by Bruce Sanford
When you walk out onto White Sands, you can’t help but feel that you’re in a different world. A world that’s drifting, sifting, covered with ripples and oh so quiet. And it’s white as snow. It’s like entering the scene of the movie Beetlejuice when the deceased couple tries to leave their house. You expect these giant sandworms to come exploding out of the dunes. If I were to produce a film myself about a strange planet, I would consider using the White Sands National Monument as my location.
Sand dunes are usually made of quartz, a hard silicon material. However, the dunes of White Sands are unique because they are formed from gypsum. During the drier months, which usually occur in the fall and winter, the mineral laden water of Lake Lucero evaporates and forms crystals of selenite. These crystals eventually erode into fine gypsum power. Strong northeast winds then blow these sugar fine grains across the basin, advancing the dunes in a northeast direction.
This area was protected as a National Monument by President Herbert Hoover in 1933. However, after World War II, the military established a missile-testing site and expanded nearby Holloman Air Force Base. In fact the area was in danger of being surrounded by restricted military bases, but arrangements were eventually made to keep the dunes open to the public while the military made use of the western half of the Monument.
Although there are a few established hiking routes marked by posts, one can simply strike out on their own in any direction. However, it’s easy to get lost, especially if it clouds over and the wind starts blowing away your footprints. My brother and I got there in the afternoon of December 7th, which was my birthday, and conditions were perfect for picture taking. The sun was out, casting long shadows, definitely needed for good photos. An overcast sky reduces depth perception, making for flat directionless light and not so interesting pictures.
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We stayed out until sundown, witnessing a great sunset, topped off by a steak dinner back in Alamogordo that my brother treated me to. Great birthday!
We arrived after a bit of rain had fallen, and within the depressions between the dunes, shallow ponds had formed.
Brother Rob
