White Sands

Saturday, May 21, 2022

After breakfast in the RV, we departed for White Sands National Park (formerly, National Monument) around 10:20. We arrived after a 25 minute drive south from the campground. As soon as we stepped into the Visitor Center, we hustled to the theatre to catch an informative video about the area that was just beginning.

White Sands National Park (formerly, National Monument)

When the Permian seas retreated from this area millions of years ago, deep layers of gypsum were left behind. Glacial water, and today, rain and snow, dissolve(d) the gypsum. Wind and sun form gypsum into selenite crystals which strong southwest winds break down making them ever smaller until they are sand size and pile up into dunes that are constantly moving (about 12-15 ft. a year in the center of the park). The white sand currently covers 275 square miles of the Chihuahuan Desert and makes up the largest gypsum dune field in the world.

After absorbing the information at the Visitor Center, we drove through the park on a 16-mile-long (round-trip) road that was paved for about half the way. We stopped for hikes at the Playa Trail and the Interdune Boardwalk, then had lunch in a sheltered picnic table at the Roadrunner Picnic Area before exploring some more. The sands were dazzling and often gave the impression of snow, including along the plowed roads where mounds of dirty sand piled up. We learned about how plants and animals have adapted to cope with the sand and the constantly moving dunes and observed tracks of animals in the sand as well as observed bluish and white colored lizards.

Too dry for Sandballs

The Plowed Park Road

Along the Interdune Boardwalk

An Aspen Tree after the Dune Moved On

Soaptree Yucca The roots of the yucca on the approaching dune extend deep to the water table and the stem will outgrow the dune in height. However, after the dune moves on, the yucca will not be able to  support itself and will collapse.

Bleached Earless Lizard

Lunch at the Road Runner Picnic Area

Sand Sledding is Popular at White Sands NP

Shimmering Dazzling White Sand Dunes

More Dazzling White Dunes

After leaving White Sands NP, we drove slightly north of Alamogordo to visit McGinn’s PistachioLand, “home of the world’s largest pistachio” and “New Mexico’s nuttiest place”. There were indeed lots of nuts, souvenirs, and even wine tasting. Jane bought bags of pistachio brittle, pecan brittle, and roasted & salted pistachios. We also made a quick stop by another nearby wine and pistachio enterprise, Heart of the Desert. 

A Big Nut & the World’s Largest Pistachio

Having survived the desert, we were parched and sought subsistence at Picacho Peak Brewing in downtown Alamogordo. After rehydration, we stopped by a car wash to clean the toad on the way back to the campground. There Jane did two loads of laundry while we both took advantage of the free popcorn the office was offering this afternoon. After supper, a neighbor who was traveling round-trip from Florida to California and had a motorhome similar to ours dropped by and we chatted about our travel adventures. The temperature had cooled down so before we retired, we enjoyed several rounds of Sequence on our patio table while streaming Back Porch Music through the motorhome’s outdoor speakers.

Jane Enjoying an Early Happy Hour