冬季的大峡谷-步行旅行者的天堂－纽约时报介绍 (图）

大峡谷的悬崖呈现蓝，粉，橙，紫红，深紫色，早期探险家称为上帝的旗帜。

去美国大峡谷旅游的人们中，恐怕少有冬天去的。记得多年前见到一位中国女士写
的大峡谷的冬景，她是乘公司租用的直升飞机进山的。纽约时报最近刊登HENRY
SHUKMAN的文章，介绍冬季大峡谷旅游的独到之处，人少－整个峡谷都是你的；气温
适于徒步旅行-hike－夏天的温度可达120度F, 连8岁的孩子都可以安全下到大峡谷
底部探险，看了令人心动欲行。


虽然大峡谷象是沙漠，但它在冬季象是片绿洲， 一个平静的地方，没有夏季的人群
和交通堵塞。旅行者从South Kaibab trail向大峡谷南缘攀登。


大峡谷的 trail 大约10英里长


在South Kaibab trail的徒步旅行者. 这原是美洲土著去Indian Gardens的路径。


在大峡谷南缘见到的一只麋鹿。

South Kaibab trail 的骡队。


乘坐骡子的游客经Bright Angel到大峡谷底部。要真正体验峡谷，你必须下到谷底。


从North Kaibab trailhead到Ribbon Falls


El Tovar旅馆，自1905年开始运作，是一个完美的徒步旅行者的休息处。


峡谷底部的Phantom Ranch，石头小屋及住宿场所。

旅游者在Phantom Ranch进晚餐


在Glen Canyon 大坝修建前，科罗拉多河水每天携带足够装满 25英里车皮的380,000
顿泥沙而下，确实是有效的切削工具。科罗拉多的河水切割出一英里深的峡谷。1857年
进入峡谷的探险队的成员科学家John Strong Newberry说：“据我们所知，地球表
面没有任何地方象这里揭示了地质结构的秘密。”


旅行者在谷底的科罗拉多河旁晒太阳


午后的阳光照在大峡谷的北侧

Walking Into the Earth’s Heart: The Grand Canyon
November 29, 2009

GETTING THERE-[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 -[if !mso]> -[if gte mso 10]>  

We drove along Interstate 40 to Williams, Ariz., spent a night in the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel, left the car there and then took the Grand Canyon Railway (www.thetrain.com) to the canyon in the morning. The train leaves Williams once a day at 9:30 a.m.; the return train leaves at 3:30 p.m. daily. If that schedule doesn’t work for you, you can hire a taxi for the return trip, at around $120. A round-trip ticket on the train begins at $70 for an adult, $40 for a child.

The160;National Park Service’s Web site (www.nps.gov/grca) is very helpful in planning a visit, as is160;www.grandcanyonlodges.com.

WHERE TO STAY

El Tovar160;(888-297-2757;160;www.grandcanyonlodges.com) is the most atmospheric hotel around. Designed by Mary Colter, built right on the rim out of timber and stone and open since 1905, it shouldn’t be missed, provided the budget can stretch to it. A standard double room is currently $174.

Phantom Ranch160;(888-297-2757;160;www.grandcanyonlodges.com) is a magical collection of stone cabins and lodges built in the bottom of the canyon, also by Mary Colter. Dorm beds are about $42.

The160;Grand Canyon Railway Hotel160;(233 North Grand Canyon Boulevard, Williams, Ariz.; 800-843-8724;160;www.thetrain.com) is not quite the atmospheric old railway edifice I’d imagined, but this is a comfortable, modern hotel. Doubles start at $169.

Bright Angel Lodge160;(888-297-2757;160;www.grandcanyonlodges.com) is another old timber warren, built in 1935 and still full of charm. A standard room with bath is $90; a cabin on the canyon rim is $142.