Alamogordo, NM (area)
On the east side of the basin is the White Sands National Monument and the town of Alamogordo. A few miles south of Alamogordo was Oliver Lee State Park with very well-maintained campgrounds that provided a good base, but Alamogordo itself was disappointing. With a name that complex, I expected more than just a long strip of chain restaurants and suburban-style housing -- but that seemed to define the town. It was a good base for exploring, but otherwise not interesting.
A few miles west of town, though, are the fascinating dunes of the White Sands National Monument.
| At the far end of the monument are the largest and most pristine dunes. |
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| Closer to the entrance
of the park are these unusual brush and sand formations...
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The park was in bloom, though the blooms were initially difficult to see |
| As were the animals -- there's a lizard in the center of this picture (see below) |
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| Despite the remoteness conveyed by the harsh desert, one was never very far from reminders of the military history of the area. Holloman Air Force base, which provides training flights for pilots of various military planes, is nearby and these almost surreal B-1 (?) bomber flights were constantly overhead. |
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