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| Thursday 2nd November and our third visit to White Sands...sorry for more pics but can't get enough of this amazing place... |
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| Looks like the "snow" plough will need to come through !! Build up due to the strong winds over the past couple of days........ |
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| We did have another sled down our hill from Monday's visit but because of the wind the slope has a lot of "powder" on it and was rather slow, we'll try another slope later but first we are going to walk some of the strenuous Alkali Flats 5 mile hike...we know it is not flat but a loop hike up and down very steep parts of the dunes.... |
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| Note the second line !!! We are of course near the White Sands Missile Ranges !!! |
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| The posts are the trail markers but it would be very easy to get lost out here... We did hike a fair distance of the trail but the strong wind made it a bit too much of a challenge to complete the course.... |
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| Yay back having fun on the slopes.... |
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| I think it goes without saying that we have really loved our time at amazing White Sands National Monument.... |
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| Friday 3rd November... As we drove downtown for some supplies before moving on tomorrow we make a spur of the moment decision to drive up to Cloudcroft in the Sacramento Mountain Range.... Just 19 miles but an elevation change from 4753ft to 8650ft..... This wooden trestle bridge spanning the Mexican Canyon was built in 1899... The narrow gauge railroad was built to haul timber but also became a popular tourist route... the railroad climbed the 4747ft in 32.5 miles and was described by passengers as "exhilarating and somewhat scary" !!! |
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| The view from the trestle overlook back down to the valley, White Sands NM and the San Andres Mountain Range... We didn't spend too long at the overlook as there is a 20 degree drop in temperature from the valley...we started out mid 70's and we are wearing shorts and tees !!! |
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| And back down to Alamogordo via the short road tunnel.... |
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| View from the tunnel overlook of Fresnal Canyon down to the Tularosa Basin... |
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| Another view of the Tularosa Basin with White Sands NM in background... |
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| Back down in Alamogordo and a walk around the older part of town which is quite young compared to many American towns early 1900's rather than mid 1800's.... This park is dedicated to the founders and early settlers of Alamogordo... |
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| Oliver Milton Lee, a founder who "lived life the old west way" !! |
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| Oh opps a water-tower....but it is unusual as in town and in the middle of the road !!! Time to do a top up grocery shop and fuel up the truck ready for the off tomorrow to Deming, New Mexico to overnight pre moving onto Tucson, Arizona... We have so enjoyed this remarkable area and had a wonderful stay at Boot Hill RV Park... We feel sad to be leaving but another day another dollar as they say... Until the next post... The Very Happy Campers.... |
Hi Sue & Michael,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the water tower pic , I was getting worried( hadn`t seen one for some time).
Just as well you did not have to drive on the bridge at Cloudcroft.
Trust the top up grocery shop had all the "essential" items.
Quite a pleasant start to the day here (14th) just off for a walk in the forest.
Cheers,
Ann & Dave
Hi Ann and Dave...
ReplyDeleteThere were quite a few trestle bridges on the route and should imagine quite scary !! According to the info boards there were derailments...
We hope you had a good forest walk and enjoyed lunch with Richard...
We are in nightcap mode with himself enjoying a Gentleman Jim...
Cheers..
M & S x