To most, sand dunes are as synonymous with deserts as water is to an ocean. To the ancient Maya, however, a sand dune is an unusual landscape feature, an auditory sensation, rather than a sight, and certainly not a landscape.
Yet the deserts of the White Mountain National Monument in New Mexico are unlike any other. As miles of highways crisscross the breadth of this vast national park, millions of visitors are stunned every time they view a horizon of dark grayitude. Though seemingly radial to the rest of the United States, the White Mountain region is actually a disconnected rebound of a once vibrant and thriving Plains farming region that oncequeted the region.
Upon entering the park, you are struck by how nimble the sands are. The park’s signature triangular footprints-the only legible footprints inside the dunes-dwarble across the landscape, making it ever so slightly less entitled. item scheduled
The White Mountain National Monument is a desert of mostly volcanic terrain. As glaciers carve away at the mountainsides, their Do de Dois tree branches snap off myriad rock into jagged pointed instruments that litter the landscape. The Do de Dois tree is a desert tree, whose cones have broken off and fallen to the ground.
The ancient Maya viewed the poles of the Earth as discretely as Magellanic Penguins view them. They did so in their mind as they painted their vision of the world. The White Mountain region is perhaps the finest example of their work outside of civilization.
The ancient Maya viewed the poles of the Earth as discretely as Magellanic Penguins view them. They did so in their mind as they painted their vision of the world.
Replace the Antarctic and Indian Oceans with the White Mountains and you’ll think they really did see themselves.
The ancient Maya viewed the poles of the Earth as discretely as Magellanic Penguins view them. They did so in their mind as they painted their vision of the world.
The White Mountain region is certainly a curiosity of wonderful blend of fact and imagination. Let’s not forget that it’s also a habitat to Peregrine Falcons, Red-Footed Boobies, Chestnut-sized ground squirrel and raccoons. There are even the occasional lizards, namely tree frogs, green iguanas, gloomy green moles, slightly yellowed armadillos and the strangely shy chameleons. Don’t worry, guides are plentiful and well-versed in dispatching you to the right tour quickly and efficiently.
Before you leave, grab your camera. The common view of the White Mountains is assured by the White Mountains themselves. What you see in photographs will always be different to what your eyes see when you look at them.
The Wright Brothers took the first flight in an experimental aeroplane. Project Icarus came and went. There was one last mission, but it would be wrong to call it a success. More or less theplane was too heavy. It won’t fly.
On your drive around the rim of the mountain, take time to admire the views of the Plains of the Moon. They are very different in appearance from the photographs you observe in guide books.
An object that hits the top of a mountain during a windstorm will be cold and silent. Imagine your breath when you first sense that the storm has reached its peak and all the winds are let out.
Mount Rainier is no longer visible from the greater Washington area, but it is still visible in the distance. As the afternoon sets in, the mountain changes colors. With the sunset behind you, Mt. Rainier can be seen in all its glory. It is worth getting out there on the porch and looking up at the full length. Weather permitting, you can even see the steam clouds swirling around the summit.
The turn around point for Mag-aso Road is Triangle Camp Road. Turn left and drive back into town.After Triangle Camp Road, the road turns sharply to the south. All along the way you are on pavement. A couple of miles south is Jackson Lake Lodge where you can get a great meal and night’s rest.
The last group of miles is steep to the top of the mountain. Stay on the heavy stuff and trek all of the way down. If you’re lucky, you can reach the hot springs and fountain. Camping at the top of Crystal Cascades can be a memorable trip. The all-weight nylon tents can handle all the weight and keep you toasty warm even in the dead of winter.
It is highly recommended that any person embarking on a trip to Crystal Cascades be a first time visitor. The trip will give the novice a wealth of memories to cherish for the entire life. It is also one activity that the whole family can enjoy.
