We have been watching the winds throwing up a dust storm at White Sands National Monument all week and today they have finally subsided. Off to the largest "sand box" in the US! Well not really sand, which technically is quartz granules, but rather a pure white, flour-like surreal world composed of the largest collection of "gypsum" anywhere. The same gypsum that is in plaster of paris and drywall.
Over 275 million years ago, a shallow, tropical sea resided over southern Arizona, southern New Mexico and western Texas. The sea retreated as the area rose up, creating a basin which had no outlet. Millions of years of rain runoff from the mountain ranges surrounding the basin dissolved gypsum within the mountains and it drained into the dry basin. As it dried it created Selenite crystals; these pure, transparent crystals still grow to heights measured in feet at Lake Lucero which is part of the dried alkali flats at the edge of the dunes. Relentless winds break the huge crystals into flakes and finally granules. As the clear granules tumble over one another they scratch and become pure white with a near flour-like texture. Even in the hottest sun the sand is surprisingly cool.
The Visitor Center sells snow saucers and families picnic and sled down the nearly 40 feet high dunes.
Shona and I walked throughout the numerous nature trails and observed little white lizards and black beetles scurry across the sand, desperately trying to find the next plant for protection. Amazingly Yucca,, numerous cacti and sand Verbena share this harsh environment with rodents, rabbits, foxes and coyotes. The State of New Mexico thought it would be neat to introduce the African Oryx onto the White Sands Missile Range and in doing so their increasing numbers threatened the native animal species and a 67 mile fence had to be built around the Monument. It was good practice for later fence construction at the States southern border!! Some shrubbery use their root system to anchor the sand into a hill which allow animals to burrow safely. The wind moves the dune from around the shrub but retains the mound of sand acting as a home for animals.
After a fun morning on the sand dunes, we decide to have lunch in the RV before heading further into the 275 square miles of desert. But first I take a "shadow selfie" and it requires no stick!!
I see a trailhead marker for the "Alkali Flats" and decide it will be a fun hike. I leave Shona in the cool, air-conditioned RV and grab my bottle of water and prepare to set out on a little trek into the whiteness. Unless you have ever taken a stroll in your mother's container of baking flour you have no idea how tough it is to scale a 40 foot dune of 'flour-like" gypsum! But I push on alone and with each dune crossing become more obsessed with where the heck the next trail marker is located. O K, I see that skinny pole ahead or is it a mirage. After a mile panic sets in! What if I don't make it back to the RV soon enough, the Park closes and Shona is forced to drive home alone! What was I thinking, bringing only one small bottle of my precious "Poland Springs" with me? When it appears the end is near, I see a vision on the horizon!! Could it be? Yes it is, the lovely couple from New Hampshire who are camping next to me at the State Park! I needed to pull myself together before they could see the foam around the corners of my mouth so I slugged down the last of the "Maine's Best" and proceeded to engage them in some senseless small talk while all along I truly just wanted a hug! We made our way back to our RV's, exchanged wishes for a continued safe journey and went our separate ways. Little did they or would they ever know they most probably saved my life. "Live Free or Die" I nearly did!
My recovery would require dinner at a fine Mexican Restaurant; I have no doubt of the healing power of good salsa! We plan to come back at 1845 tonite and partake of the Ranger guided "Sunset Walk". Still feeling a bit inadequate with "denim" after my bib overall fiasco I ventured into a "Western Dude" shop and took a look around. I found a pair of "Green Label" Cinch jeans with an "original rise" and I knew me and the boys would be forever happy!!! Best purchase yet!! I asked the "pretty, little thing" behind the counter where the best Mexican food was in town and she without hesitation said "Si Señor"! That response threw me for a loop initially because with my natural southwestern "tan" I thought she was just agreeing with me in our native tongue?!! But there actually was a Mexican Restaurant a few blocks down called "Si Señor". Had the best, best Sirloin Fajitas ever and as you guessed a gallon of unsweetened iced tea!! Heaven!
