THE GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK! - (February 21, 2006)
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The Great Sand Dunes! There is something about
this park that heartens my soul. It's tough to explain. Even when the weather is bad and
the winds of the San Luis Valley are howling and blowing sand everywhere,
there's sort of a "quiet place" that my heart eventually arrives at.
Perhaps it's the knowledge that most people will never get to see such a wonderful place,
let alone live within just a 2-hour drive from it. |
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Tanya got a couple of pictures of me
running up and around the sand dunes. Fun! :) |
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Up on the dunes, looking back
towards the east, there's a nice view of Carbonate Mountain (alt. 12,308 feet) that's part of the Sangre de Cristo range. |
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Special thanks to Tanya (left) for coming with me and taking some very good photos while I frolicked in the sand dunes. :) |
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My camera probably does not do the best service to the Great Sand Dunes. |
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After about 30 minutes of hiking up the dunes, notice the man walking downhill. That'll give you some kind of perspective of how large these dunes are. ;) |
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Two scenic shots! The above photo of Tanya is facing south,
towards the vast and expansive San Luis Valley in southern Colorado.
The sun was sort of in the way, but I trust it's a decent shot. Near
that same spot, the bottom photo gives more scenery around the sand dunes to the north, with me facing the sun. |
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At the Great Sand Dunes Visitor Center, there are many
signs with interesting facts about the dunes. There is even a "back porch"
area with a great panoramic view of the dunes and the mountains to the north and northeast of the dunes. |
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Here are some of my other pages from this region:
Westcliffe, San Luis, CO (Shrine)
Great Sand Dunes (2004)
Villa Grove & Bonanza
South Fork To Creede
Wolf Creek Pass (Bike)
Del Norte to Villa Grove (Bike)
Poncha Pass, Northern New Mexico |
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One picture outside the park. I actually made a pictorial entirely of the Sangre De Cristo mountain scenery outside the park. ;) |
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What fun!
Coming down the sand dunes,
there are quite a few major hills that might be as steep as a 45% decline.
The thing is, the sand dunes are very soft in most places and it's virtually impossible
to stumble and hurt yourself. Tanya was initially hesitant to run down the dunes, but I eventually encouraged her to go for it.
TOP: Tanya near the top of this huge hill.
MIDDLE: Tanya works down the dunes. Notice how the sand reached up to her ankles!
BOTTOM: Tanya way at the bottom as I stood near the top before I made the run to the bottom. :)
Folks, this is a great place to bring a sled or toboggan! |
