Regan had tested the sandboard on some small dunes on the way up, but we thought it might be easier to just hike all the way to the top and sandboard all the way down (or at least as much as possible per dune). Some runs were better than others!
Waxing the board
Strapping in
For scale
Ouch!
Quite the sandy mess! He later discovered sand in places he didn't even know he had!
WATCH A MOVIE OF REGAN SANDBOARDING!
Once the big hills were over, we walked back down to the river bed.
Again we encountered numerous insects such as this Short-horned Grasshopper.
A Ten-line June beetle didn't fare so well....
... but it won't remain for long if this approaching spider finds it.
Medano Creek wasn't completely dry this time. A short ways ahead, thick sludgy water was pushing its way along... as if trying to become a stream.
A beetle wisely finds refuge on a pinecone.
Vegetation became more and more dense as we made our way back to the car.
The dunes we had just climbed
Not a sign you see everyday!
Dumping out our shoes
Back outside the Visitor Center, we strolled around the half-mile Sand Sheet Loop Trail. Various signs told us the history of the area. 10,000 years ago, this region was covered with lakes and wetlands. Fossil fish have even been found. As the climate became drier, vegetation disappeared, leaving a sheet of sand and silt. Eventually these were blown by winds into the dunes.
The main dune field is not growing because it lacks new sand. Surrounding vegetation has stabilized the sand sheet. However, the dunes nearest to us can still grow because Medano Creek can bring sand back into the area.
The high dunes are Reversing Dunes. The lower dunes near the creek are Barchan and Reversing Dunes. Star Dunes are located on the far side of the dune field.
The trail
Hmmm... UFO tracks??
The largest peak is Mt. Heard.
Gooseberry, with its protective thorns
The Three-leaf Sumac (also Skunkbush or Lemonade Bush... remember this plant from Mesa Verde?!) will actually die if it gets too much water.
Small-flowered Sand Verbena has a large, pinkish seedpod that is often mistaken for a flower. The flowers are actually the tiny, white, trumpet-shaped things on top.
Scarlet Gilia or Fairy Trumpet
This is not the rule in New Zealand, where folks commonly walk around without shoes.
We began the drive home.
Saying goodbye to the Sangre de Cristos
Traffic was thick in both directions around Denver, but fortunately there was a special carpool lane going in our direction!
