Heavenly Beauty at White Sands Nat'l Monument

by Lana Gramlich
(Abita Springs, LA, USA)

My husband and I, badly in need of a vacation, had decided to take a road trip across the American Southwest. I spent hours planning our stops; Meteor Crater, Carlsbad Caverns, Petrified Forest National Park, the Grand Canyon, etc. When I brought up the possibility of visiting White Sands National Monument to my husband, however, he admitted that it wasn't on his list of things he just HAD to see.

When I discovered that we could be there during a Full Moon, however, it ended up on MY list of things I had to see! I used to write an astronomical column and knew, as a long-time sky watcher, that the Full Moon rises at sunset--I could get pictures of both at the same time, in one of the most picturesque settings in New Mexico!

The only problem was the timing. We had days of travel before arriving at White Sands and any problem or delay along the way could destroy the opportunity! Driving towards Alamogordo that afternoon, I gazed at the mostly-overcast sky with dread. No delay had kept us, but as a long-time sky watcher, I knew that bad weather was always an unfortunate possibility.

We checked into our Alamogordo motel, whiling away the last hours of daylight swimming and enjoying a soak in the hot tub. Soothed by the bubbles, I had to admit that we'd already had a great trip. If my skies were clouded out, c'est la vie. On returning to our room, I looked out the window. I was delighted to see clearing skies--the weather was cooperating, after all!

We grabbed my camera gear and went out to White Sands National Monument. Awestruck by the glittering, white, gypsum crystals, I found a good spot to photograph from. Other photographers (and some sledders,) dotted dunes all around, but my immediate views east and west were clear.
I asked my husband to keep an eye out for the Moon and started taking pictures of the amazing landscape and subtle sunset. The colors were spectacular on the glistening sand dunes. Eventually my husband said, "Look behind you." The moon was rising, with only the slightest hint of cloud left in the sky--just enough to catch the long, warm rays of sunset. I continued photographing like a fiend--and my husband even borrowed one of my cameras to get a shot of me shooting!

Although White Sands wasn't big on my husbands "have to see" list back when I was planning, he was glad we'd come. Everything had to work out perfectly to enjoy this wonderful opportunity. Lucky for us, everything did!