White Sands National Monument

My friend Wendy in an effort to put a silver lining on the move, back when I was devastated, texted me an article about White Sands National Monument asking me how close this place was to us.  I'd never heard of it and googled it.  It'a  couple hours away, down near Alamagordo NM (which is also near Carlsbad Caverns).  Maybe it was Presidents Day, can't exactly remember but we had a rare day of no commitments and decided to head down.  It was amazing.  It is the largest gypsum sand dunes in the world.  And it is the strangest, coolest landscape.  It looks freezing because the brain wants to think it is snow, but it was lovely weather.  I can't imagine going on a hot day.  We did a five mile loop hike which took us up and down and up and down sand dunes.  It's a good workout on the ups.  The kids had a grand time jumping off the dunes and at the end they sledded down the hills.  In the evening we took a sunset ranger led walk which was pretty.  I loved this place.  So cool!  The National Park system is my true love.  (Also the pictures I took on my phone appear to be gone so Rob is not pictured on this trip and I am very concerned about the lostness of my photos).