White Sands Part 2
Once plants get growing, they really stabilize the dunes.
Continuing on with pictures from my short visit to White Sands National Monument. The beauty of the white sand is something you have to see to appreciate.
The San Andres Mountains in the background.
I look at the yucca that is just emerging on the slope, and then look at the old one on top of the dune and I cannot help but wonder just how old the one up top is.
This little depression is the remains of an interdune area and the grasses are actually rooted in the native desert. The winds keep blowing more and more gypsum sand in and eventually this will all be filled in.
A short distance from the last small area is this large interdune area. You can see the rings in the sand in the lower right that mark where water has definitely bonded the sand at some point.
The creosote bush allows the gypsum sand to accumulate and spread.
Low spots where water accumulates get a firm crust on the top that resists the wind at least a little.
Bathtub rings.
Life is tough out here in the desert.
Patterns of moisture rings in the sand. The blue post in the background is a trail marker for the nature trail.
Out here where the air is dry, it can take a long long time for wood to decompose.
An area where the white sand is not very thick yet. Some of the original desert grasses poke through.
Some bonehead stepped right on this little guy. I would not be surprised if the plant is older than the moron that stepped on it. Please people, when you go out into nature, try to pay attention to where you put your feet.
Cottonwood trees growing here says there is a lot of moisture available.
Some little critter was out roaming the sands.
The view looking to the east.
That’s it for today. I will have another post to finish up the hike and the drive. This is a spot that is definitely worth visiting at least once!
