Sand, Snakes, Sierras, & Skies
People in the northeast brag about the Maine seashores. The west coastal residents talk about the sunsets over the ocean. Mid-westerns go on about…..well nothing there. And the Gulf coast has its charm, but nothing compares to the “Four Corners” states; New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and well let’s throw west Texas in the midst. Our discussion about Sand, Snakes, Sierras, & Skies will explore the US desert southwest and all it has to offer the visitor’s eye and the camera.
Let’s start with High sierras. Standing on top of Sandia Peak over looking Albuquerque and the Rio Grande Valley below. Now Denver brags about being the “Mile High” city at 5279′ above sea level. However, Albuquerque sits at 5312′, making it the real “Mile High” city.
Hueco Tanks State Park & Historic Site east of El Paso, Texas is a little know gem. For the observant visitor, you can see an array of reptilian and bird life. Likewise, one can see several species of cacti and if you visit April thru June, you will witness the beautiful blooms of New Mexico’s state flower, the Yucca.
One of the most inviting places for me, as a photographer, is the White Sands National Park. As a child, I lived in the near by town of Alamogordo, NM, and we regularly visited. It is extremely picturesque and furthermore, it makes for a lot of family fun sliding down the dunes on sheets of cardboard.
Furthermore, Alamogordo is the home of the New Mexico Space Museum.
Nothing says West Texas like a sunset over the desert plains silhouetting an old windmill. With all the technology of solar powered pumps, windmills are still a mainstay for West Texas ranchers.
The Desert Southwest is the playground for ATV’ers, campers, hikers, hunter, and even amateur photographers such as I. Likewise, the Desert Southwest is ancestral home to numerous Native American tribes and each has its own unique culture.
If you do venture to the SW, don’t miss noticing the colors of the rock formations and the cactus blooms.
Of course you must not miss the Grande Canyon. Just be aware to visit when its much cooler during Fall or Spring. Also often you will get the late Summer monsoon in end of July and August.
Furthermore, the drive around the north rim of the canyon is worth the extra time and not near as crowded as the south rim.
