登高走山的日子(三) 男女搭配 爬山不累 (w English)

我们的队伍大家基本上是一个年龄档的，孩子大都大了，离家了，空巢了。开始时，队伍里还有一两对台湾夫妇，走着走着，最后剩下的全是清一色的大陆背景。我们来自祖国的五湖四海，经历相似，年龄相仿，为了共同的目标--强身健体-走到了一起。

 

最初，我们不厌其烦周复一周地走着根据地里的一条老路。像大多数南加的山，一年四季除了春天绿上一个月左右，其他十一个月基本上是荒山。荒凉的山中并没有什么标致性的东西。不过我们还是发现了走了四miles左右后，高处有一个像测量仪器一样的东西，顶端好像有个的红色盖子，远远望去，灯塔似的，隐约可见，我们称之为"红房子"，我们的软终点也就设在那里。通常到了红房子，大家就会心照不宣地觉得今天的任务完成了，可以返程了。这样一个来回大概八个miles左右。兴致高涨时，会在红房子下停一停，等大伙都齐了，再决定要不要再往前走一点。记得有过好几次超越此界的，体力好的打头阵的快递哥们还曾经沿着这条道一直走，走到了海边。

 

渐渐地，随着人员的加入，队伍的变化，大家开始蠢蠢欲动地探索起新路径来，遂就有了走新路和走老路的讨论。每周，大家会在微信群里互相交流通气周末的汇集点。热情高涨时，周二就有人再问，这周六爬哪儿？原本纯粹锻炼身体的活动慢慢地溶入了更多的趣味性，观赏性和娱乐性。

 

队伍里有一对夫妻, 先生叫C, 太太叫J，住在附近城市，每周六早上要多开一点路程赶来与我们一起爬山。两夫妻都是复旦高材生，早年留学德国的物理博士，后移居美国做IT。C身材高瘦，脾气温和，为人憨厚，是大家眼中的好好先生。他的包包里常常背着为太太准备的多余的瓶装水和小点心。

 

2015年7月18号的周六，队伍和往常一样，走在根据地的老路上。 走着走着，我们这六个(四女两男)落在后面的"新路派"，看到了一支新的分叉口，一经提议，大家便心领神会走了进去。 踏进新路的那一瞬间，C兴奋地说，"现在脚下走的每一步路都是新的"。 无疑，探索新路带给人的全新感受给了我们一些人更多的期待和活力。 在我的记忆里，C的形象是和他的这句金句紧紧相连的。

 

新路比较幽静，先是一个缓缓长长的下坡路，谷底长着高高的橡树，可能因为谷底有点水的原因，相对山坡上的植被，这个山谷比较的葱郁。路的两旁耸立着一些高大被风化了的岩石，神态各异。走完长长的低谷后是一段比较陡峭的山路。在说笑声中，大家好像也不费力地爬了上去，随后还勇敢地爬上了高高矗立在那里的岩石。大大的岩石时而嶙峋，时而平坦，队员们你前我后互相帮助地攀了上去。记不清太多的细节了，也不记得是哪位美女要从一块石头跳到另一块，需要帅哥拉一把，那时C正巧在附近的石头上，就顺势拉了一把。 估计大家可能就开玩笑地说了一句类似帅哥拉美女的话， 只见C，停顿半秒种，看着刚才拉过的手掌，不慌不忙地说了一句，"那今天回家，这手就不洗了"，末了，又好像加了一句，"你懂得"。顿时间，大家被C的幽默笑得前仰后合，空荡的山谷回荡着我们开心的笑声。谁敢说我们国男木讷，不懂风情，不懂幽默的?

