An Inspired Cook

It’s that time of year when Joe and I come out of hibernation to spend our free days finding new adventures in New Mexico. We decided to travel down south with our first stop being White Sands National Park. Our day at White Sands was one of the most memorable days ever. Located in the Tularosa Basin lies the world’s largest gypsum dunes. Over millions of years wind and water have eroded the gypsum into fine grains of sand. You will find soft pillowy sand dunes as well as hard packed areas. There are sculptures formed around hearty vegetation that grows here. What I especially loved was the swirly patterns in the sand created by the wind. The path is marked by footprints and markers along the way to keep you on trail. When you arrive at one marker you will see another marker in the distance so you know which direction to follow. Walking through soft sand is not easy. Always take enough water as there are no water stations to refill except at the visitor center which is several miles away. Wear light colored clothing and use sunscreen as the temperature can feel much warmer than the actual temperature. Make sure you are prepared to walk in sand, it is a slow trek and difficult to climb the numerous dunes with one step forward while sliding a half step back. But hiking down hills are so much fun, Joe and I held hands and ran down the dunes like little kids. Every step down would sink up to our knees filling our shoes with sand, but it was a small price to pay. I wish everyone could experience White Sands at least once, the stark beauty will take your breath away. I know that Joe and I are already planning our next trip to White Sands where you can’t feel anything other than awe and wonder!