White Sands National Monument In NM

Yesterday we bid, Ken, our ranger friend and Park Manager at City of Rocks State Park, a fond farewell and headed for White Sands National Monument near Alamogordo. We made a quick stop in Hatch, the green chili capital of the world, to get a package of frozen roasted green chilies. We parked the Airstream at Holloman Air Force Base Famcamp and drove to the dunes. The huge white dunes over awed the grandchildren. They were even more surprised to learn that the dunes are constantly moving and swallowing up whole trees in their path. We drove the eight miles from the Visitor Center to the heart of the dunes where the picnic shelters and pit toilets are located. While Jerry and Gloria unpacked our lunch, the three eager, agile children took off for the dunes, disappearing over the top. They soon reemerged to say the other side was more appealing for sliding. Alas and alack our cardboard sleds did not glide well on the gypsum. Nevertheless, our kids do not shrink from a challenge. They merely borrowed someone’s plastic saucer and took turns going down the dunes in various bodily contortions. We learned later that WD40, Pam, or olive oil would have worked on whatever we had used. Okay, next time we’ll know.

On a stroll down the boardwalk, we learned many details about how certain lovely plants and unique animals survive in the dunes. Most plants have roots that dip into the sand for many feet in order to survive. As long a part of a tree is above the gypsum, it can live.

We returned to the Visitor Center/Bookstore to watch an informative video and browse books. We learned about the formation of the great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand. They engulf 275 square miles of desert, and they have created the world's largest dune field. White Sands is truly one of the great natural wonders of the world.