EXPLORATIONS - Camping in America's National and State Parks

EXPLORATIONS¹ - Camping in America's National and State Parks
By Paul Thompson

Broadcast: Wednesday, August 17, 2005

(MUSIC)

VOICE ONE:

I'm Faith Lapidus.

VOICE TWO:

 
 

And I'm Steve Ember with EXPLORATIONS in VOA Special English. Millions of people in the United² States like to spend their holidays enjoying nature. They carry everything they will need with them. Today we tell about this popular activity called backpacking.

(MUSIC)

VOICE ONE:

We are high in the Blue Ridge³ Mountains in the state of North Carolina. It is very early in the morning. We have been walking in the mountains for almost one week. Each night we sleep in a small cloth shelter⁵ called a tent. We carry the tent, sleeping bags, clothes, food and water with us in our backpacks.

The air this morning is fresh and clear. It smells like green trees and wild flowers. Our surroundings⁶ are dark green. We have been deep in the forest for many kilometers. Little light reaches here. It is so thick with trees we cannot see the sky.

VOICE TWO:

At last we come to a clear area. We can see the sky and the land around us. When we look across to other mountains it is easy to see why they were named the "Blue Ridge Mountains." The early morning air in the distance looks like thick smoke. It makes the color of the mountains a deep ocean blue. This color is caused by the amount of water in the air. It is almost like fog. When the sun rises higher, some of the water in the air will be burned away. Then the mountains will slowly turn dark green.

VOICE ONE:

It is beautiful here. We can see many kilometers down and across the valley floor. Two deer are nearby. They are eating grass. No hunting is permitted⁸ here. The deer are used to seeing people walk through this area, so they have little fear of humans. They watch us with their huge dark eyes. For several minutes we look at the deer and the deer look at us. Then, the large animals lose interest and slowly move away.

VOICE TWO:

We have stopped to eat a late morning meal. A friend has begun to cook our food over a small fire. The smell of fresh coffee soon mixes with the smell of burning wood. The clear mountain air and our long walk this morning have made us extremely⁹ hungry.

We eat a meal of eggs, fruit and bread and drink some very good coffee. After eating, we wash the equipment in hot water and put it inside the large bags we carry on our backs. We put the fire out with water. We fill the small hole we dug¹⁰ for the fire with dirt. We carefully clean the area when we are done. When we leave, there is nothing to show that we have been there. We try very hard to leave the area as we found it -- the way nature made it.

VOICE ONE:

Today we will try to walk at least thirty kilometers. It should not be difficult. The path here is not steep¹¹. We will spend two more days and nights high in the Blue Ridge Mountains. By then we will have eaten all the food we brought.

Then it will be time to leave the mountains. It will be difficult to re-enter the world of cars, roads, buildings, stores, computers, television and crowds of people.

We will take many things from the mountains when we leave. Memories of the great beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The joy of watching the beautiful deer early in the morning. And an increased respect for our natural world.

(MUSIC)

VOICE TWO:

We have tried to describe what it is like to travel a path up high in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The area we visited is called the Blue Ridge Parkway. The United States government's National Park Service protects this beautiful area so that the public can always enjoy it. About eighteen million people visit the Blue Ridge Parkway each year. Most drive there in their cars. However, about two hundred thousand people sleep in the park for at least one night.

VOICE ONE:

The National Park Service keeps records to show how many people visit all of the national parks. Each year about fourteen million people sleep in America's national parks for at least one night. About one million seven hundred thousand people visit what is called the "backcountry." The backcountry is far away from human activity. In some parks, vehicles¹² are not permitted in the backcountry.

You often must walk for several days to get to the backcountry of some national parks. People who enjoy backpacking visit backcountry. They carry everything they will need for a day or two or perhaps a week or more.

VOICE TWO:

Backpacking is a popular activity in the United States. Many different companies produce goods and equipment for people who enjoy living for a while in nature. Several companies sell special foods. Some of these foods have been produced using a method that removes the water. This method is called freeze-drying. These meals include different foods such as meat, vegetables and rice or perhaps a mixture of several foods.

Hot water is added¹³ to the dried material to replace the missing¹⁴ water. This produces a meal that is ready to eat. Backpackers use this method to carry food for two reasons. The food is easy to carry because it weighs a lot less without the water. And food that has been freeze-dried remains¹⁵ safe to eat for a long time.

VOICE ONE:

Many companies produce special clothing for people who enjoy backpacking. Some companies make strong shoes made for walking and hiking¹⁶. Others make small stoves for cooking food. Other companies make small lightweight cloth tents that campers can carry anywhere. A few companies sell equipment that makes water safe to drink. And a number of companies make the backpacks that campers use to carry all this equipment.

