Gypsum Dunes and Petroglyphs

I moved on to a park which had just been re-opened with new owners. They were so nice - even gave me a little welcome basket. It was located near some interesting spots, and I became the tourist once more. I am constantly amazed at this country.There is so much beauty, uniqueness of different spots, and interesting history. Traveling the country is certainly an education. I haven't shown many pictures of sunsets because I haven't taken many. But they are beautiful, most every night.



I went to the White Sands National Park, which is 275 sq miles of a gypsum dune field. At one point (250 million years ago) this area was a shallow sea. Then the land was pushed up, forming a dome. Then the middle part of this dome collapsed, forming a basin. Gypsum from the rocks of the mountains was carried to this basin, and trapped there. Evaporation of the water forms crystals, and erosion of these crystals form sand particles, 
which then are blown by the wind to form dunes. 

The part of white sands open to the public is a mere fraction of the total park, and yet you could spend a day in this part, driving and walking through, sledding and rolling down the dunes. Living here has brought about evolutionary changes in animals and plants. Lizards have turned white through the years to blend in with the dunes. The soaptree yucca grows a foot or more each year to keep its head from being buried by oncoming dunes. Another plant puts out roots thick and quick, so that when the host dune moves on, the plant remains at the top of a pedestal.

Every time you return to the dunes it will be different. My campground was about 22 miles from the dune park, and yet when the wind blew, you could see white clouds rising up from the dune field, and you knew they were constantly moving.

This winter I haven't worn shorts, except on 2 days, including the trip to the dune park. After that, I drove up to Cloud Croft which was 4,000 feet higher, had snow on the ground, a ski area somewhere and temperatures probably 30 degrees lower. All I had with me was one sweater, so I didn't spend much time outside.

This area turned into a tourist area with the opening of a railroad, developed for the logging industry.. People could beat the hot summers and cure or escape illnesses by taking a most scary ride up Sacramento Mt. The train ran over 58 trestles, which might convert you faster than any preacher. But, of course, the views were beautiful, if you were brave enough to open your eyes. The ride boasted 330 curves and a 5.2% grade.

There also was a forest fire up here. It had been pointed out to me at the campground, and when I arrived up top there were signs welcoming the firefighters. I guess it was small. I didn't see or smell it.

The next day I drove to the Valley of Fire, which is an area of lava - not from a volcanoe, but from vents in the earth's surface. The lava flowing pushed up hills - can't remember what they were called. There were nice paths and story boards about the area. You could see the stop of the lava - lava rock  and then regular, old everyday rock beside it.

Then I visited the Three Rivers Petroglyph Site. This was fascinating. A group of prehistoric Native Americans, whom archeologists refer to as Jordana Mogollon, lived in a village of pit huts at this site. In the rocks nearby are over 21,000 petroglyphs (rock carvings). They were formed by scratching through the rock patina or pecking it with 2 rocks, used like a hammer and chisel. These are all outside on the group of rocks, and you can wander among them. Rain, snow, etc. wears down the rock and lightens the pictures, but there are so many that are very bright and clear. What is the significance of this area? What do the individual pictures represent?  No one really knows. There are pictures that look like animals or human forms. But whether the pictures tell individual stories, or honor ancient gods, or ???? no one really knows.

There were quite a few people here wandering around the rocks, taking picture after picture. I met a couple walking up as I was walking down. They were overwhelmed with the number discovered here. I agreed, and said I had counted 10,500, but that was all. The man's eyes got so big. I hated to tell him I was only kidding.  

Now onto Albuquerque and hopefully up to Chaco Canyon.