Visit to White Sands National Park

We arrived in Albuquerque and checked out the Sandia mountains as we were acclimating to the higher elevation.

Scanning the scene from atop Sandia Peak Tramway

Then a road trip to Alamogordo. The next morning, we had our first walk in White Sands National Park.

It was a later start than we wanted but still made the most of the morning and hiked Alkali Flat Trail. While the rest of our trip would have more tolerable temperatures in the altitudes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains - this morning's temperatures quicky got to 98F. So, plenty of water and concentration on the trail markers, because this hike can get disorienting quickly. A fair warning as the hike started:

Yes, drink water or die. Sound advice.

It does not take long to be immersed in the hypnotic landscape...

Have a look at a hike on day 1 White Sands National Park - and better yet have a listen to the silence of the park.

The moon as we ascend a dune on a hike in White Sands National Park

Paw prints in the sand

"Snake prints" in the sand

After a morning hike, time to head to a barbeque in the mountains where we made a new friend:

This park is so completely unique, and an amazing place once again to take in a sunset.

One last stop in the park before moving on - nothing quite like being in a desert during a light rain!

Great start to our road trip, what a place! Now on to Santa Fe!