My curiosity drove me to do this adventure. I read about the Great Sand Dunes and how they were formed and exist today; however, their size seemed awe-inspiring. I wanted to experience them as a backpacker. I took this trip in March 2021 and got an authentic experience of solitude, barrenness, and lots of sand.
When I arrived at the park, an amusement park-like atmosphere greeted me. People came to slide down the high dunes next to the parking lot, but as soon as I started hiking, I realized that most people would not venture farther into the dunes because of the difficulty walking in the sand. People carried everything from cardboard sheets to old snowboards to ride the dunes. The site was an amusement park.
I slogged into the dunes and climbed continuously until the screams of the visitors deadened. The hike is a workout. I went up the highest dune in North America, Star Dune, at 741 feet, before finding a campsite. I wanted to get out of the wind. I chose to stay in the dunes instead of backpacking around them to experience the adventure of living in the sand, miles from any fauna or living things. I brought empty sandbags to anchor my tent stakes and a few liters of water. Of course, I carried my typical backpacking gear.
I did see a ladybug that the strong winds probably blew into the dunes and some high-flying birds; otherwise, I was alone – no plants, no trees, no living things, and only the sound of the wind, my breathing, and my footsteps. The atmosphere was surreal. The contours of the dunes and the sand waves were strangely comforting and serene. I was exhausted from the short hike a few miles into the dunes, but I climbed to a crest and saw two backpackers a half mile away setting camp. My footsteps were evident, but within a day, there would be no trace I ever walked here.
I setup up camp, listened to some music and napped. Around dusk, I walked up a dune and waited for dark. Photographers are attracted to this area for dramatic photographs due to the light and shadows. I wanted to try night photography of the stars and the Milky Way, or at least to see them.
The nearly full moon rose after sunset thwarting my view of the stars, but the landscape was still beautiful. None of my photos came out. I tried using some of my gear to steady my phone’s camera, but the pictures still came out grainy. Regardless, I laid back and gazed into the heavens. When the wind picked up, I retreated into my tent. The wind was not supposed to pick up until the following afternoon.
Throughout the night, the wind beat on my tent and sent grains of sand airborne. I pitched my tent low to the ground, so the tent’s walls sheltered the vents; however, the strength of the wind sent the sandy dust into my living area and eventually partially covered my quilt and face with powder.
I awoke to a gorgeous sunrise and strong wind. I huddled in my tent and had a breakfast bar. Initially, I planned to hike leisurely back to the parking lot. With the strong wind, I decided to quickly pack and motor to get out of the sandblasting wind. The wind and sand did a great job exfoliating my bare legs during the hike.
The Great Sand Dunes were magical once I got away from the circus. I would return in the late spring or early fall and hike not only in the dunes but first around the outside. That way, I would have access to water and see some animals. I would also check the moon’s phases and forecasted cloud cover to enjoy the dark sky.