I am not really a repeat offender of gong places. I like new experiences. But this time around a myriad of events happened that led me back to New Mexico for the third time in my life.
When this happens, I always make it a point to go or do something I have never done before. I like to make a new memory of the same place but with a newer adventure.
When my travel plans to go to New Mexico got completely hijacked, I decided to extend my trip by a few days and go further south than originally intended.
Every once in a while I wind up seeing something that is so striking and surreal that I can’t forget it.
I took a three and half drive south of Albuquerque to White Sands National Park, home to the worlds largest gypsum dunefield. The sand literally looked like snow. Because it’s located in the Tularosa Basin, the gypsum traps the mineral rich water instead of dissolving it. Which for me meant, barefoot on cool “sand”.
I wound up there on National Fossil Day (who knew!) and found out in 2021 scientists discovered fossilized footprints dating back to 23,000 years ago. The oldest direct evidence of human life here in the Americas.
They found footprints of humans walking over animal tracks, animal tracks over human tracks and even an area where small children were playing amongst animals. At least, that is what they think.
While I didn’t see any wildlife there is said to be foxes, desert box turtles, lizards and even scorpions which under a black light glow like neon green. Kind of glad I didn’t see those…
