Alamogordo, New Mexico

After breaking camp at Brantley Lake State Park we headed over to Alamogordo New Mexico. We are moving west in the direction of White Sands National Monument. This place is pure pleasure on the eyes and an amazing natural wonder. It is part of the Tularoso Basin. The dunes  probably began forming 7-10,000 years ago when Lake Otero began to dry up. The dunes are formed by southwesterly winds that push the sand up and pile it depending on vegetation to make various shapes and sizes. Because of the consistent wind, the dunes are ever changing. Some dunes can move twelve to thirteen feet per year.. Others on the edges only inches due to the variety of desert plants holding them in place.

The sand is actually gypsum. Crystals form, called selenite, on the bottom of the Lake Lucerne. This lake only fills part of the year during the wet season and the rest of the year is dry. The crystals emerge  from the mud. The sun and beating of the wind cause the selenite to flake and be blown around and erode into smaller and smaller pieces. These pieces reflect light rather than letting it pass through and give the gypsum sand its snowy look. It is so white it almost hurts your eyes.

Our first glimpse  of the sands heading through a mountain pass

Sunset from our campsite in Oliver Lee State Park in Alamogordo New Mexico

Not really a selfie

As far as you can see

These little tufts could be the top of a very large cactus buried in the dune but help told them in place

This family was enjoying sledding at the dunes without all the winter clothing we need to make sledding in snow pleasant, in Michigan, in January.

Larry of Arabia?

Nighttime Trespassers?

This is a plant that has gypsum crusted around its bottom to keep it protected from the moving sand and wind. It has trapped in whatever moisture it can to help it survive.

These reminded me of covered wagons but are actually covered areas to picnic out of the sun at White Sands

On a lighter note, this is the largest Pistachio  at McGinns  Pistachio Farm.  They sell anything  including 27 different  flavors  of the nuts and make their own wine as well from the nuts. Hope it makes it home.