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| Hiking | 4.00 Miles |
250 AEG |
| | Hiking | 4.00 Miles | | | |
| 250 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | This place is amazing!
Had been thinking about checking it out since Chad and Addie went a while back ... thought this might be my last chance before it got too hot. I was wrong - or rather, the weather forecast I used was wrong ... way wrong, by about 20 degrees! Was 87 when I got there.
Back to the beginning. I love a semi-spontaneous road trip, and I love exploring new territory. Right after I got east of Bowie on the I-10 and celebrated entering into new territory, I suddenly realized I forgot to leave food out for my fat cat - crap!! Thought about going back but that would have cost me three hours ... decided Lucy would be okay, and apologized to her in my head.
Stopped at the NM visitor center in Lordsburg and picked up some maps and info as well as free food and pin. Proceeded through Demming and to Las Cruces, where I got a bit thrown by some detours and went about 10 minutes out of the way towards El Paso. Las Cruces seems okay but I do not like the horizontal traffic lights.
Finally drove past the NASA facilities and through the missile range and a Border Patrol checkpoint to arrive at the Monument around 3:30 local time.
Went in the V.C. to arrange my campsite - it cant be done ahead of time since they might have to close for missile testing. They have 10 campsites - that's it, and you have to hike a mile or so to them. They only cost $3 ... plus the Park entry fee of $5.
At long last I drove a couple more minutes and finally saw some white sand! Lots and lots of REALLY WHITE SAND! It really is otherworldly.
I went to a picnic area and ate (wolfed down, really) the delicious chicken Caesar salad from the gift shop while I looked at the brochures and tried to adjust to the bizarre landscape.
I drove the Dunes Loop road twice, stopping at various places to ogle the views, take photos and play in the sand ... didn't sled, but it looks super fun and I want to next time.
About an hour before sunset, I started the backcountry camping trail ... only .9 mile to my site, but wow is climbing sand dunes with a backpack a good workout! Got there in about 30 mins and quickly set up my camp - wasn't much to it - then explored more dunes and enjoyed a spectacular sunset.
It was so intensely quiet that I couldn't even bear to fire up my stove so I ate cold food. The stars were amazing, but it was the absolute silence which impressed me ... no birds, no bugs, no trees to rustle in the wind, heck no wind for that matter.
Very cool place, and I will go back. Next time I will remember to feed the cat so I don't have to rush right home in the morning. And I will take an umbrella for shade. |
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