This will be a reasonably short post with just photos. No video this time.
One More Sunrise
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This was my last full day at Great Sand Dunes National Park. I woke up early once again to see what the sunrise had in store for me. It wasn’t a particularly good one, but I wasn’t going to complain. I was here to experience another day, even if the conditions weren’t perfect.
I wasn’t entirely sure what my plans would be or whether I’d make another trip to the dunes.
Back to Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge
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After packing up my gear, I headed back to Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge. There were quite a few clouds that morning, and honestly, I wasn’t sure the lighting was going to be all that great. I decided to take a chance anyway.
By the time I arrived, the clouds were beginning to thin out. It looked like the day might turn out to be another decent one.
I stood there listening to the geese honking away. I could hear them in the distance, and their calls reminded me of planes coming in for a landing. The only difference? Instead of landing lights, I had honking.
And this time, the light cooperated. I finally got the shots I’d missed the day before.
A Quiet Morning with Nature
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I hung out for about 30 minutes, just listening to nature. There wasn’t a single person around, which made the experience even more enjoyable.
Eventually, it was time to leave. My next stop was the UFO Watchtower, located about 30 minutes northeast of the refuge. It was supposed to be a quirky place where people left trinkets, with an alien theme and even some talk of a vortex.
A Visit to the UFO Watchtower
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I made my way there and walked over to the shop. The door was locked. A sign said admission was $5. Hmm.
There were a couple of other visitors, so we walked around the so-called garden and checked out the things people had left behind. Eventually, the shop opened, and I wandered inside.
It was an interesting place, but once was enough for me. It really wasn’t what I expected. There was also a sign explaining that multiple psychics had confirmed the presence of a vortex near the garden. I can’t say I sensed anything unusual.
Now, when I visited Ape Caves in Washington State, that was a different story. But that’s for another time.
Back to Great Sand Dunes
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Eventually, I made my way back to the dunes. I’d considered visiting Zapata Falls, but I really wanted to spend more time at the dunes.
I parked at the visitor center and started hiking from there. I followed a trail, not realizing it would lead me back to the dunes parking lot.
You know what that meant? An extra half-mile of walking back to my car. After what my feet had been through the previous day, I knew they were going to be even more sore and tired.
But I pushed forward toward those massive dunes once again.
Searching for a Different Perspective
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This time, I was scouting for dunes with fewer footprints. That turned out to be a bit of a challenge. There aren’t any trail markers, and people can pretty much hike wherever they want across the dunes.
I wandered around, taking photos of this and that, before heading toward the mountains. That’s when I noticed some people hiking up the higher dunes.
Naturally, that drew me in. I figured it couldn’t be that bad.
How bad could it be?
I started walking.
Oh, my God. I already regretted my decision.
Choosing My Own Path
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I didn’t want to say the hike was tough right off the bat, but that sinking sand was brutal. I walked about a quarter of a mile before my legs started screaming at me.
There was another guy heading in the same direction, but eventually, he veered left. That made me wonder if I should follow the same path. I watched him from below a particular dune and thought, “Hell no.” I’d already tortured myself the day before, so this time, I was taking the easier route.
That dune he’s about to hike is way steeper in person.
I managed to capture a photo of him climbing that dune. It was practically a 70-degree incline! The climb was so difficult that he had to take his shoes off.
Yeah, I was definitely sticking to my plan.
One Dune at a Time
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I actually wanted to see who could reach the top first, but I ended up running into a couple and chatting with them for a bit. I told them I’d seen them at the top of one of the dunes earlier. They said the view was beautiful up there, and they’d even enjoyed having some lunch.
Well, that was all the encouragement I needed. I decided to make my way up that particular dune.
There I was, chugging uphill. Holy crap. The sinking sand and steep incline were brutal once again. Honestly, I wasn’t sure I could make it. My legs were still exhausted from the previous day’s hike, but I kept pushing forward.
A View Worth the Climb
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The view from up there was beautiful. Among all that sand, I spotted one lone grassy weed. I figured he deserved to have his photo taken. What a strong little fella!
I moved on, following other people’s footprints so I wouldn’t disturb the untouched sand. I also made sure to keep the parking lot in sight because it’s easy to lose your bearings up there.
Although I had my Garmin with me, I still felt a little uneasy when I couldn’t see the people down in the lower dunes. Having a navigation device is one thing, but being able to see where you are in relation to everything around you is reassuring.
Not a Race
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Eventually, I met up with the other guy. He was just chilling at the top, taking in the scenery. He’d made it up there well before I did, but it wasn’t a race, right?
I wanted to keep exploring farther up and into the dunes, but I was simply too exhausted. Maybe next time, when I bring my husband along, we can explore more of the area together.
For now, I’d pushed myself enough.
