White Sands, New Mexico

Sand dunes and sledding do mix believe it or not. 


     But before I get into that, let me enlighten you a little on these mystical white sands.



     

     Rising from the heart of the Tularosa Basin is one of the world's great natural wonders - the glistening white sands of New Mexico. These white sands are something that cannot even be described by words. These beautiful wave-like dunes are made of gypsum sand. The very uncommon gypsum sands in New Mexico exist there because this state is not too famous for a wet climate, quite the contrary. The area also has no outlet to the sea, which means that gypsum grains that are dissolved in rainwater have no escape from the area and eventually may become sand grains again. The white sands have engulfed 275 square miles of desert, creating the world's largest gypsum dune field. 

     Cool right?!

      These sand dunes are super fun to hike, climb up, and slide down. Provided by the hotel, we carried up our sleds and began the attempt sliding down the dunes. After failing a few times and beginning to be out of breath from climbing up and down the dunes, we finally figured out a strategy. We waxed the bottom of our sleds (it got pretty serious here) and got a big push and flew down the dunes. I may be exaggerating a little about flying down the dunes but we did make them go a lot faster than before. 

     After a full day of sand dune sledding, we cleaned up and went back for a sunset photoshoot. 

     Sunset at white sands was a breathtaking view. Here are a few photos.







     All in all, I was amazed by the White Sands and can't wait for my next visit back (!!!!!)





~B

Texas ---> California

     4 Months of summer vacation? Yes, you heard right! Even just the thought of the word summer craves wanderlust and adventure. And knowing me, I always have my next trip on mind, whether it's actually going to happen or not. This summer definitely treated me well in the department of travel. Of course, wanderlust is never something that can be fully tamed. And that is what brings me here, to you, today.

     As all good things must come to an end, so does summer. And as it is bittersweet that I will have to go back to those dreaded 8am classes everyday, and not having my mom in my apartment to take care of me, it also means it's time for that Texas to California road trip!

     Now knowing me, of course this road trip is going to become an adventure. Because I could never just pass up some of the greatest wonders of the country.

     And that brings us to where I am right now.

     Yesterday the journey began. After planning on leaving Dallas at noon, and not actually leaving until 3pm (which is totally a Brooke and Jamie thing to do), we started our 8 hour journey to our first destination, Carlsbad, New Mexico. After about 6 of those hours spent just driving through Texas, we got to enjoy a breathtaking West Texas sunset hundreds of miles out in the middle of nowhere.

     After passing out the second we got to the hotel room, we woke up the next morning refreshed and ready to take on the next adventure that comes our way. We arrive to the Carlsbad Caverns, barley in time for our tour might I add (which again is no surprise for us). 

     If you have never been, the Carlsbad Caverns are extremely breathtaking. This was my first time in theses particular caverns. I feel like things like these caverns really just boggle my mind. Really, how is it possible for people to date back millions of years to find exactly when certain rocks fell and stalagmites and stalactites formed. Also just the thought that you are 750 feet down below the ground and how it is so huge and beautiful. Our tour guide told us the story of this young boy named Jim who actually found the caverns in the late 1800s. It took Jim 5 hours just to repel down into the cave. And he went by himself! Can you even imagine?!  Our tour guide also wanted us to get a feel of how dark the caves actually were. He turned off the lights and my mind was boggled once again. We were sitting in 100% darkness. Soooo cool! If you haven't been to Carlsbad caverns I definitely recommend going because it's a sight you don't get to see much.

     Apart from the tour we took, there was also a self guided tour. This took about an hour and a half just to give you a perspective on how big this place actually was. Heres a few photos from the caves. 

     After exploring the caves we found some fun hiking trails in the Guadalupe Mountains with beautiful views. 

     We then began our drive to our next stop, White Sands, New Mexico! This drive was 3 hours through the middle of nowhere. 3/4 out of this drive I didn't have phone service if that tells you how barren the land was. Not that I am complaining, because I was writing this blog anyways...(: We got to drive though Lincoln national forest which was pretty exciting until we realized it was night. So we drove though the whole forest in complete darkness and heart broken because we couldn't see what could have been some beautiful sites. On the bright side, the moon was full and lite up the endless night sky and there was a fresh crisp air that felt like fall as I stuck my head out the window to enjoy it. 

     We finally make it to the white sands and by the way I think this is the most civilazation in a town I have seen in the past 48 hours, which says a lot. I am looking forward to seeing the sand dunes and will write about this adventure in the next few days.

     PS: I apoligize for how long this post is. I promise they won't all be this long!!!  

     ~B