White Sands National Park

April 9th-Monday we left for White Sands National Park.  We stopped at Artesia on the way.  What an interesting little town.  Oil money has created an artist oasis.  There are outdoor sculptures everywhere depicting historical events from their history and a performing arts theatre that brings in many big name performers and provides education classes for the community.  Stopped briefly in Roswell at the museum.  Saw the Robert Goddard exhibit who is the father of the rocket.  Once again the naysayers said it wouldn’t work but he followed his dream and passion.  We’re all the benefactors of his ingenious mind. Very interesting seeing his workshop.  Briefly browsed some other exhibits.  An excellent museum but we were anxious to get on the road.  After a snack at the alien McDonald’s, we were on the road again.

White Sands National Park is an unsung hero in my opinion of the national parks.  It just is an incredible place.  The sunsets were spectacular, the sledding a blast and how it formed very interesting.  Gypsum is found in the surrounding mts. and is dissolved in the water as it is transferred down to this closed basin.  When the water evaporates it is then reformed into selenite crystals.  The wind breaks the crystals up into the white sand.  There are only a couple gypsum sand dunes in the world and this is the largest.  270 square miles, it can be seen from space. 

We went for two sunsets, an afternoon and one early morning after sunrise.  I took a walk in the morning and it was glorious to experience a whole new dimension of quiet.  Janae and Stefan got another Jr. Ranger badge.