A 5-mile trek of shimmering white gypsum dunes waited us at the very end of the park all the way to Alkali flats (where the park borders with the missile range.) In summer, this is an inferno of heat but today we hiked under ideal conditions: cool mid-50s temps, no wind, and a cloud cover to protect us from direct and reflected sun.
The ranger at the visitor center told us it is alright to hike bare foot. He added that if the sand was too cold it is best to put shoes back on as the sand just gets colder and colder. Decided to try it for the last 3/4 mile or so. The sand was tolerably cool and did get colder as I got closer to the end of the hike.
This place is a paradise for families. On this holiday, it felt as if all of Alamogordo's children were out sledding on the dunes.
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