I walked around some more and took additional photographs. When you look at the pictures afterward, many of the dunes can seem to look alike. But seeing them in person is an entirely different experience.
With the clouds constantly moving across the sky, the light and shadows shifted from one moment to the next. A dune that looked one way just minutes earlier could suddenly look completely different.
That’s what makes photographing a landscape like this so fascinating. The scenery may not change dramatically, but the light is always doing something new. You just have to be there to see it.
One Last Moment in the Dunes
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I decided it was time to head back down. After hiking a couple of hundred yards, I stopped and sat on a ridge to enjoy the views one last time.
Further down, I spotted someone sitting by herself. I think she was meditating. It’s amazing how quiet it gets when you venture farther up the dunes and away from everyone else.
I took off my backpack, sat down, and slipped off my shoes. After emptying out the sand, I pushed my toes through it. The sand was so soft, and my feet seemed to be enjoying the views as well.
I pulled out my peanut butter and jelly sandwich and started munching away until...the bite wouldn’t go down. It felt like the sandwich was stuck near my lower esophageal sphincter, and it was pretty painful.
Great. I’m going to die here from a sandwich that won’t go down!
I took a few swigs of water, but it barely seemed to help. Thankfully, after a few minutes, things finally settled down.
I munched on a fig bar and looked around a little longer. Then I glanced west and noticed storm clouds building again. It was time to head down, even though I really didn’t want to leave.
Not Ready to Say Goodbye
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When you truly love photography, sometimes you just want to stay put and take advantage of every opportunity to capture as many images as possible. Many people visit the dunes for a few hours and then leave. Me? Not a chance.
I hadn’t seen as much as I’d hoped, but I knew I’d be back. Maybe next time, I’d rent a sled for two days so I’d have more time to explore and enjoy the dunes without feeling rushed.
Tomorrow would be another travel day, and I’d be leaving this beautiful place behind.
The Long Walk Back
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I finally made it down to the flats, but by then, my feet were killing me. I could feel a blister forming, and I still had to walk back to the visitor center where I’d parked.
As I made my way toward the dunes parking lot, I noticed that quite a few people had left their shoes behind. I guess they weren’t too worried about someone walking off with them!
Eventually, I made it back to my car, completely worn out. I changed into my flip-flops, grabbed some more snacks, and walked over to a bench near the visitor center.
I sat down and enjoyed my last scenic views of the dunes.
Then a raven started cawing.
She’s Got Food!
My snack had an audience. This guy wasn’t shy about letting everyone know.
I could practically hear what he was saying: “She’s got food!”
I quickly finished my snack and relaxed for a bit.
Storm Clouds and One Last Photo Stop
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I’d noticed the storm clouds getting closer and closer. I thought I might get lucky and capture some lightning, but no such luck.
I drove toward the park entrance, stopping at a few pullouts along the way to snap some more photos. Even after all that hiking, I couldn’t resist a few more opportunities to photograph the dunes.
Eventually, though, my stomach started growling. What was I going to eat tonight?
I wanted something good, but I really didn’t want to wait around for a meal. I was exhausted and just wanted to pick something up, head back to the house, and relax for the rest of the evening.
Dinner and a Halloween Surprise
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I decided to head into Alamosa and see what sounded good. I’d heard the Purple Pig was good, but it just wasn’t tickling my fancy that evening.
Crud.
So I decided to head to Wendy’s and eat badly. I ordered a spicy chicken sandwich and fries. Not exactly the ideal meal for replenishing everything I’d burned through on a strenuous hike, but I was tired and hungry. Sometimes, convenience wins.
After picking up my food, I was driving through town when I saw something that completely freaked me out.
Michael Myers.
Yes, the killer from Halloween.
I swear this guy had the same messy hairdo and dark blue overalls. Since I was driving, I couldn’t stop to take a photo, but I definitely did a double-take.
After a long day of hiking through the dunes, battling sinking sand, and trying to capture the perfect light, I wasn’t expecting a real-life Michael Myers sighting in Alamosa!
Some things you just can’t make up.
One Last Look at the Dunes
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I finally arrived back at the house, ate my meal, and eventually packed up my things. I loaded most of my belongings into the car so I wouldn’t have to do it the following morning.
I went outside to watch a bit of the sunset, but there was no sun to be seen. Just rain clouds. I have to be thankful that the weather cooperated during my hikes. It was partly cloudy, the temperature was perfect with a slight breeze. I couldn’t have asked for better weather. I wasn’t able to do any night photography, but that’s ok.
As I looked toward the dunes, I noticed a massive rainstorm moving through. Wow. I’m glad I left when I did! I can only imagine there were still people out on the dunes at that time.
Until Tomorrow
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It was time to turn in for the night and do a little research for the next day’s adventure. It wouldn’t be a long drive, so I wouldn’t have to wake up quite so early.
Until tomorrow.
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