Each of these companies tries to make the best possible product that is very lightweight. A backpack filled with food, water and equipment needed for a week weighs about twenty kilograms¹⁷. Many experienced¹⁸ backpackers carry far less and travel faster. Others take more equipment because they want more of the comforts of home.

(MUSIC)

VOICE TWO:

Many state and national parks permit⁷ backpacking. In some parks you must pay a small amount of money for each day. Others cost nothing. Some national parks provide hundreds of kilometers of paths or trails²⁰ to follow.

Mount⁴ Rainier National Park in the northwestern state of Washington²¹ is a good example of a park that provides many different trails. Some take only a day to follow. Others can take a week or more.

The oldest and perhaps the most famous backpacking trail¹⁹ in the United States is called the Appalachian Trail. It begins in the northeastern state of Maine and ends in the southern state of Georgia.

Those who follow the trail from beginning to end will walk or hike²² about three thousand five hundred kilometers. Some of the Appalachian Trail is easy. Some parts of it are extremely difficult. Myron Avery helped create the famous trail. He also was the first man to walk the whole trail. He did it in nineteen thirty-six.

Since then, more than eight thousand people have hiked²³ all of the Appalachian Trail. Some did it all at one time. Others did parts of the trail each year for several years until they finished it. About three million people walk part of the trail each year.

VOICE ONE:

People have come from all over the world to hike the Appalachian Trail. Perhaps one of the most unusual was a woman named Emma Gatewood from the state of Ohio. She walked all of the trail -- three times. She was almost seventy years old the last time she completed the trail.

The Appalachian Trail is easy to follow. Hundreds of people in many different states help keep it clear and in good repair. Backpackers can find shelters²⁴ along the trail to sleep in at night. These too are kept and repaired by people who love the Appalachian Trail.

VOICE TWO:

We have told you about only three of the many areas where people can backpack in the United States. Another famous one is the Pacific Crest²⁵ Trail. You can walk this trail from the American border with Canada to the American border with Mexico. It goes through the western states of Washington, Oregon and California²⁶.

Hundreds of national and state parks offer the backpacker a chance to see, hear and feel the natural world. It is an experience that provides a lifetime²⁷ of memories.

(MUSIC)

VOICE ONE:

This program was written by Paul Thompson. It was produced by Mario Ritter. I'm Faith Lapidus.

VOICE TWO:

And I'm Steve Ember. Join us again next week for EXPLORATIONS in VOA Special English.

1 explorations   

探险旅行( exploration的名词复数 )； 搜寻； 考察； 勘探

参考例句：

• Our underwater explorations also helped to confirm the theory. 我们的水下考察也有助于证实这个理论。
• The geographical explorations had revealed the inadequacies of the existing maps. 地形勘查揭露出现有地图的不妥之处。

2 united   

adj.和谐的；团结的；联合的，统一的

参考例句：

• The whole nation is closely united.全国人民紧密团结。
• The two men were united by community of interests.共同的利益使两个人结合在一起。

3 ridge   

n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭

参考例句：

• We clambered up the hillside to the ridge above.我们沿着山坡费力地爬上了山脊。
• The infantry were advancing to attack the ridge.步兵部队正在向前挺进攻打山脊。

4 mount   

n.山峰，乘用马，框，衬纸；vi.增长，骑上（马）；vt.提升，爬上，装备

参考例句：

• Their debts continued to mount up.他们的债务不断增加。
• She is the first woman who steps on the top of Mount Jolmo Lungma.她是第一个登上珠穆朗玛峰的女人。

5 shelter   

n.掩蔽，掩蔽处，避身处；庇护所，避难所，庇护；vt.庇护，保护，隐匿；vi.躲避

参考例句：

• We took shelter from the rain in a cave.我们在一个山洞里避雨。
• Trees are a shelter from the sun.树木可以遮挡阳光。

6 surroundings   

n.周围的事物(或情况)，环境

参考例句：

• She is not very well tuned into her surroundings. 她不太适应周围的环境。
• The rich man lives in luxurious surroundings.这位富人生活在奢侈的环境中。

7 permit   

n.许可证，许可，执照；vt.允许，容许；vi.容许

参考例句：

• The doctor will not permit mother up until her leg is better.在母亲的腿好些之前,医生不允许她起床。
• The soldiers had orders to permit no stranger through.士兵们接到命令不许任何陌生人通过。

8 permitted   

允许( permit的过去式和过去分词 )； 许可； 许用

参考例句：

• Radios are not permitted in the library. 图书馆内不许使用收音机。
• Entrance is permitted only on production of a ticket. 出示门票才可进入。

9 extremely   

adv.极其，非常，极度

参考例句：

• The film is extremely good,I just cannot miss it.这部电影太精彩了，我非看不可。
• The old man was extremely difficult to get along with.这个老人极难相与。

