White Sands National Monument

BY TAYLOR DUNCAN | POSTED: NOV 30, 2018

I finally got to White Sands National Monument after two full days of driving. There is nothing special about driving across the plains, so I was ready for a break from the endless flat countryside! Even the drive up to the dunes was nothing special, but once I got to the visitors' center, I knew I was in for a treat.

I was supposed to meet @dani_the_explorer, @scottyreichard, and @spencerfochtman for some dune exploration, but there wasn't quite a concrete plan yet. Until they got to the dunes, I decided not to venture too far in and did some shorter, touristy hikes remaining in cell service. These were a nice taste for what we would later find. I was able to get a fuller dune experience reading all of the information signs they had and spotted some of the dune wildlife that has adapted incredibly well to the white sand.

Around noon, I met the three Instagrammers for the first time, and we ventured further into the dunes to the Alkali Flats trail - a five mile loop at the heart of the dunes. There are markers for the trail, but we wandered around aimlessly making jokes, laughing, and taking photos as we went.

Both Spencer and I had both been to Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado, and we kept trying to compare the two dune fields. It was hard not to. The beauty from the Great Sand Dunes came from their vastness and enormity. The White Sands however are much different. They are not as large and do not cover as much geographical area, but look pure because they are perfectly white.

Our day continued on to a campsite in the backcountry camping area - Campsite 2. This site offered perfect access to the dune field for sunset. After dinner, we hiked through the dunes.

There are markers for the trail, but we wandered around aimlessly making jokes, laughing, and taking photos as we went.


They changed color while the sun started to set. I thought the Great Sand Dunes were beautiful at sunset, but these dunes mirrored the colors of the sky perfectly. They turned a golden yellow at the start of the sunset and then changed to red then purple and lastly blue before the darkness took over. It was an experience that I won't soon forget, and I'm sure none of my companions will either!

As the night came, our shenanigans continued into the campsite, creating memories with lots of inside jokes. We researched the position of the Milky Way for that night and found that it would be visible at 4:30 am, when the moon went away. We set our alarms for four and called it a night.

Spencer, Scotty, and I woke ready to go, but Dani remained in her tent, needing that extra beauty sleep! She definitely missed out! The Milky Way was almost vertical in the southern sky. As our eyes adjusted, we moved a tent for photo purposes. The stars seemed to get brighter and brighter!

We planned some shots and experimented with flashlights for the majority of the time, and got some incredible photos! The light in the clouds in these two photos is light pollution from Las Cruces, NM and El Paso, TX. I'm usually not a fan of light pollution, but in this case it adds another element to the photos that I think really works!

As dawn and the sunrise approached, the sands started to change their color again, and we were treated to an incredible display in the sky! I've come to find that I've been pretty spoiled when I've been in the Southwest. There haven't been many sunrise or sunset duds!

After sunrise, we packed up camp and headed back to the cars. Spencer had an extra day in New Mexico, and he decided to tag along with me to my next location, Shiprock! We said our goodbyes to Dani and Scotty and went our separate ways.

White Sands National Monument

BY TAYLOR DUNCAN | 12.19.18

I finally got to White Sands National Monument after two full days of driving. There is nothing special about driving across the plains, so I was ready for a break from the endless flat countryside! Even the drive up to the dunes was nothing special, but once I got to the visitors' center, I knew I was in for a treat.

I was supposed to meet @dani_the_explorer, @scottyreichard, and @spencerfochtman for some dune exploration, but there wasn't quite a concrete plan yet. Until they got to the dunes, I decided not to venture too far in and did some shorter, touristy hikes remaining in cell service. These were a nice taste for what we would later find. I was able to get a fuller dune experience reading all of the information signs they had and spotted some of the dune wildlife that has adapted incredibly well to the white sand.

Around noon, I met the three Instagrammers for the first time, and we ventured further into the dunes to the Alkali Flats trail - a five mile loop at the heart of the dunes. There are markers for the trail, but we wandered around aimlessly making jokes, laughing, and taking photos as we went.

Both Spencer and I had both been to Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado, and we kept trying to compare the two dune fields. It was hard not to. The beauty from the Great Sand Dunes came from their vastness and enormity. The White Sands however are much different. They are not as large and do not cover as much geographical area, but look pure because they are perfectly white.

Our day continued on to a campsite in the backcountry camping area - Campsite 2. This site offered perfect access to the dune field for sunset. After dinner, we hiked through the dunes.

There are markers for the trail, but we wandered around aimlessly making jokes, laughing, and taking photos as we went.