Back to White Sands for our evening stroll. I pull the RV up and along side, dangerously close parks a solo lady who pops out with a huge sun hat with labels and price tags hanging off it. She says to me " I feel like Minnie Pearl!" to which I respond "Si Señora!"
She then questions me "Do you have a knife" to which I respond "You won't stab me if I give you one, will you?!" The hat labels are now removed and this lady who is built a lot in the form of Humpty Dumpty is going on the walking tour with about a dozen others who have now assembled with Sam, our guide. My lady friend is barefoot, drinking some "liquid" from a very large styrofoam cup and carrying a plastic grocery bag with who knows what in it! She struggles up the first dune; very unstable on her feet!! A brief dissertation on the top of the dune by Sam is followed by a trek down the dune. This is when my round friend of questionable sobriety looses it and like a bowling ball rolls down the dune, in the process taking out 3 fellow hikers!! After seeing that no death or serious injury occurred, I proceeded with Sam to attempt to upright this wayward woman. Mission accomplished. I took her bag for her, thinking it may improve her balance enough to prevent another episode of "Bowling for Dollars". The next half hour is filled with near stumbles and Sam has modified our route to keep it as level as possible. One final dune assault and my fiend has decided to circumnavigate the dune and stay at it's base. Only problem is she is aimlessly wandering off in totally the opposite direction from our vehicles. I am yelling, "Lady, Lady you are going the wrong way!" but she doesn't respond. Now, with her bag in tow, I need to do a "Lawrence of Arabia" and chase her down. I finally intercept and herd her back in the right direction. We get to my RV, I opened the door so Shona could come out, which she does and my friend stops and says "What a cute puppy!" at which points she attempts to bend over to pet Shona and she does another Humpty Dumpty! I, now alone, get behind her, both my arms under her arm pits and hoist her back up. Whew!! We now must get down onto the parking lot surface but wouldn't you know it there was a 18 inch sand drift at the edge of the road. Sure enough, her and I both tumble down the ledge and are lying on the tarmac. I repeat the lift procedure, pack her and her bag into her car and pray she makes it out of the park alive!! Come on Shona, the sun is going down and I need some photos!
She then questions me "Do you have a knife" to which I respond "You won't stab me if I give you one, will you?!" The hat labels are now removed and this lady who is built a lot in the form of Humpty Dumpty is going on the walking tour with about a dozen others who have now assembled with Sam, our guide. My lady friend is barefoot, drinking some "liquid" from a very large styrofoam cup and carrying a plastic grocery bag with who knows what in it! She struggles up the first dune; very unstable on her feet!! A brief dissertation on the top of the dune by Sam is followed by a trek down the dune. This is when my round friend of questionable sobriety looses it and like a bowling ball rolls down the dune, in the process taking out 3 fellow hikers!! After seeing that no death or serious injury occurred, I proceeded with Sam to attempt to upright this wayward woman. Mission accomplished. I took her bag for her, thinking it may improve her balance enough to prevent another episode of "Bowling for Dollars". The next half hour is filled with near stumbles and Sam has modified our route to keep it as level as possible. One final dune assault and my fiend has decided to circumnavigate the dune and stay at it's base. Only problem is she is aimlessly wandering off in totally the opposite direction from our vehicles. I am yelling, "Lady, Lady you are going the wrong way!" but she doesn't respond. Now, with her bag in tow, I need to do a "Lawrence of Arabia" and chase her down. I finally intercept and herd her back in the right direction. We get to my RV, I opened the door so Shona could come out, which she does and my friend stops and says "What a cute puppy!" at which points she attempts to bend over to pet Shona and she does another Humpty Dumpty! I, now alone, get behind her, both my arms under her arm pits and hoist her back up. Whew!! We now must get down onto the parking lot surface but wouldn't you know it there was a 18 inch sand drift at the edge of the road. Sure enough, her and I both tumble down the ledge and are lying on the tarmac. I repeat the lift procedure, pack her and her bag into her car and pray she makes it out of the park alive!! Come on Shona, the sun is going down and I need some photos!
After a long day in the desert, finally ........