Embedded Files
6/24/2019 Back in Colorado! It seems like an eternity since we've been in Colorado. In reality, it's been 227 days since we were on Colorado soil.
6/24/2019 Back in Colorado! It seems like an eternity since we've been in Colorado. In reality, it's been 227 days since we were on Colorado soil.
Our adventure here in Colorado is the Great Sand Dunes National Park. We are Colorado natives, this place is 3.5-4.0 hours from our house and we've never been here. That makes me a tiny bit sad.
Our adventure here in Colorado is the Great Sand Dunes National Park. We are Colorado natives, this place is 3.5-4.0 hours from our house and we've never been here. That makes me a tiny bit sad.
I've been meaning to ask Grace what the heck she is doing here.....but I am afraid that she'd try and answer me.
I've been meaning to ask Grace what the heck she is doing here.....but I am afraid that she'd try and answer me.
After stopping at the Visitor Center, we decide to close out the day with a drive to the Zapata Falls trail head. Imagine a gravel road where all the gravel is somewhere between 3" and 8" in size. It's a slow drive, but pretty once you get there. The perspective it provides on the dune field alone makes it worth it.
After stopping at the Visitor Center, we decide to close out the day with a drive to the Zapata Falls trail head. Imagine a gravel road where all the gravel is somewhere between 3" and 8" in size. It's a slow drive, but pretty once you get there. The perspective it provides on the dune field alone makes it worth it.
Once again, a crazy caterpillar was found and enjoy by all of us.
Once again, a crazy caterpillar was found and enjoy by all of us.
Sunset at our campground was beautiful, but severely marred by mosquitoes. I literally ran outside, took this pictures and ran back inside.
Sunset at our campground was beautiful, but severely marred by mosquitoes. I literally ran outside, took this pictures and ran back inside.
6/25/2019 Great Sand Dunes National Park. Our goal for the day is to make it to the top of "Tall Dune". This is the second highest dune in the park and on the surface of it, seems like an achievable climb for all 5 of us.
6/25/2019 Great Sand Dunes National Park. Our goal for the day is to make it to the top of "Tall Dune". This is the second highest dune in the park and on the surface of it, seems like an achievable climb for all 5 of us.
That's one way to make the climb.....I suppose.
That's one way to make the climb.....I suppose.
This is about half way. Problem with that is that it's the easy half and we're already feeling the pain. Not a good sign when the difficult part is in front of you! You can see the path behind us and the people on the top of the dune is our goal.
This is about half way. Problem with that is that it's the easy half and we're already feeling the pain. Not a good sign when the difficult part is in front of you! You can see the path behind us and the people on the top of the dune is our goal.
Well, we made it up the difficult part and It was, indeed, difficult. You can see the angle of the dune face above Val, Grace and Dylan's head. Essentially, that's what you are climbing and if the ground was firm it wouldn't be horrible. However, it's sand and the ground ISN'T firm!
Well, we made it up the difficult part and It was, indeed, difficult. You can see the angle of the dune face above Val, Grace and Dylan's head. Essentially, that's what you are climbing and if the ground was firm it wouldn't be horrible. However, it's sand and the ground ISN'T firm!
It's official, we've made it to the top of "Tall Dune"!!!! Everyone is pretty darn excited and Grant just wants to go back down.
It's official, we've made it to the top of "Tall Dune"!!!! Everyone is pretty darn excited and Grant just wants to go back down.
Well, he WAS excited about it for a few minutes!
Well, he WAS excited about it for a few minutes!
This picture gives you a pretty good idea as to just how steep the dune really is; Dylan's torso is straight up and his legs are following the angle of the dune.
This picture gives you a pretty good idea as to just how steep the dune really is; Dylan's torso is straight up and his legs are following the angle of the dune.
The reward for all this work, you ask?! No, it's not the view. No, it's not the personal satisfaction. No, it's not the bragging rights. It's the opportunity to _RUN_ down that steep incline you just hiked up!
The reward for all this work, you ask?! No, it's not the view. No, it's not the personal satisfaction. No, it's not the bragging rights. It's the opportunity to _RUN_ down that steep incline you just hiked up!
At one point in time Dylan went down in spectacular fashion and part of the magic is that it just doesn't hurt. It's not even really "dirty". A passer-by suggested that having sand on your teeth is a good sign because it means that you were smiling when you went down. I liked that a lot!
At one point in time Dylan went down in spectacular fashion and part of the magic is that it just doesn't hurt. It's not even really "dirty". A passer-by suggested that having sand on your teeth is a good sign because it means that you were smiling when you went down. I liked that a lot!
Grant came down on his butt.
Grant came down on his butt.
We spotted this little sand spider (my name, not it's real name). It was SUPER tiny and looked just like the sand. Val only noticed it because it moved a little bit.
We spotted this little sand spider (my name, not it's real name). It was SUPER tiny and looked just like the sand. Val only noticed it because it moved a little bit.
Yep, Junior rangers again!
Yep, Junior rangers again!
Medano Creek is one of the crazy things about the Sand Dunes. This creek is only a trickle for the vast majority of the year and even completely non-existent at times. However, in the late spring, it can flow like a river! It's completely fueled by the run-off from the surrounding mountains and you never know when it's going to flow at its peak. It is USUALLY at its peak in very late may and into early June. We were very fortunate that the runoff was pretty late this year and we got to enjoy some decent flow in the creek.
Medano Creek is one of the crazy things about the Sand Dunes. This creek is only a trickle for the vast majority of the year and even completely non-existent at times. However, in the late spring, it can flow like a river! It's completely fueled by the run-off from the surrounding mountains and you never know when it's going to flow at its peak. It is USUALLY at its peak in very late may and into early June. We were very fortunate that the runoff was pretty late this year and we got to enjoy some decent flow in the creek.
This is not the end of our adventure, I promise. Stay tuned.........
This is not the end of our adventure, I promise. Stay tuned.........
Google Sites
Report abuse