 

7月25日，时隔一周，我们这帮人新鲜劲还没有过，带着队伍，一共九人，又走了一趟这条新发现的路径，结果却出了一件事。我们大家兴高采烈地走着，迎面碰到了一小队人马，告诉我们这是一条封闭的路(只有每月的第三个星期六开放，上个星期小分队行走时，碰巧是第三个星期六)，如果要走，要事先预约，得到许可，领到像他们胸前挂的证一样，才可以行走。当时大伙停了下来，因为不了解事情的严重性，大伙又走了那么远，如果折回，路太远。加上还有一个妈妈那天要回去给女儿开生日party，所以大伙就继续前行。估计那一帮人看我们不听劝，打电话报告了，所以巡警开车拦在了出口处。九个人除了那位急着回家的妈妈赶在警察到来之前走出去，其他八人全部落网。那天，我爬陡坡时，心脏又不给力，远远落在队伍后面。当前方从微信里叮咚传来消息，我和某人躲在山中，想躲开巡警的视线，结果尽职的巡警，亲自来迎接我们。好在后来发现我们是一伙的，就没有另外开罚单 (这里有以前写过的一篇博文《爬山拿罚单》)。一两个月后，罚单如期而至，一共$280，八人平分，大家痛快地掏了钱。那位漏网的妈妈事后一定也要一起分担，在大伙一致否决的情况下，到年底还买了糕点，每人一盒，加起来价值早已超过$35。这就是我们团结可爱的队伍!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 18, 2015 was a day when we found a new trail in the old base valley. Six or seven of us parted with two or three advanced team members after about 3 miles trek, and chose a new trail instead of following them.  At the entrance of the new trail, there is a low poster, with some small codes written on, which none of us paid much attention to.  

 

Entering the depth of the trail, we found it a bit lusher and more secluded, some tall oak trees canopying. Old huge stones, eroded and shaped by the sand and wind, stand on the side. Then this long flat trail is connected by an uphill, steep and strenuous.  When we triumphantly ascended to the top, we climbed to the big rocks overlooking the valley, relishing at the new view and the find. Guys lent hands to ladies hopping on and off the rocks, and jokes were played along, our laughter echoing in the empty valley.  It was through such an intimate time that I got to know more about Mr. C. and Ms J, a couple who later moved to Northern CA, and completed Rim to Rim hike with their new team.

The new trail is a loop that leads us back to an exit that meets the old road, with only about a mile left for us to complete. It was a blissful hike, leaving us sweating but contented. But when we hiked again the following week on July 25, 2015, something unexpected happened that held us back from setting upon the trail again.  

July 25, 2015 was just another usual sunny day. The lingering excitement from last week made us set on the newfound trail again with a group of 9 people.  Once we were into the lower valley for about a mile, we were greeted by some hikers coming from the opposite direction. They stopped us and showed us the badges on their chests, pointing out that we did not have those, and thus were not authorized to hike the trail.  I was baffled when the message was carried over to us by our team members. We did not take it seriously, plus we were more than halfway to reach the destination, turning back would mean more time.  One mom was in a hurry to go back for her daughter’s birthday party. So we continued on in spite of the warning. 

It happened that day that strenuous ascent put me on short breath and dizziness again.  Sitting on the grass for rest, my husband and I was left behind from the team. About forty minutes later, my cell phone dinged with a wechat message from a team friend, telling me not to proceed, as a patrolling ranger stopped them at the exit, and issued a ticket to the team for the violation of hiking on a closed trail without authorization. Those people we met at the valley must have reported it.  My husband and I looked around.  There was no way out, no alternative way in sight unless we turned around and headed back.

 

The noon sun was on the high sky, beaming down relentlessly. We found a shady spot next to a bush and sat agitatedly. Wechat messages kept piling in, updating us the situation.  Time ticked by.  More than half an hour later, when the messages in the group finally died down, the ranger emerged from the end of the trail, walking towards us.  We ducked our heads in our hats as low as it could be, wishing not to be seen.  But as his steps came closer, we knew that we were like trapped rabbits.  We raised up to greet him. Conversations were ensued, and my husband’s driver license information was copied down on his pad.  A further identification of us with the team saved us an additional ticket. We were told that a notice of penalty would be issued in the following weeks. 

In about a month or so, a fine of $280 for the violation duly mailed to Mr. J, who gave the police his information. Eight of us shared and paid for $35 each (one person hiked so fast that day for her daughter’s birthday party that she exited before the ranger arrived.) Later we know that some trails, like this one, are only open to the public once a week, i.e., every 3rd Saturday of the month, being closed the rest of the weeks. It will only be available to those who apply online and get authorized, with a guide to lead the way. 

It is a lesson we've learnt to always follow the rules, big or small.