Denver through Four corners loop.

[UKCraig]

I look forward to your best efforts!

[Lifemagician]

Craig, I can't blame you. Dave's magnificent report and pictures has me reliving all those places. Amazing how his photos are mostly the same as mine, and yes, those storms... there was one virtually every afternoon, often accompanied by the most brilliant rainbows. Opportunities for great photos.

I am waiting for his climbing the great sand dunes (lol), probably one of my favourite places.

[Southwest Dave]

I am waiting for his climbing the great sand dunes (lol),

......... it wasn't easy with these little legs ! ;-) Ha Ha

Although you guys were never far from my mind, and I "took one" for the team !

[Lifemagician]

Wow!! Was that right at the top, on the tallest dune. Though of course, with the wind they shift constantly. How long did it take you?

Maybe I should post the photo of me atop the dunes, just to proof that I did make it. Took me three hours. That was in 2007. LOL

[UKCraig]

haha cool :)

[Southwest Dave]

Wow!! Was that right at the top, on the tallest dune.

Yes, the sand I am standing on was right at the top. Well last year it was, this year it was blown down the hill a little nearer to the bottom !

Lol ! ;-)

[fargo]

Wow..... what a T-log!!!

Exciting stuff, read it in one go....... great photos too, waiting for the rest. Mother lode for anyone heading that way; thanks a ton for sharing the small details.

=====

[Southwest Dave]

Thanks fargo, glad you are enjoying it !

Great sand dunes NP

We woke this morning and it wasn't long before we were out the door having a look at our new surroundings in the light of day. The campsite is in a great location over looking the Dunes and Sangre De cristo mountains in the background, in the foreground we watched as a few deer fed on the grassy land that lay between us and the Dunes. It was a wonderful sight as the cloud brushed along the dunes before wrapping themselves around the 14,000ft plus mountain peaks in the distance.





After having breakfast we drove towards the visitor centre and the clouds looked a little more threatening as it started to rain on arrival. We took shelter inside the centre as the rain continued to fall, but this turned out to be a good thing. We spent longer inside than normal and it was most informative, reading all about the Dunes and how they constantly change shape in prevailing wind currents. They even have visual displays where you can push air into sand and see how it forms into different shapes amongst others, a top class centre with good views of the dunes as well.

The clouds shift again and as it dries we head out into the Dunes.



Anyone visiting here shouldn't think that once you have seen them from a distance that they have seen all there is to see, SAND ! Once you get amongst the Dunes, away from the crowds and see the different forms that the winds create it really is a different world.







We spent a couple of hours heading towards the higher dunes keeping an eye on the clouds around the mountain tops when a large black storm cloud revealed itself slowly making it's way towards us over the top of the dunes. We had quite a few miles to cover today and with time moving on we decided to "sound the retreat" rather than risk a soaking of epic proportions ! As we made our way back the cloud was menacing and gaining ground on us, it was every man and woman for themselves as the "kid's" made faster ground and left us too it ! They made it back and we got caught although only by a few light drops, but as we got into the RV it really let go !

We enjoyed a cup of tea and hit the road towards our destination for the night, Manitou springs. By the time we were on the move the storm had gone through and the sky's were clearing once more, what a fantastic place the Sand dunes are.

[Lifemagician]

You do not mention Medano Creek, which needs to be crossed before climbing the dunes.



Was it perchance dry at this time of the year? The cool water was so welcome on the feet after climbing all that way.

Fantastic photos... so much like the photos I took up there. Those dunes are so photogenic.

Lifey who is waiting for the rest

[Southwest Dave]

Yes, despite rainfall the creek was bone dry. I think this is quite normal as it starts to flow in April, the peak flow is normally around May caused by the snow melt and starts to dry up by mid summer onwards. The creek bed was apparent where the water had carved it's way through the sand and was quite rich in grassland.

Thanks for jogging my memory it certainly deserves a mention.