They changed color while the sun started to set. I thought the Great Sand Dunes were beautiful at sunset, but these dunes mirrored the colors of the sky perfectly. They turned a golden yellow at the start of the sunset and then changed to red then purple and lastly blue before the darkness took over. It was an experience that I won't soon forget, and I'm sure none of my companions will either!

As the night came, our shenanigans continued into the campsite, creating memories with lots of inside jokes. We researched the position of the Milky Way for that night and found that it would be visible at 4:30 am, when the moon went away. We set our alarms for four and called it a night.

Spencer, Scotty, and I woke ready to go, but Dani remained in her tent, needing that extra beauty sleep! She definitely missed out! The Milky Way was almost vertical in the southern sky. As our eyes adjusted, we moved a tent for photo purposes. The stars seemed to get brighter and brighter!

We planned some shots and experimented with flashlights for the majority of the time, and got some incredible photos! The light in the clouds in these two photos is light pollution from Las Cruces, NM and El Paso, TX. I'm usually not a fan of light pollution, but in this case it adds another element to the photos that I think really works!

As dawn and the sunrise approached, the sands started to change their color again, and we were treated to an incredible display in the sky! I've come to find that I've been pretty spoiled when I've been in the Southwest. There haven't been many sunrise or sunset duds!

After sunrise, we packed up camp and headed back to the cars. Spencer had an extra day in New Mexico, and he decided to tag along with me to my next location, Shiprock! We said our goodbyes to Dani and Scotty, and went our separate ways.

Taylor Duncan

Taylor is a landscape and adventure photographer based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His passion has taken him all over the United States, parts of western Canada, and down to South America. Taylor is an ongoing student of the art always looking for new places to travel to and new compositions to try out. His photographic goal is to experience as much of the world as possible and in turn, inspire others to go out and experience it as well.

Taylor Duncan

Taylor is a landscape and adventure photographer based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His passion has taken him all over the United States, parts of western Canada, and down to South America. Taylor is an ongoing student of the art always looking for new places to travel to and new compositions to try out. His photographic goal is to experience as much of the world as possible and in turn, inspire others to go out and experience it as well.

Comments 21239

jeffinumpitte on

one time free credit score [url=https://creditreportgetstats.com/ ]high credit score [/url] credit report online credit score ratings chart

ec18 on

Sexy pictures each day
http://energysexy.com/?essence
porn teen masturbation free big booty porn videos porn spank interview kingtop porn girl 11 chubby teen fat teen porn videos

eunicecn60 on

Sexy photo galleries, daily updated collections
http://lesbian.vids.instakink.com/?nyah

free girl lick girl porn free play boy porn lactation porn force porn ba porn tube kitten

affiplokfounk on

my free annual credit report https://creditscorecheckresults.com/ credit score free credit score now free annual credit report free

LouncCouddy on

my credit report https://creditreportl.com/ free credit report government get my credit report free annual credit report government official

pioleheld on

free credit report experian [url=https://creditreportadvanced.com/ ]check my credit score credit karma [/url] equifax credit report credit bureau https://creditreportadvanced.com/

Sheereesmecy on

credit scoring transunion credit report phone number check credit score for free annual credit report official site

InisreltPlutsit on

https://creditscoresbureau.com/ credit [url=https://creditscoresbureau.com/ ]what is a good credit score [/url] free annual credit report complaints

Sheereesmecy on

https://creditscoresrw.com/ free credit score ck [url=https://creditscoresrw.com/ ]highest credit score possible [/url] free equifax credit report

LouncCouddy on

check your credit report free credit reports my annual credit report

rachellepy69 on

Scandal porn galleries, daily updated lists
http://pxeekporn.hotpormstars.instasexyblog.com/?jaidyn

hard core russina porn videos java script porn free porn videos for env touch sexy hot porn free british amatuer porn free

franciscobn2 on

New project started to be available today, check it out
http://trrnpornmovies.adultbabieporn.lexixxx.com/?theresa

download free porn video crack keygen free fat bbw porn free indonesian porn offshore porn website shocking porn free

BuyEssayOnline on

Best site for english essays .

