Waking early on Tuesday morning, we set off for the Great Sand Dunes in southern Colorado. Before we reached the Sand Dunes we made a stop in the beautiful town of Buena Vista. After taking a short lap around the town, we headed for Eddyline, a local brewery and restaurant. The building itself was awesome and when you added a burger made of venison, elk, and bison, things couldn't get much better. Once full, we got back on the road for the Great Sand Dunes. Approaching from the north is a strange sight. Off to the left and on the horizon you will see a mountain range with a deep pocket. In the pocket is, put simply, a sandbox. From a distance it looks like someone came and dropped off truckloads of sand between these mountains. As you approach, the scale of this "sandbox" becomes more well known until you are at their base and they are towering over you like any other range of rock. We got our backcountry camping permit and prepped for the trek into the Dunes. At the very base of the Dunes is a thin creek that flows with chilly water, the closest thing to an oasis. After dipping our feet in the water, we began our climb. This hike was easily the hardest hike of our trip. Imagine hiking up a 70-degree grade incline but add unstable ground with deep sand and 30 mph winds that send grains of sand biting into any piece of exposed skin. It took us over an hour to hike a half a mile into the Dunes. We spent another fifteen minutes trying to find a campsite that wouldn't leave us in the brutal wind, but after determining that there is literally nowhere safe, we laid down our packs. Thinking the worst was over we set to constructing our tents. We were wrong. The tent acted like a sail and happily lapped up the roaring winds and threatened to have us "cowboy camping" (camping in sleeping bags alone).
After thirty minutes of cursing, we constructed one tent, which was only anchored because of our 30 lb packs inside the tent. Once we congratulated ourselves for a single moment, we set to building Ben's tent. This proved to be a lot easier as it was positioned behind ours and out of the wind (perks of being a gracious host and guide).
When we initially arrived at the Dunes, Ben told us, "sand will get in your tent" and "the wind will die down". One of those things was realized very early on. Can you guess which one it was?
If you guessed "the wind will die down", I thank you for sympathy, but must sadly inform you that you are wrong.
The sand got in our tent before we even thought of constructing it and the wind never died down until the early hours of the following morning.
With the tents built and prayers made that they don't blow away, we trekked higher up the Dunes to catch the sunset. From one of the highest point in the Dunes, we saw an unforgettable sunset and immediately raced back to the campsite once the sun and its associated warmth left us. Upon arrival at the tents we attempted to go to bed. With alarms set for midnight and the continued roaring of winds, we all eventually drifted into a weary sleep.
No sooner did my eye shut and my mind hit sleep mode did I snap back awake. From the tent flap I hear Ben say, "You guys awake?" I answered back while Patrick simply gave a deep sigh. I then heard, "Wait until you see this." Knowing that the conditions were as hoped for, I immediately began to bundle up. It wasn't until I had all of my camera gear in hand that I finally unzipped the tent entrance and peered outside.
The chill that I received wasn't from the nighttime dip in temperature or the emptiness of the Dunes, but rather the expansive world spread out overhead.
Above me were literally millions of stars and at its epicenter was a cloudy strand that reached from one end of the horizon to the other. The Milky Way was brighter, sharper, and more well known than I had ever seen or imagined. Without a cloud in the sky, every portion of the silky black sky was covered with minute balls of light that were twinkling at me as if winking and saying, "pretty cool, right?".
I stood there for a number of moments, staring upwards with my neck craned backwards feeling so immensely small. With our galaxy hanging overhead and a shooting star flashing quickly across the sky every few seconds, I couldn't help but be struck with wonder.
Even as I began to take hundreds of photos, I never acclimated to the sight that I was seeing or capturing and if I ever see it again, I don't think I ever will.
I won't say any more, but will instead allow my photos to show you. I hope you not only enjoy the photos, but also feel compelled to see it for yourself or least do your best to protect this view for others.
When I first saw the Milky Way and the multitude of stars above me, this song and instrumental kept playing in my mind. It felt appropriate that I post it for your listening pleasure as you look through the photos. Enjoy!
Above: Our first view of the Dunes. Below: Before progressing into the Dunes, you ironically have to pass through a stream. We weren't complaining, especially after escaping the sand the following morning.
