View source for White Sands Trip Sign Up

{{CSSS 2009 Santa Fe}}

[[Margreth Keiler]] suggested an overnight trip to [http://www.nps.gov/whsa/ White Sands National Monument]; how about the weekend of Friday June 19 - Sunday June 21 (dates TBD - Tom suggested to do it in a 2-day trip though some people might want to make it 3-day). Please sign up here so we know who's going.  [[Wendy Ham]]: '''This is actually in conflict with the rafting trip - should we plan for the weekend of June 26 instead?'''

There is a [http://www.nps.gov/whsa/planyourvisit/seeing-the-park-by-car-revised.htm Dunes Drive] and also walks  [http://www.nps.gov/whsa/planyourvisit/trails.htm (marked trails)] with spectacular scenery.

Also: If you have a car, please let us know.  The more cars, the more people.

Note: Cars aren't "assigned", the seats are just so we know if we have enough space.

* '''I suggest you make this a two-day trip to [http://www.nps.gov/cave/| Carlsbad Caverns] (~5 hour drive on Saturday) and then take in White Sands on Sunday on your way back up to Santa Fe. Excellent weekend trip. [[john paul]]'''


==Transportation==
Google maps estimates the 320 mile trip at about 5.5 hours.


===Car 1: Daniel's Car, going to GREAT SAND DUNES NM, camping: 4 seats ===
The plan is to drive up to Great Sand Dunes early Saturday AM, hike in to a backcountry site and camp Saturday night.  Possibly driving through Taos on the way back Sunday.

1 [[Daniel Wuellner]]

2 [[Steven Lade]]

3 [[Almut Brunner]]

4

===Car wait list===
1 [[Margreth Keiler]]

2 [[Liliana Salvador]]

3 [[Massimo Mastrangeli]]

4 [[Wendy Ham]]

5 [[Chang Yu]]

6 [[Brian Hollar]]
 
7 [[Angela Onslow]]

8 [[Murad Mithani]]

9 [[Wei Ni]]

10 [[Guimei Zhu]]

==Accommodations==

[[Daniel Wuellner]] I have a two-person tent if we decide to camp (at the (rainy) moment I'm ambivalent about camping).

[[Steven Lade]] I also have a two-person tent (and a tarp, if a third person wants to bivvy). I'm keen to camp at the backcountry campsite, I think it would be awesome -- although I'm aware not everyone may share this opinion!

[[Wendy Ham]] I'm also open to staying at a nearby hotel. There are several inns around, approximately $60/night, which we can split.

[[Margreth Keiler]] I did not bring any thing for camping and therefore I would join the 'hotel' group.

[[Angela Onslow]] I'd also like to join the hotel group :)

[[Guimei Zhu]] hotel group:)

==Activities==
[[Steven Lade]] Be aware it is going to be hot. I looked at a [http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=Alamogordo&wuSelect=WEATHER forecast] for the nearby town of Alamogordo. Daily maxima are around 38 degC (100 degF) and overnight minima still 20 degC (68 degF). I suggest those who want to walk (of whom I am one) do most of our walking early morning, or at night if we're allowed.

[[Margreth Keiler]]: [http://www.nps.gov/cave/index.htm Carlsbad Carverns]: If we want to go there (I like caves ;-)). I recommend a guided tour, therefore we need to meet the schedule of tours and make reservations. There are fees for the entry and the tours, but June 20-21, 2009 (Father’s Day weekend!!!) is fee-free weekend (for the entrance fees) in most of the National Parks. 
In contrast to the White Sands the temperature is in the caves about mean annual temperature (~ 19 °C).

[[Steven Lade]] Unless we're prepared to make a very early start on Saturday, I suggest we drive at least some of the way to the caves on Friday night. Saturday, see the caves, drive over to White Sands in the afternoon/evening. Do some walking Sunday morning, then drive back to Santa Fe Sunday afternoon. Sound good?