Storm Over Alamagordo
State Highway 70, New Mexico - July 2009

This is a grab shot Darla took of the last light in the clouds over Alamagordo, New Mexico. Our plan was to watch the sunset in White Sands National Monument before returning to Alamagordo for the night. Unfortunately, we arrived at the monument in the middle of a full-on sand storm. Darla called a campground we had passed on our way to the monument to lock in a reservation for the night. Its proprietor urged us to head back to Alamagordo immediately. He explained that winds like these often closed Hwy 70 for hours. If we waited, we could end up stranded.

Morning Light on White Sand
White Sands National Monument, New Mexico - July 2009

Perhaps even more disappointing than being driven out of White Sands by a storm the previous evening was the discovery that the monument itself had visiting hours. No moonlight photography here – or even sunrise photography in the summer. The dunes opened at 7:00AM and closed an hour after sunset. We were first through the gate on this morning.

Ripples in Gypsum
White Sands National Monument, New Mexico - July 2009

Every dune field has something which makes it unique. At White Sands, it is the color, texture, and composition of the dunes. These dunes comprise the largest pure gypsum dune field in the world. If this area received enough rainfall the dunes would actually dissolve. That they don’t is an indication of just how arid this environment really is.

Blue and White
White Sands National Monument, New Mexico - July 2009

Tracks in the Sand
White Sands National Monument, New Mexico - July 2009

The silver lining to the previous evening’s storm was that, once again, we were able to enjoy absolutely pristine dunes. The only tracks in the sand were the ones left overnight by the creatures that make these dunes their home.

Powder
White Sands National Monument, New Mexico - July 2009

The sand here is powdery and soft, very different from the coarse sand that stung our faces at Great Sand Dunes less than a week earlier.

White Sands National Monument, New Mexico - July 2009

Boy Tracks in the Sand
White Sands National Monument, New Mexico - July 2009

Harsh Ride
White Sands National Monument, New Mexico - July 2009

This sand may be soft underfoot but it’s packed down pretty hard – as The Boy discovered trying to roll down this dune. Only the top few inches of sand is actually loose. The stuff underneath has been cemented together by moisture to become what is described as a crude form of plaster of Paris.

View Across the Dunes
White Sands National Monument, New Mexico - July 2009

Unlike the Great Sand Dunes, these dunes are not known for their height.

White Sands National Monument, New Mexico - July 2009

Wasn't I Just Here?
White Sands National Monument, New Mexico - July 2009

White Sands National Monument, New Mexico - July 2009

Breakfast and a Show
White Sands National Monument, New Mexico - July 2009

We decided to pause for breakfast in a large sand parking lot that fronted the largest dunes along the road. I tried to convince Lewis to come throw a frisbee with me while Darla made eggs and pancakes but he had already initiated another round of Bop-It. (Over the course of our trip, he had developed the ability to get his score high enough that the game basically gave up. He was very proud of this.)

A short time later – still mid-game – a couple vans full of kids were able to succeed where I did not. They stopped on the opposite end of the parking lot and exited their vehicles with a pair of large sand saucers which they used to fly down the side of the dunes. Bop-It was summarily set aside so that The Boy could watch the ensuing show. These guys looked like they were from the nearby military base so we assumed they owned these saucers. We found out later that they rented them at the visitor center.

Outpost
White Sands National Monument, New Mexico - July 2009

Probably my favorite image from this collection, this picnic table looked completely surreal juxtaposed against the sea of white that surrounded it.

White Sands National Monument, New Mexico - July 2009

Never was bright and sunny a more apt description. It was only 9:45 AM and the dunes were already so bright it was difficult to walk around outside without sunglasses.

Seed Pods
White Sands National Monument, New Mexico - July 2009

Soaptree Yucca
White Sands National Monument, New Mexico - July 2009

White Sands National Monument, New Mexico - July 2009

Pink Centaury
White Sands National Monument, New Mexico - July 2009

Bleached Earless Lizard
White Sands National Monument, New Mexico - July 2009

These little guys were zipping all over the interdune flats. Some of them were really blue; no brown. White Sands is an interesting place to observe lizards and other creatures because here you’ll find many species otherwise common to other nearby areas except that the dune dwellers are slowly adapting by turning white.

White Sands National Monument, New Mexico - July 2009

White Sands National Monument, New Mexico - July 2009

White Sands National Monument, New Mexico - July 2009

previous image set: Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico
next image set: Dinosaur National Monument, Colorado