Day 20 (Sun May 29, 2011): Great Sand Dunes National Park

Decent room, although the toilet was loose! That was the main issue, in addition to the wireless internet being a little wonky.

Filming the sign. Interestingly, the full name is "Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve."

According to a sub-page on the nps.gov site of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve, "A National Park is an area of unusual scenic or historic interest owned by the federal government and administered by the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, to conserve the scenery, the flora and fauna, and any natural and historical objects within its boundaries for public enjoyment in perpetuity." And, "A National Preserve is similar to a National Park, but allows other human activities to occur, such as sport hunting."

Using BOTH monikers at the same time doesn't make sense to me. Why not just call it a National Preserve? It has all the trappings of a National Park except you can do a little more. If it's a National Park too, doesn't that ipso facto prevent you from doing the things that its Preserve status should allow you to do? Seems contradictory. If it's not supposed to be touched, label it a Park. If it supposed to be partially used, call it a Preserve. You call it both, it doesn't really make sense...unless only parts are a Park and parts are a Preserve. That's all I can figure.

"Ants" on the dune field while waiting in line to enter the Park.

This video and the next three were all taken using a waterproof camera bag and a small camera. There are some videos (this one included) where you can make out the boundaries of the external lens covering (black, round at the left corners).

Anyway, these videos show part of the abortive hike to Star Dune. I was set on making it up to the highest sand dune in North America. However, the wind was especially fast that day (60 mph at times?) and the hiking was extremely laborious. Since I had already hiked the Grand Canyon North/South, Angel's Landing, Delicate Arch, Queens Garden, etc., I felt as if I had nothing to prove to myself anymore, at least on this road trip. I hiked a while and then turned back.

The tallest dune you see for much of the video is called High Dune. I didn't even make it up High Dune. I sort of regret it, but I had so many great hikes that I don't regret it too much. If I ever go back, I'll at least scale High Dune.

Notice someone rolling down a dune at the beginning of the video. Fun stuff for kids.

Hiking through sand is brutal. You get very little traction and your foot sinks into the sand. That's one reason I aborted the hike...I didn't want to put out double the effort and time to get to Star Dune. At first, I thought "I'll just go to High Dune and abort the longer hike to Star Dune." Then, I just decided to turn around.

This video is neat because you can clearly see the wind blowing the sand across the surface, like out of a movie where people are trekking through the desert. I was literally being pelted with sand on my exposed legs. Not sure if I'd wear shorts if I hiked this again. Even long nylon running pants might not completely protect you! Now, it wasn't horrible, but it did sting sometimes a little, especially with bigger pieces of sand/rocks.

This video marks the furthest reach of my hike. At 0:09 you can see High Dune.

Whoa, almost a collision with a shirtless guy at 0:17!

An overview of the dunes and the visitor's center at Great Sand Dunes National Park. The little specks you see at around 0:36 are people at the top of High Dune! Very, very windy.

Can you hear what I'm saying? Sangre de Cristo Mountains...that's about it. Again, extremely windy.

Exploring the upper floor (where all the rooms are) of the La Plaza Inn. My room was #2. The upper floor had an always-open breakfast/snack bar that you can see around 0:14. It was a nice touch to have some snacks around at any hour of the day. Of course, I indulged...though I won't say exactly what snack or snacks I had. I walk partially down the stairs at 0:45, and you're seeing through the front window panes.

Not exactly a metropolis, but a cute town. The police station was nearby, which actually made me feel good. Seemed really quiet and safe, though.

Not a whole lot to eat, and since I stayed on Sunday the inhouse restaurant was closed. I think they had a Carl's Jr. (basically Hardee's for those in the East) and a Subway.