10 dug   

n.动物的乳房[乳头]v.挖，掘( dig的过去式和过去分词 )；（如用铲、锨或推土机等）挖掘；挖得；寻找

参考例句：

• He dug a deep hole in the garden. 他在花园里挖了个深坑。
• We dug a deep pit in the yard. 我们在院子中挖了个深洞。

11 steep   

adj.陡峭的，险峻的，急剧升降的，不合理的；n.悬崖，峭壁，浸渍，浸渍液；v.浸，泡，沉浸

参考例句：

• The slope is too steep for us to climb.这斜坡太陡，我们爬不上去。
• There was a steep climb on the road out of town.市外公路上有一处很陡的上坡路。

12 vehicles   

n.运载工具；传播媒介；（为展露演员才华而）特意编写的一出戏（或电影等）；[画]展色剂；交通工具( vehicle的名词复数 )；车辆；传播媒介；手段

参考例句：

• There is not much clearance for vehicles passing under this bridge. 车辆在这座桥下通过时没有多少余隙。
• to carry out random spot checks on vehicles 对车辆进行抽检

13 added   

adj.更多的，附加的，额外的

参考例句：

• They have added a new scene at the beginning.在开头他们又增加了一场戏。
• The pop music added to our enjoyment of the film.片中的流行音乐使我们对这部电影更加喜爱。

14 missing   

adj.遗失的，缺少的，失踪的

参考例句：

• Check the tools and see if anything is missing.检点一下工具，看有无丢失。
• All the others are here;he's the only one missing.别人都来了，就短他一个。

15 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

16 hiking   

n.徒步旅行

参考例句：

• He has been hiking round Scotland for a month.他围着苏格兰徒步旅行了一个月。
• Hiking is not yet popular in China.徒步旅行在中国还不流行。

17 kilograms   

n.千克( kilogram的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• 2 kilograms of rice 2公斤大米
• Every tonne of coal contains,on average,30 kilograms of nitrogen. 每吨煤平均含30公斤氮。 来自《简明英汉词典》

18 experienced   

adj.有经验的；经验丰富的，熟练的

参考例句：

• Experienced seamen will advise you about sailing in this weather.有经验的海员会告诉你在这种天气下的航行情况。
• Perhaps you and I had better change over;you are more experienced.也许我们的工作还是对换一下好，你比我更有经验。

19 trail   

n.踪迹，痕迹，一串，尾部，小径，尾，持枪姿势；vt.拖，尾随，追踪，落后于

参考例句：

• The car raised a trail of dust.汽车掀起了一股尘土。
• The hound found the trail of the rabbit.猎狗发现了兔子的踪迹。

20 trails   

n.足迹( trail的名词复数 )；臭迹；小径；一缕v.（使某物）被拖在后面( trail的第三人称单数 )；跟踪，追踪；（在比赛等中）输；（尤指跟在他人后面）疲惫地走

参考例句：

• He was a shrewd lawyer with a talent for uncovering paper trails of fraud. 他是个精明强干的律师，能从一连串文件中找出诈骗的蛛丝马迹。
• Police dogs have good noses for following criminals' trails. 警犬的嗅觉对罪犯留下来的痕迹特别敏锐。 来自《简明英汉词典》

21 Washington   

n.华盛顿特区(是美国首都)

参考例句：

• His birthplace is Washington,but he lives in San Francisco.他出生于华盛顿，但住在旧金山。
• They, together with my father,have gone to Washington.他们和我父亲一起去华盛顿了。

22 hike   

n.徒步旅行，远足，涨价；v.健行，徒步旅行，使...高涨

参考例句：

• I don't care to go on a hike.我不喜欢徒步旅行。
• The children are choosing a hike in the country park.孩子们在选郊外公园的远足路线。

23 hiked   

v.徒步旅行( hike的过去式和过去分词 )；提高（价格等）

参考例句：

• They hiked gas rates. 他们提高了煤气价格。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He hiked a child up onto his shoulders. 他把孩子举上肩。 来自《简明英汉词典》

24 shelters   

n.居所( shelter的名词复数 )；避难所；（无家可归者或受虐待者的）收容所；遮蔽

参考例句：

• During the blitz we spent the night in underground shelters. 空袭期间，我们在防空洞过夜。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The wall shelters the garden from the north wind. 围墙给园子挡住了北风。 来自辞典例句

25 crest   

n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖

参考例句：

• The rooster bristled his crest.公鸡竖起了鸡冠。
• He reached the crest of the hill before dawn.他于黎明前到达山顶。

26 California   

n.加利福尼亚(美国)

参考例句：

• He was elected governor of the state of California.他当选为加州州长。
• We were driving on a California freeway.我们正沿着加利福尼亚的一条快车道驾车行驶。

27 lifetime   

n.一生，终身，寿命，使用期限

参考例句：

• He wrote many books during his lifetime.他一生著作甚多。
• During his lifetime his work was never published.他的作品在他的有生之年从未出版过。