Big Oak Flat entrance
如果只有半天多的時間在Yosemite NP，那倒底要去哪兒呢？這是我們在前一天的Devils Postpile行程結束之後面臨的小考驗。當天早上我們先在Mammoth Lakes那一帶逛了一下，到Mammoth Lakes西南邊的Mammoth Lakes Basin區。
After visiting the Devils Postpile NM on the previous day, we decided to spend the next morning driving around the Mammoth Lakes Basin area.
Mammoth Lakes Basin
所謂的Mammoth Lakes。只是鎮的名字。四周並沒有一個叫Mammoth Lake的湖，但Mammoth Lakes Basin裡有眾多的小湖。從Mammoth Lakes的主要道路Main Street一直往西開，路名會變成Lake Mary Road，一直順著開就會到湖區了。這邊有許多小湖和小瀑布，而車子可直接開到的，有Twin Lakes，Horseshoe Lake，Lake George，以及最大的Lake Mary。
Contrary to what most people might think, there is no lake here called Mammoth Lake. Instead, there are a number of small lakes here in the Mammoth Lakes Basin. To reach the Mammoth Lakes Basin area, take Main Street all the way west, which becomes into Lake Mary Road. Continue on Lake Mary Road, and you will reach the lakes. Among the most accessible and popular lakes are the Twin Lakes, Horseshoe Lake, Lake George, and the largest Lake Mary.
Twin Lakes
Lake Mary
夏天時，在湖上划船和釣魚是熱門的活動
Fishing and boating are popular summer activities here.
因為湖與湖之間的高度差，可看到背後從其他湖流進來的水，形成小瀑布。
Due to differences in elevation, water from one lake flows into another, forming small waterfalls, as seen in the background.
*********************************************************************************
Tioga Road
前天晚上為了開到Devils Postpile而穿越Yosemite National Park。這一天要回家，當然也得同樣地橫跨公園。之前晚上什麼都看不見，這一天的景色雖然是順序是倒過來看，對我們卻仍是新鮮的。
從東邊的US-395和CA-120的交插口那兒，開CA-120進公園的入口，有差不多11 mile的車程，一路上坡，從原本就已經很高的7000多ft，一直爬到上面照片中所標示的9945 feet。
來Yosemite前幾週，有同學在Tuolumne Meadows露營，除了在草原上看到許多動物，還看到遍地野花，大力推薦一番。原本進公園充滿期地，但後來發現，高山上的花開的時間短，八月底，花兒早就全部謝光了！
在公園的東側，在公園高處，看Yosemite Valley的景色不如從西側看過來，花崗石結構，也比不上El Capitan的那樣壯觀。但在這兒，可當作是要進Valley前的前奏，也可當作是尋找遠離大批人潮的一股清幽。
Our friend had camped in Tuolumne Meadows a few weeks back and highly recommended it, being able to see blooming wildflowers and other wildlife here. Naturally and naively, we came in with the same expectations. Of course, by late August, the flowers have long withered and were gone. We arrived to find the meadow being patches of green and yellow grass.
Coming from the Eastern side of the park, you are viewing down the Yosemite Valley from the high side. The view is quite different, and in my opinion, slightly inferior to the view one gets from Glacier Point and Tunnel View. However, most of the times, you will be away from most of the crowd and have the nature to yourself.
Lembert Dome，路旁會看到的花崗岩小山。
Lembert Dome, granite done visible from the side of the road.
Tenaya Lake，是公園裡最容易到達，也是這一區最大的湖。由於就在路旁，擁有深藍的湖水，夏天更是這邊人聚集最多的景點。在這兒，不乏看到來野餐，玩水，游泳，以及泛舟的人。接近中午時分，我們也是在這兒打起野餐的。因為夏天前來參觀的遊客數實在是太多，開始造成公園單位在管理和維護上的不便。
Tenaya Lake is the largest and most accessible lake in the park. Literally next to the side of the road, it is arguably one of the most popular destinations here on the east end of Yosemite. Families and friend gather here to picnic, swim in the waters, raft on lake. In fact, we ended up picnicking here for lunch, finishing whatever snacks and treats and whatever we could find on our car. Due to excessive use of the area, it has caused some considerable concern to the park's management and a committee was formed to address these issues.
在湖上泛舟的遊客。
rafting on Tenaya Lake
**********************************************************************************
Yosemite Valley
在Tenaya Lake稍作停留，就直接殺進Yosemite Valley。同行的同學Johnson之前沒來過Yosemite，因此我們是馬上給他上了一個「Yosemite Valley景點惡補」之旅。
Among the three of us, Johnson was the only one who has not been to Yosemite National Park prior to this trip. We gave him a timely crash course on Yosemite Valley.
這是即將要進Yosemite Valley 的時候，可以看到的景。
View on the road just before entering the valley.
進Valley，車道從雙向分成單行道的時的，首先看到的Bridalveil Fall。這次來，瀑布的水量已經變得很小，跟上次來看到水整個傾瀉下來的模樣差很多。
Bridalveil Fall, with not much water this time of the year. It flows year-round, but the flow rate is much smaller compared to spring and early summer months.
矗立在一旁的El Capitan，是許多遊客都會停車下來與之拍照
El Capitan, one of the most iconic granite monoliths in the park
八月底過來，Upper 和 Lower Yosemite Falls 幾乎已經沒有水了。如不是看到石壁上水流過的痕跡，很難想像春天融雪時，這邊瀑布的盛景。
Close to dry Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls. Sort of hard to imagine the tons of water that coming gushing down during the months of spring.
在Valley的橋上望過去的Half Dome，並有Merced River從前面流過
View of Half Dome and the Merced River flowing through from the Valley
**********************************************************************************
Tunnel View
對上次來的時候，念念不忘的Tunnel View，這次終於又回來了。Tunnel View這個隧道，是要接往南邊Glacier Point或是Wawona那邊時會經過的。兩邊通行的方向都有停車場可以直接轉進去，下車後熱門的拍照地點就在旁邊。
Tunnel View, I'm back! It's gets its name from the tunnel that you just passed through or will pass through, depending on where you are coming from. There is parking on either side of the road, where one of the most photographed locations is a few steps away.
一個接著一個拍照的遊客
Tourist lining up and posing
Tunnel View 這兒被拍過無數次的名景。
Most famous view of the valley. Need I say more?
在Yosemite NP重點區兜了一圈，時後也不早了，只得開始開車前往回灣區了。這次Yosemite之旅，印象深刻在這是最匆匆忙忙的一次，幹盡了走馬看花要做的事。而南邊的Wawona和Glacier Point，則只能留給下一次吧。
This was arguably the most rushed visit to Yosemite that I have ever had, and it was memorable precisely because of that. Needless to say, Wawona and Glacier point would have to wait for a future trip.
Back to: Yosemite National Park Part 1
Official Website:
No comments:
Post a Comment