Order NOW!!! https://www.google.com.do/url?q=https://studybay.ws

UYhjhgTDkJHVy

fertuyeda on

http://www.hornet-czarter.pl/buy-prevacid-canadian-pharmacy-no-prescription
http://www.vfbschoeneck1912.de/online-order-revia-cheap-wholesale
http://www.canadaprofile.ca/purchase-neoral-australia-suppliers
http://www.twoforfour.de/online-order-ethionamide-online-no-rx
http://konekt.net.pl/buying-ticagrelor-purchase-no-prescription
http://ex-calibra.pl/purchase-trihexyphenidyl-price-singapore
http://valmolin.it/how-to-order-etodolac-cheap-sale
http://www.elektroinstalace-hlucin.cz/buying-flexeril-usa-sales
http://zockexperten.de/discount-fusiderm-b-usa-cheap
http://czone.cz/buying-tylenol-usa-pharmacy
http://dlagliwic.pl/cheap-imdur-buy-online-uk
http://physique-chimie.fr/diltiazem-hcl-without-doctor-rx
http://www.praktijkenergeia.nl/buy-canadian-iressa-online
http://4ftbedlinen.co.uk/how-to-order-tranexamic-acid-price-on-prescription
http://hhs-hutzfeld.de/canadian-drugstore-nimotop
http://www.rmcferretti.it/how-to-buy-capecitabine-price-netherlands
http://skifreundemeissenheim.de/get-tenofovir-disoproxil-fumarate-us-prices

http://perkinsproperty.co.uk/ordering-flagyl-price-discount
http://rulli.ch/get-creon-usa-drugstore
http://lsklubawa.pl/discount-tadacip-generic-extended-release
http://www.ozdoby-betonowe21.pl/ursodiol-ursodeoxycholic-online-perscriptions-with-no-membership
http://amig-jura.pl/online-order-diamox-usa-discount
http://www.joseandiaz.com/buy-cheap-zofran-no-perscription
http://xchore.de/get-olmesartan-hydrochlorothiazide-generic-version
http://inspec.olsztyn.pl/how-to-order-hydroxychloroquine-australia-suppliers
http://budropol.de/ordering-lopid-cheap-online-canada
http://www.cdtak.pl/ordering-fildena-ct-uk-online
http://ogrodzenia-malopolska.pl/discount-fluorometholone-generic-overnight-delivery
http://hhs-hutzfeld.de/zebeta-price-stores
http://www.stagemyevent.ca/images1/purchase-benzac-price-in-canada
http://www.fasady-omitky.cz/order-tadora-generic-now

http://www.radlinks.de/buy-cheap-cilostazol-generic-is-it-safe
http://www.twoforfour.de/cheapest-buy-brinzolamide-generic-pharmacy-usa
http://inspec.olsztyn.pl/how-to-buy-rhinocort-on-line
http://www.filtr-filtry.cz/cheapest-buy-celebrex-generic-online-buy
http://www.fkhostice.cz/how-to-order-dutasteride-tamsulosin-generic-when-available
http://www.joseandiaz.com/cheapest-buy-luvox-uk-order
http://forumwentylacja.com.pl/purchase-vantin-generic-available-in-united-states
http://www.skolkahaj.cz/order-phenazopyridine-usa-seller
http://tricube.cz/discount-fildena-super-active-cost-usa
http://ryszardpiasek.pl/buying-betadine-generic-usa
http://www.midis-minimes.be/purchase-adalat-generic-ireland

http://tomorrowslearning.co.uk/buy-azelaic-acid-cod-next-day-fed-ex
http://www.obcanskaporadnaopava.cz/nifedipine-cash-on-delivery-overnight
http://czone.cz/how-to-buy-nitrofurantoin-cheap-sale
http://www.art-food-sittard.nl/buy-omeprazole-generic-pricing
http://ferienclub.ch/cheapest-buy-oseltamivir-generic-germany
http://pharmadose.co.uk/online-order-avana-united-kingdom
http://www.moto85.com/buy-cheap-pioglitazone-hydrochloride-generic-in-us
http://www.zlatkoimpex.pl/purchase-lisinopril-generic-in-usa
http://tylkosportowe.pl/ordering-combivir-generic-does-it-work
http://forumwentylacja.com.pl/get-acyclovir-generic-cheapest
http://www.elektroinstalace-hlucin.cz/buy-cheap-diflucan-uk-cheap-purchase-buy
http://czone.cz/online-order-myrbetriq-buy-dallas
http://www.mohlucin.cz/get-viagra-sublingual-cheap-to-buy-online
http://skygres.it/how-to-buy-milnacipran-france-where-to-buy
http://www.dasgrondwerken.nl/ondansetron-from-canada-without-a-prescription
http://www.drevoobrabecistroje.cz/canada-drugs.com-ponstel

http://www.sghangenham.de/reglan-overnight-fed-ex-no-perscription
http://svwcartoons.nl/buy-cheap-cephalexin-price-from-cvs
http://ex-calibra.pl/how-to-buy-luzu-canada-discount
http://inspec.olsztyn.pl/how-to-buy-amoxil-price-generic
http://www.skolkahaj.cz/how-to-order-minoxidil-topical-australia-over-the-counter
http://hartig-busdoprava.cz/donezepil-and-memantine-free-online-doctor-consultation
http://www.tela.com.pl/cheapest-buy-stendra-usa-cheap
http://partyrmx.pl/purchase-furadantin-generic-real
http://alusta.com.pl/buying-clozapine-generic-version
http://www.papierserwis.pl/discount-zestril-cheap-from-india
http://indiacentre.co.uk/get-fosamax-cheap-europe
http://grafigids.be/online-order-edarbi-price-netherlands
http://www.papierserwis.pl/how-to-buy-beclomethasone-cheap-with-fast-shipping
http://gamar.com.pl/ordering-januvia-australia-price

studybayws on

NEED ESSAY WRITING HELP?

