Road Trip Daily

My goal for the day was to get view of the dunes from up in the mountains. I set out early in the morning along the 4x4 road to the corner of the park. The road was closed four miles down but I could proceed up the road on foot toward the mountain pass. I enjoyed walking on the road, recent rains had made the sand firm and the grade was easy. I also enjoyed watching the trucks pass through the creek crossings.  I eventually got to the closed road section but only walked up a mile. I crossed a log to skirt a high creek and watched a group of deer for a bit, but this section wasn't that scenic so I turned back. I found a trail going up high and followed it, hoping for a view of the dunes. After a mile the trail went up a dune. I took a pic and then turned back. I was fatigued--tired from the altitude, but I made it back on the easy road before the afternoon storm set in. I laid down for a nap at 5pm, slept until 8pm, then read in bed until I fell asleep at 1030. Pics from the day....

I awoke to clear skies, a dry mattress and pillows, a second hot shower and a waffle-filled motel breakfast. I decided to head east to Great Sand Dunes National Park in order to climb 700 foot sand dunes surrounded by snow-covered alpine mountains--a rare site.  Just about every road in Colorado goes over a pretty high mountain pass eventually, and this three and a half hour journey didn't disappoint.  And Great Sand Dunes didn't disappoint either. After securing a dune-side campsite and waiting out a rainstorm, I set out to climb the dunes for a sunset view. Great Sand Dunes is also famous for its Medano Creek wave-like flow and ankle-deep water, making it popular with young kids. I hiked through it and started climbing the dunes, first to a high dune on the east side and over to the next highest dune and then the next highest et until I got to the highest one-/ properly called High Dune. I sat down, setup my phone to capture a time-lapse of the beautiful sunset my eyes were ...