SHARINGTHE LANDS WE LOVE

摘要

If you've never been to the Great Sand Dunes, picture a large crescent of the Saudi Arabian desert plopped down at the foothills of the dramatic Sangre de Cristo Mountains that traverse southern Colorado and northern New Mexico. The tallest dunes in North America, they attract over 300,000 visitors every year. But it wasn't always that way.I first visited the dunes in 2002 prior to their designation as a national park. Though I went with my family in the summer during peak tourist season, we encountered only a handful of other hikers. After a two-hour early morning climb, the four of us watched the sun crest the Sangre de Cristos from atop the tallest dune in solitude. Then we sprinted back down and devoured huevos rancheros and pie at the Oasis Cafe, the only dining establishment for miles. As one of just a few parties at the Oasis thatmorning, we couldn't help but feel we had the whole area to ourselves.