Posts Tagged With: White Sand Dunes National Park

White Sands National Park exceeded our expectations. Previously we have been to Great Sand Dunes National Park, Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area, Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes National Lakeshore, and Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. Were these New Mexico dunes really going to be any different? We would vote yes.

As always, we stopped at the visitors center (right as it opened), saw the movie, looked at displays, picked up the park brochure, and used the restrooms with running water. Walking in deep, soft sand is taxing. No need to come home with aching legs so our pre-planning had three short hikes on our list to experience the park. Walking on a raised boardwalk was an easy decision. It gave us an overview of the terrain while showcasing some of the plants that are able to live in the sand.

As we drove further into the park, off the paved road and on to the hard packed sand road, I had flashbacks to driving on frozen lakes in Minnesota. ”Snow” was piled up on all sides, the sun glared on the brilliant white, and a grader was clearing the road. Except the ”snow” was sand. The sand at White Sand Dunes is gypsum, laid down millions of years ago when an inland sea covered this area. Over eons, the gypsum layer was uplifted by mountains and then eroded down into this basin which has no direct water outlet. Wind and water repeat the process, making sure the gypsum crystals are broken down into small and smooth grains. Strong southwest winds produce dazzling white sand dunes.

As in all deserts, animals and plants adapt to the harsh conditions. While some dunes are completely clear of vegetation, other dunes have a variety of plants and shrubs that survive. These micro oases will harbor the animal life that normally comes out at night.

Before taking hikes two and three, we drove further into the park. Stopping several times, we climbed a number of dunes to observe the varied dune shapes, background vistas, and plants. The whiteness was stunning. On a day with beautiful blue skies, the combination was spectacular. In many directions, the surrounding mountains added extra dimensions. The wind was light, so there was no sand blowing in your face. The temperature was in the 40s and 50s, so the sun felt warming while the light breeze kept you cool. Why would someone climb these dunes in summer when the temperature can be over 100 degrees?

Hike number two took us to a playa, a shallow basin that holds water for a portion of the year-an ephemeral lake. Water run-off from the mountains stays in the basin, frequently only a few inches to a few feet below the surface. This high water table is a factor in plant growth and sand stabilization.

Hike number three was a mile long and took us up and down several dunes. This hike created greater opportunities to scrutinize plants. Of particular note was one plant whose roots go down deep and by some process I forget, hardens the sand to create its own mound. Yucca plants that grow a tall flowering stem to protect itself from increasing sand dunes falls apart when the drifting sand moves on leaving the tall plant unable to support itself.

We wrapped up our time at White Sand Dunes by having lunch at a picnic table sheltered by an innovative shield to block winds. Still, with the white sand dunes all around us, we felt we were eating in the middle of a snow field.

Unfortunately, our second stop of the day was a let-down. The New Mexico Museum of Space History was chosen due to the history of missile and space endeavors in New Mexico. It is located on the campus of New Mexico State University-Alamogordo. We knew it was undergoing some renovations and interactive displays were inactive. However, our dismay was due more to outdated exhibits, some exhibits way too technical for us, and overall it was a pale image of other space and aeronautic museums we have visited. Oh well, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Ed and Chris, Las Cruces NM, Friday November 19, 2021