Great Sand Dunes National Park Pictures in San Luis Valley (Southern Colorado)

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***Great Sand Dunes National Park*** (Photo Gallery)
November 24, 2004
	Some photos of the mountains on the way to the dunes from Colorado Springs! TOP: Mount Maestas (alt. 11,569) on left. MIDDLE: The Spanish Peaks (alt. 13,626 feet) on right BOTTOM: Mount Blanca (alt. 14,345 feet) and surrounding peaks.
	Approaching the dunes, with the mighty Sangre de Cristo range behind.
	Compared to the huge mountains in this area, the dunes do not look very large. However, the dunes rise up to points of 870 feet from the base ... all in sand! Notice how small the people look in the top photo directly below the highest point. In the bottom photo, a dog fetches a tennis ball on a very steep slope!
	The geological background of the Sand Dunes is fascinating, including Medano Creek which runs beside the visitor area.
	LEFT: Notice our footsteps as we zig-zagged to the steep area in the foreground! RIGHT: From this spot, look how steep it was to the ridge! :O
	I was so happy to be there! My pictorials in the San Luis Valley: 2004 Bike Trip in SLV, San Luis Shrine, Villa Grove San Luis Valley Scenery & Mountains, Bonanza Century Bike Ride, Great Sand Dunes Photos (2006) Saguache, CO, Zapata Falls UFO Watchtower, San Luis Valley Photos
	Hikers at a dune lookout with Mt. Herard behind. Some of my notable mountain galleries: Mt. Princeton, Mt. Democrat-Lincoln-Bross, Pikes Peak Lizard Head Pass, Views From Buena Vista
	Tara and I had our sights set on reaching that top dune in the park, which is relatively close to the visitor area.
	One look towards the visitor area to the east.
	Note that you will likely get a ton of sand in your shoes just like at the beach.
	Almost there!
	Wowwee! The views to the northwest, north and northeast give you an idea of just how large this sand dune field is!
	A hiker runs down into a valley in the dunes.
	On the way down... TOP: Notice the steepness of the edge and the person below for perspective. Now if this were a regular mountain, the steepness would surely lead to serious injury or death, but because the sand is like soft & mushy beach sand... BOTTOM: ...Tara and I ran down it! Just look at our footsteps and the steepness of that hill! :-P
	It was neat to look back and track our footsteps. My concern is you won't quite grasp the magnamity of the dunes from the pictures. You MUST visit yourself!
	In the park's parking lot, this beautiful bird landed on the side view mirror. Wow!

	Great Sand Dunes National Park, November 3, 2001 What a place! The Great Sand Dunes is a 39 square mile area of SAND ... amassed like huge mountains. It's an amazing place - a must visit - if you're ever in southern Colorado.
	I went with Dave Vetter, who graciously drove. Notice how small the people are in the background. That's how huge these dunes are!
	The park literature said the highest points of the dunes were equivalent to being on the 70th floor of a building.
	Look what a someone tracked in the sand! :)
	The Sangre de Cristo Mountains overlook the dunes to the north and east.
	I have been wanting to go all year, and finally, I did it! :-)
	The scenery was SO BEAUTIFUL! I'm not sure if the picture gives you a feel for how high up we were! Oh and that's another mountain range to the southwest of the dunes.
	That's my water bottle as I was laying down at the top of a huge dune. I was covering my face from the sand being blown all over by strong gusts of wind.
	We walked down a steep mountain of sand and while it wasn't dangerous, our feet sunk ankle deep in sand most of the time. :)
	The San Luis Valley is so vast and expansive. Now this is the West!
	I thought this was a fun one. NEW: I created web sites dedicated to the Great Sand Dunes and Zapata Falls respectively: www.GreatSandDunes.net www.ZapataFalls.info