The author at White Sands National Monument in March, 2006

We’ve been talking about hiking in extreme environments over the past few weeks and one of my favorite hikes over the years was at White Sands National Monument in south-central New Mexico. Sand dune hiking is like nothing I had ever done before (or since) and in my book that makes it extreme.

First of all, hiking at White Sands is extremely difficult since the ground beneath your feet is constantly shifting. If you’ve ever attempted to jog in the sand at the beach you know this can be a difficult proposition and the fineness of the sand at White Sands makes even walking particularly challenging. Some dune slopes at White Sands can be steep, especially on the leeward sides.

Hiking sand dunes can be disorienting as well as there are few landmarks to orient yourself. In fact, since the winds are constantly shaping the sand, footprints are quickly erased and dune profiles change constantly. Sand storms are always possible as well meaning low (or no) visibility in windy conditions. Most sand dunes are located in areas with little rainfall and therefore there is little surface water to quench your thirst.

White Sands National Monument is an incredible place to experience dune hiking. Also check out Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado where the dunes are so large and the sand so fine that many folks bring their skis and snowboards to ride down the sand!

Related posts:

1. Extreme Hiking: Spelunking
2. Extreme hiking: glaciers
3. Driving across New Mexico
4. Hiking and backpacking in Ocala National Forest
5. Hiking and National Parks: McCain vs. Obama

Tags: desert, dunes, extreme, white sands

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