lifetime.
When I got back late in the afternoon and found everyone worried, I realized that I was gone a long time already.
Still after dinner of delicious BBQ meat, salad, watermelon and beer, I decided to get high on the hill behind the lake, Inspiration Point it was called. The view is precious there.
有些景色会在人的记忆里保留很长的一段时间，但有的景色却可让你回味终生。 傍晚当我回到露营地时，大家都很担心。我才意识到自己已经离开了很长一段时间。晚饭是美味的BBQ，沙拉、西瓜和牛肉。饭后，我决心前去攀登湖后面的一座叫做Inspiration Point的小山。那里的景致弥足珍贵。
The evening sunlight brought the pine trees and mountains some wonderful profiles.
落霞的余辉给松树和群山镶嵌了美丽的金边。
I was here last year and saw Duck Lake from a bird's eye view. Though the Lake was completely in the shadow of the hill, I still marveled at the sight.
去年我也到过这里，并在此俯视Duck Lake。尽管湖被山遮挡，这一景致仍然令我称奇不已。
On my way down, I saw quite a few meadows full of beautiful flowers.
下山的路上，有很多开满美丽野花的草地。
Whew, that was quite a day. Sleep became easier, even in cold temperature of the 7000 feet and above, because I was rather exhausted at night.
So many stars in the night sky; but I was too tired to stay up long, even around a marvelous bonfire. In the morning chirping birds woke us up. Lake Alpine let out some thin mist. It was like a fairyland.
一天就这样过去了！由于非常疲劳，即使在海拔7000英尺的高地低温下，我仍酣然入睡。
夜空群星点点，大家围坐在巨大的篝火周围。但我太疲倦，早早就睡了。第二天一早，我被吱喳的小鸟吵醒。Lake Alpine上笼罩着一层薄雾，真像一个仙境！
I got up around 7 in the morning. It was early and cold as I had to stay by the bonfire to keep myself warm. Then I realized that I didn't have much time to waste. We had planned to leave the campground for home around midday and I wished to visit Rock Lake, which I soon found out was some four and a half miles away, across quite a few hills and rivers and through and around many forests.
早上7点起床。由于时间尚早，天气寒冷，我不得不围在篝火旁取暖。所余时间不多了！我们计划中午离开营地回家，而我还想去看一下Rock Lake，这个湖离营地有4.5英里呢！并且还要跨越几座山、河流和树林。
Alone in the mountains, I could clearly see that I am devious by nature. This eventually led me astray in the mountains.
The previous day I was already a bit lost in search of Bull Run Lake. The lesson learned was "stay on the trail." When travelling in the mountains unfamiliar, the trail serves as the only guide for one to find one's way in and out of the mountains. Being lost could lead to some grave consequences.
独自行在山中，我完全被大自然迷倒，渐渐在山中迷路。
昨天我在寻找Bull Run Lake的路上已经有些迷路。得来的教训是：沿着山路走。如果在不熟悉的山中行进，小路是进出山的唯一向导。如果在山中迷路，可能会导致严重的后果。
However, the trail to Rock Lake was very narrow, winding around many rock hills, boulders, rivers, and forests. In certain sections, the bushes were so thick that the trail become buried. The only wonderful thing was that wild flowers were at their prime, without being disturbed by foot traffic.
但是去Rock Lake的小路非常窄小，弯曲穿过几座小山、巨石、河流和树林。在一些路段，树林太茂密，以至于掩盖了道路。唯一令人称道的是：野花远离步行者的打搅，正在静悄悄的盛开。
The road was long and tedious and I didn't even see a living thing like a deer. In boredom I was planning, unconsciously some shortcuts for the return trip.
道理漫长又艰辛！沿路没有看到任何动物，甚至是鹿。我边走边计划回程的捷径。
I found Rock Lake around 10 o'clock. I had to hurry back to make the midday departure from the campground at Lake Alpine. Such a hurry eventually contributed to my being lost. Up a ridge I thought I could cut direct line across a seemingly flat forest floor. But no, the trail was never to be found.
10点钟左右，我终于找到了Rock Lake。但却不得不立刻往回赶，以期在中午离开露营地。由于太匆忙，我渐渐迷路了。在一个山脊上，我以为自己能直接穿过一片看似平坦的树林。但是，却怎么也找不到出路。
Now between me and the campground I must reach were nothing but rock ridges and deep gorges. The sun was high and the rocks were reflecting heat back into the air.
巨石和深谷横在回营地路上，太阳直射大地，石头反射的热量弥漫在空气中。
The walking and climbing part was hard but it was something I could handle easily, for I was in reasonable shape. The feeling of being lost, however, wasn't marvelous. I remember that earlier in the morning when I passed some huge rocks, I thought that I would tell my son where my ashes should be scattered after I die. The doubt in the mind was: would I ever get back to my son to tell him where exactly those rocks were?
徒步和爬山很艰难，但我体力极佳，尚可应对。但是迷路的感觉可不太好！早上爬过一些巨石时，我想到应该告诉儿子，待我离世后骨灰该撒在哪里。现在头脑里却存在恐惑：我还能不能回得去，告诉儿子这些巨石的位置？
Thank goodness, it was an exceptionally bright day. From miles away I could see the Inspiration Point I went up last evening. It was a weird looking mount, composed of half-baked dirt (volcanic lava) and reddish rocks. But it was unique among granite peaks and pine groves.
谢天谢地！今天天空格外明朗！我可以看到几里之外的Inspiration Point，我昨晚去过那里。这是一座长相古怪的山脉，由土（火山灰）和红色的岩石构成，使得它独秀于皑皑群山和葱葱密林中。
I might have prolonged my trip by jumping over huge rocks and wading through rivers. But I did get back to the campground only about half hour behind schedule.
攀岩涉水大大延长了我的旅途，但我终于到达营地，只比预定时间延迟半小时。
The lesson of the day was: when you become lost, in the mountains or not, stay calm. In the mountains, if you recognize a point of familiarity, aim at it and cut a straight line towards it. Of course, to get to that point, one must overcome any harsh obstacles in between, be it a huge mountain or a deep river. Go straight, you will be back eventually. Only when one can overcome the seemingly impossible, it becomes possible to get back. Finally, impossibility or despair only exists in one's mind. In other words, most of the time we are overcoming ourselves to come home.
今天得来的教训：如果迷路，不管是否在深山中，一定要保持冷静。在深山中，如果辨别出熟悉的地点，一直朝着它走。当然，前面可能需要克服一些巨大障碍，如大山或深水。一直往前走，一定会走出来的。只有克服了不可能的困难，才能到达终点。不可能和绝望只是自己的凭空想象。换言之，如果想回家，我们需要战胜自己。
Once back, don't relay your adventure to immature people. What I don't like is that those who had no experience of harsh or extreme conditions love to lecture others what "you should" or "you shouldn't do."
回来后，不要向不成熟的人讲述你的历险经历。我不喜欢那些没有经历任何极端困难的人来教授别人“应该”或“不应该”做什么。
You did what you had to do, in life, and you accept the consequences, even though some of them are really, really bad.
生活亦是如此：做你应该做的事，坦然面对结果，即使这个结果很糟糕……
哈哈哈哈 O(∩_∩)O哈哈~ 好久不来了，不小心看了一眼自己主页，发现自动关联了自己以往发过的帖，点进这个看了一眼，笑个半死。。。敢情我当初还发过这么搞笑的东西啊，我自己完全不记得了 
雷达卡
发表于 2008-7-12 10:49:51
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发表于 2008-7-12 11:07:33
, the oldest took all the frames apart and bent most of them. It was never used.
