点评:We took a Scenic Safaris snow shuttle from Flagg to Old Faithful for a Christmas stay. I have been to Old Faithful now 3 times since 2000. The weather this time was unprecedented - heavy, wet snow followed by at least a day of torrential rain had left downed trees and rutted snow tracks that made for incredibly challenging travel conditions. Our driver/guide (Jack) got us there safely. The other drivers we encountered along the way with SS were working together to ensure guest safety and the 'pit crew' at Flagg quickly addressed issues caused by the conditions before our departure. Despite what I believe may have been a white-knuckle trip, Jack also imparted knowledge about Yellowstone geology and history. I don't recall the name of the driver that brought us back 4 days later, but she also was enjoyable (thankfully in less challenging conditions). It's clear the concession companies are challenged with an understaffed and underfunded NPS - a NPS whose employees are also doing their best to maintain our beautiful Park - under the cruelty of our current administration.
翻译:我们乘坐Scenic Safaris公司的雪地班车从弗拉格前往老忠实泉过圣诞节。自2000年以来,我已经去过老忠实泉三次了。这次的天气前所未有——厚重的湿雪之后,又下了至少一天的暴雨,导致树木倒伏,雪地上布满了车辙,使得行车条件极其恶劣。我们的司机兼导游(杰克)安全地把我们送到了目的地。沿途我们遇到的其他Scenic Safaris公司的司机也都在齐心协力确保游客的安全,弗拉格的“维修团队”在我们出发前迅速解决了因恶劣天气造成的各种问题。尽管我认为那次旅程可能相当惊险刺激,但杰克还向我们讲解了黄石公园的地质和历史知识。我不记得四天后送我们返回的司机叫什么名字了,但她也很好相处(谢天谢地,当时的路况没那么糟糕)。很明显,特许经营公司面临着人手不足、资金不足的国家公园管理局的挑战——而国家公园管理局的员工们也在尽力维护我们美丽的公园——却还要承受现任政府的残酷统治。