Above: The colors of the Dunes would prove to be unbelievable, especially in golden hour, but before the sun began to descend, I couldn't get over the textures of the sand. I thought B&W really emphasized these textures. Below: In this photo, you will see two popular forms of climbing the Dunes, particularly those that are steep. On the left, you can see Ben climbing the Dunes backwards, which offers a slow and steady ascent. On the right, you can see Patrick using the "duck foot" approach, which is the style for those looking for more power. Choose wisely as both are exhausting.
Above: Patrick and Ben silhouetted to the blue skies. I was always in the back of the group, simply to take photos of the two and the landscape (not because I was really really tired).
Above: Another backcountry camper making their way around the Dunes.
Above: "How do you grow here?? How?!?"
Above: Back to the B&W edits. Something out of a dream.
Above: Endless Summer - In Search of the Perfect Campsite (preferably out of the wind).
Above: One of my favorite B&W photos.
Above: If you ever experience the wind of the Dunes, you will understand my curiosity and amazement at how these textures appear.
Above: 1992 vibes with the Aladdin scenery.
Above: Ben dumbstruck that our tent has flown away yet.
Above & Below: Some rain coming down on the far side of the Dunes.
Above: Anyone else amazed by the edge of the sand dune?
Above: Some campers posing for a cool picture.
Above: Note the lean of the green tent as the wind comes buffeting in from the left.
Above: A tired Patrick mediating in an attempt to forget that our tent might no longer be standing at any moment.
Above: Those shadows.
Above: The Dunes made us work for the sunset. We had to ascend this huge dune in order to a clear and towering view of the sun's descent. It was well worth it as you'll see.
Above: One of my favorite photos of the trip. Saw this hiker take a moment to catch there breath and I immediately snapped a photo. I didn't know until later that the sun was perched perfectly on the dune.
Above: This photo was made via a in-camera double exposure. The first photo was of Ben looking out over the Dunes. The second photo was from Timberline Lake a day earlier.
Above: These kids were annoying as they kept throwing sand at each other on a neighboring dune, but it made for a cool photo.
Above: If you stood at the edge, you were asking for thousands of grains of sand to pierce your skin. Gotta do it for the shot, am I right?
Above: Sunset over the Dunes. Below: One of my favorite photos. The colors that golden hour painted on the sands were unexplainable.
Above: Ben preparing to work his sorcery.
Above: Patrick with our good pal, mentor, and guide, Ben.
Above & Below: Before settling down, I had to get some shots of the tents with the afterglow of sunset.
Above: Two hours worth of photos to show the movement of the Milky Way.
Above: If you can believe it, no editing was used in this photo. It was 30 second exposure of the tents and the Milky Way. As the camera was taking the 30 second photo, I used my phone flashlight to write out Colorado backwards. When the shutter closed and I clicked the playback button, this is what I saw. Unbelievable.
Above: Words cannot describe this sight. No editing required.
Above: These are 30 second exposures. Once I clicked the shutter release, I began to sprint up the dune with my flashlight in hand and pointed down. It was exhausting but worth it. On the first attempt (the left), I didn't see the rise in the dune and fell flat on my face. I still have the sand on my phone. Again, worth it.
Above: Another in-camera double exposure. This is Ben and Patrick with the Milky Way overlayed.
Above: This photo was taken of the Milky Way and midway through the exposure, I zoomed in on my lens. This zoom accounts for the trailing star movements and stars even on the outlines of the Dunes. Below: This is the portion of the Milky Way that was located directly above me. Look at all of those stars.
Above: This photo was taken around 4AM of the Milky Way. Compare this to the first Milky Way photo shown above and you can see a drastic difference in the clarity and colors of the sky. You can that dawn is approaching.
Above: This is a panorama of Patrick with a headlamp looking upwards at the Milky Way.
Above: In just a few hours, the sun would be rising from that valley. This was the last photo I took before heading back to bed.
Above: Our campsite early the next morning.
Above: Blooming cacti.
Above & Below: The Garden of the Gods, which was a brief stop on our way back to Denver.