Alamogordo, New Mexico & White Sands National Monument

After Carlsbad we drove over to Alamogordo, NM, about 100 miles as the crow flies, but by road, about 230 miles.  There is a shorter route over the mountains between Carlsbad and Alamogordo, but there was a height restriction on that road which forced us to take the long way around.  I always consult a truckers Atlas for the bridge clearances, plus my GPS does the same when finding the best route, otherwise we would run into problems getting under some bridges.

 

Anyway, just a few miles from the RV park was White Sands National Monument; pure white gypsum left from an ancient lake bed that is a large white desert constantly on the move being pushed by the winds.  The day we visited was very windy and we didn't spend much time outside as when we did, we got sand blasted.

 

 

 

 

 

Here is the edge of the white sands, gradually encroaching on the desert as the winds move it along.

 

 

There is an 8 mile drive through the dunes.  The road has to be plowed regularly and occasionally changed when the sand wins the battle.

A short way into the park, pavement ends due to the shifting sands.


After a few hours at White Sands, we visited the Space History Museum back in Alamogordo.