Alamogordo: White Sands National Monument

After my adventure in Dog Canyon, and before the interruption, I paid a brief visit to the White Sands National Monument. Some hints of it appeared in the pictures of the previous post. The white sands are pure calcite, formed in a lake bed millions of years ago. As they are exposed by wind and erosion, they get blown east by the prevailing winds, forming these dunes.

Due to logistics, I didn't have the chance to spend the night in the primitive camping available there.

Alamogordo: Dog Canyon

Before the interruption, I was in the area near Alamogordo, New Mexico. I camped at Oliver Lee State Park, in the shadow of the Sacramento Mountains. The park is south of the city, the mountains are to its west. This place was the jumping off point for a hike into Dog Canyon.

The astute will note that I was in a different Dog Canyon earlier this trip.

The night before the hike, I enjoyed a beautiful sunset, and the company of some quail.

The trail wasn't too difficult, and it provided a nice set of views. The total elevation change was about 3000 feet, but I didn't carry a full load to the top. I chose a camp site about 2000 feet up, from which I caught a very interesting view of the White Sands blowing up a storm in the basin below.

After an uneventful night under the stars (I decided to forgo the tent), I returned down to the park.

(Coming soon: accounts of the Gila Wilderness...)