Running Down and Trudging Up Large Hills at the Great Sand Dunes National Park

Hiking Up And Running Down Steep Hills At The Sand Dunes! (March 2006)

	Hiking up and down large sand dunes is definitely part of the experience of visiting this national park. As one trudges upward on steep hills, the key strategy that I've found is finding sand that is relatively compacted and firm, as opposed to totally mushy sand where you foot sinks a few inches down. As my friend Tanya and I were returning to the visitor area, we came across this really steep dune! Tanya was actually scared at first to head down it. :p)
	Now here is the thing about trekking down the dunes. It's somewhat difficult to hurt yourself running down them! If these dunes were the same size and shape as granite mountains, it would be a different story, but once your foot touches the dunes, they typically sink ankle deep in the sand!
	Notice how Tanya's ankles are deep in the dunes! :)
	There I was just standing near the top of the steep dune as I photographed Tanya's adventure down the dunes.
	This picture will give you a good perspective of how tall this particular dune was, as Tanya's fought the sun to spot me.

These pictures were submitted by Steve Garufi in Buena Vista, Colorado. His web site is ColoradoGuy.com.