3 . A Journey to the Yosemite Firefall

Each year, thousands of people are attracted to the Yosemite National Park in California for a chance of seeing —and photographing ——the unique “firefall”. The amazing “firefall” comes to life only when there is enough water from the melting（融化）snow to keep the Horsetail Fall flowing and when the light of the setting sun hits the waterfall at the right angle. It can only be seen for a short time in February on clear sunny days.

This year, the weather isn’t stopping the “firefall” from happening, but it is making the journey to see it more difficult.

“What would have been a 10-minute walk turned into a two-hour hike through deep snow,” photographer Ryan Fitzsimons said about his recent trip to see the phenomenon. “Our clothes were all wet by the time we got to a viewing site. But the heavy snow made the sight much more beautiful since the waterfall is much bigger this year.”

Another photographer Andy Heitz was making his first trip to see the “firefall”. He had to wait five hours in the extreme cold for his turn to take a picture.

“I got to the site at about 12:00 at noon. The place was already filled with hundreds of people waiting to see and photograph the ‘firefall’. I was so lucky that I shot a really wonderful burner! I was completely amazed with what I saw,” he said. “You know, only on a couple days of the year in February and when the sun sets down at the perfect angle to shine on Yosemite’s Horsetail Fall can we see the ‘Fire Fall’. I’ll never forget what I have seen.’’

The “firefall” should continue to be there from 20 to 24 February. But park officials said that there’s no guarantee（保证）that visitors will see it on any given day.

On our way to the house, it was raining     1     hard that we couldn't help wondering how long     2     would take to get there. It was in the middle of Pearl City.

We were first greeted with the bark by a pack of dogs, seven to be exact. They were well trained by their masters     3     had great experience with caring for these animals. Our hosts shared many of their experiences and recommended wonderful places     4     (eat), shop, and visit. For breakfast, we were able to eat the papaya(木瓜) and other fruits from their trees in the backyard.

When they were free     5     work, they invited us to local events and let us know of an interesting     6     (compete), together with the story behind it. They also shared with us many     7     (tradition) stories about Hawaii that were hugely popular with tourists. On the last day of our weeklong stay, we     8     (invite) to attend a private concert on     9     beautiful farm on the North Shore under the stars,     10     (listen) to musicians and meeting interesting locals.

Will you please tell me about your experience in your next letter?

All the best.

Yours,

Li Hua

10 . As summer approaches, many kids and teenagers may find that they have more time in hand. One great way to make use of the extra time is to go on an adventure and travel. Clearly, I am not a naturally adventurous person, but I have found that taking risks and challenging myself to explore and travel to unfamiliar places can be a very rewarding experience.

Because I am usually quite busy during the school year, most of my travels take place during the summer. Over the past few summers, I have hiked in the Grand Canyon, explored Niagara Falls, and camped out in the countryside of New York. Although these experiences are varied, they are similar in that they instill a sense of appreciation for nature and a more balanced view on life. When I hiked in the Grand Canyon, for example, I was in awe of the geological process that shaped the canyon.

Adventures, of course, are not limited to hiking. There are many other choices, such as camping, volunteering in a foreign environment and travelling to different countries. In my opinion, adventures are more enjoyable with family or a few friends. There is a sense of bonding that one only gets through spending time together in outdoor adventures. For example, when I was in Boy Scouts, I often went on weekend camping trips with my friends. When I came back from a Boy Scouts camping trip, I often was eager to go outside more and explore the parks and nature around me.

Next fall, I will attend college. In the meantime, though, I hope to make the most of my summer to explore and travel. Now, I am planning on hiking and camping out in Maine. When I visited Maine last fall, I was amazed by how beautiful it was, and I really hope to enjoy the beauty of nature.