Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado

These Dunes are the tallest in North America. They cover 30 square miles. When the snow thaws, there are two creeks that run along the outside borders of the dunes. The level of the creek did not go above our ankles for the most part. There is an amazing phenomenon that goes on here. It is one of only several places in the world where there is "surge flow". This is waves without there being an ocean. There is a pulsing of the waves that is like a heart beat. These dunes sit up next to the Sangre de Cristo Mountains which are rocky and currently have snow on top. It is a very strange sight to behold.





This is the surge flow. You have to see it to understand how amazing it is. Bob is crossing in the deepest part that we found. Most of it is only a couple inches deep.

We climbed 650 feet to the top. It was a climb. At times you had to go down the back side of a dune in order to climb the next one. If you want a pedicure this may be the way. We walked for about an hour up barefoot and at times the grade was 60% or better. I was only a little whiny. You know how when you get to the top only to find that it isn't really the top? Well that kind of whiny. It was so beautiful.