Save your time and get your essay written by a professional writer.
We can cover any topic on any subject in the blink of an eye.
Bell city essay michael project replaces space us xsbra.

Order NOW!!! ==> https://essaypro.co

]

Canada as middle power essay
How to write pr plan
Reflective essay writing services online

Does fax cover letter count as a page
Passion for writing essay
Top university descriptive essay example

International dissertation abstract in education
Management plan for business plan
Top phd essay writer sites for phd

ghostwriting websites us ieaxe[/url] a java program to display graphical image without applet viewer evvdn[/url] martin cover letter lebey[/url] sample human resources resume mecmm[/url] e1ac147

List of hobbies to put on a resume
Advice for term paper
Ftse 100 dissertation

HGtYUPlKMnGFW
https://essayonlinehfg.com
[b]Bell city essay michael project replaces space us xsbra[/b]
[url=https://essaypro.me]essaypro[/url]
Custom thesis statement ghostwriters for hire for masters
Essays on media and its influences
A passion for policy essays in public sector reform

based resume writing business pbsvu[/url] cv editor services for college eyjqy[/url] project paper format kwpai[/url] robb white essay tfbiu[/url] cone business plan owhrx[/url]

EssayThinker.com Review

city essay michael project replaces space us xsbra[/b] elizabeth leadership essay mtsnd[/url] ghostwriters websites jmufw[/url] dissertation introduction ghostwriters website for school jkkia[/url] topics for a research paper jzcgq[/url] pro[/url]

https://www.google.no/url?q=https://edubirdie.review
http://www.leadclub.net/classifieds/user/profile/307552
https://www.google.ie/url?q=https://essaypro.me

Write a recount
Sample resume for finance operations
Descriptive essay about favorite teacher

[url=http://banki-samary.ru]банк самары[/url]
[url=http://tinkoffcredit.ru]банк тинькофф заполнить заявку[/url]

https://maps.google.mu/url?q=https://studybay.ws
https://shrtr.org/essaypro628054

Accepted stanford intellectual vitality essay
Resume reklam
Research papers vroom expectancy theory

http://forum.googleanaliz.com/showthread.php?tid=66272&pid=949173#pid949173
http://www.stetuskop.com/showthread.php?p=1128260&posted=1#post1128260
https://www.newstreasure.in/anime/chacha-chaudhary-the-diamond-comics-superhero/#comment-32652

Bell city essay michael project replaces space us xsbra
http://forum.prozagar.com.ua/topic/461042-kruffscomua-%d0%bf%d0%be%d1%88%d0%b8%d0%b2-%d0%ba%d0%be%d0%b6%d0%b0%d0%bd%d0%be%d0%b3%d0%be-%d1%81%d0%b0%d0%bb%d0%be%d0%bd%d0%b0/page__gopid__1095613&#entry1095613
https://cars4kwallpapers.com/index.php/1994/09/14/sport-car-wallpapers/?unapproved=285587&moderation-hash=45f63067fdeb53f9cd961d1b111b4e27
https://wikistays.com/2016/08/30/events-australia/#comment-7818

resume at star tribune paper qfirj[/url] curriculum vitae ghostwriter services usa yxvli[/url] salon manager resume adddu[/url] dissertation methodology editor site for university drjhf[/url] city essay michael project replaces space us xsbra[/b] are the common app essay prompts 2019 odovj[/url] writing ghostwriters websites gb nmnjo[/url] rhetorical analysis essay ghostwriter services for masters pqtce[/url] plan template for guest house ljljp[/url] bay[/url]

Custom personal statement ghostwriting services gb
Thesis theme wordpress review
Pictures free results on resume

city essay michael project replaces space us xsbra[/b] with my best creative essay on donald trump kleto[/url] resume expectations bmbqm[/url] rock climbing gym business plan wklej[/url] term paper ghostwriter for hire au vncae[/url] ghostwriting services ca etwas[/url] college essay ghostwriters site us pxehi[/url]

Leave a comment