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Great Sand Dunes National Park and White Sands National Monument are both monumental marvels of sand. Both spread out for miles and miles, with a gorgeous mountain backdrop that would make Vinny Van Gogh pull out an easel immediately.
So, the question is of course, which one should you plan a visit to? The enormous Great Sand Dunes in Colorado…
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Great Sand Dunes National Park -
Great Sand Dunes National Park
Or the unbelievably bright White Sands in New Mexico…
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White Sands National Monument -
White Sands National Monument
That is a great question, and one that we cannot WAIT to answer! Without further ado, let’s start off on the sandiest journey of a lifetime.
Great Sand Dunes National Park
- Location: Southern Colorado
- Size: 233 square miles
- Yearly Visitors: 400,000 – 450,000 people
- Largest Dunes: 750 feet
Scenery
The first thing we noticed about Great Sand Dunes National Park is the sheer SIZE of the dunes themselves. They are flipping ENORMOUS, stretching 750 feet up, each one a mini-mountain of sand in its own right.
We are 95% sure that these dunes used to be a Microsoft Windows home screen in the 1990s…
As you drive up to the dunes, you’ll be able to see them from miles away. You think you’re close once you spot them, but you still have a ways to go, and the dunes TOWER above you as you approach.
With the Rocky Mountains providing a stunning backdrop, these well-named Great Sand Dunes make for an incredible photo, displaying the power of Mother Nature in all her glory.
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Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve -
Try sand boarding at Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado -
Sand Dunes at Great Sand Dunes National Park -
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Rocky Mountains in Colorado -
Dogs are allowed on the dunes at Great Sand Dunes National Park
In that last picture of us with Kobe, do you see that dot in the distance on the ridge of a dune… It is circled below:
That is a person, hiking up the dune. A full-grown human being, looking like a speck of dust on your screen. THAT is how gigantic the Great Sand Dunes are. You will feel like an ant climbing up and sliding down each one.
Best Time to Visit
The Great Sand Dunes have some altitude to them. That means, even though they have some desert-like properties, they don’t get as hot as a typical desert might.
We recommend making your trip to Great Sand Dunes during a time when the typical average temperatures are very comfortable, somewhere between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit as a high for the day. These months are ideal:
- May, June, July, August, September, October
We visited in May, when the weather was a high of 70 each day we were there. We couldn’t have asked for better weather, there was sun shining and the sand was a nice warm temperature on our feet.
Apparently during the summer highs, the sand can get very hot, upwards of 140 degrees Fahrenheit. This doesn’t mean you can’t go on the dunes, it just means you should wear shoes when you do! Bring shoes & socks just in case.
Current Weather
We always check the weather a few days or a week before going somewhere, so that we can plan for what’s ahead of us. We recommend you do the same, though in our experience the weather at Great Sand Dunes is very consistent!
Activities
There is no shortage of activities to fill your days at Great Sand Dunes National Park. Do you like hiking and camping? Maybe you prefer beach days and sunbathing? Or you could be an extreme sports aficionado… Great Sand Dunes is THE place you’ll want to be.
Hiking
As stated above, the tallest dune in the park is 750 feet up. A hike with a 750 foot elevation gain is significant, let alone a hike on SAND.
Hiking in Great Sand Dunes is not a walk in the park, it is much harder, but much more beautiful. Let’s start with the bad before the good.
Hiking uphill through sand is kind of like taking 2 steps forward, 1 step back. Every step you take, your foot slides backwards a bit. That makes you want to take large steps, which can tire you out.
How do you conquer the dune? Hike the crest. On the crest, the sand will have a much more shallow incline, and the sand will be packed down better. You will slide less and have a much easier time hiking the dunes.
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Hiking Great Sand Dunes National Park
Okay, we said the bad before the good, so what is the good? 2 things.
Number 1, the fact that hiking the dunes is difficult means that there aren’t many people doing it. The dune field is so vast, and the people so few and far between, that you can find secluded areas that you would never be able to find in many other natural wonderlands.
Number 2, the view itself. The fact that the dunes are so tall are what makes them difficult to climb, but that is also what makes them so stunning to look at. You can’t have one without the other, and we are glad Mother Nature made these the way she did.
Sledding
Starting off with a confession: we did not go sand sledding here. We DID go sand boarding (more in a second) and talked with people who were sledding, but we never personally planted out butt cheeks on a board and slid down ourselves.
Sledding gives the opportunity for a day full of fun to people who may feel uncomfortable riding down the dunes standing up with their feet strapped to a board. Sledding is definitely the safer option, and is our recommendation to families with kids or anyone who hasn’t gone snowboarding before.
Sled and board rentals are available at 2 locations, both outside the park, so you need to plan ahead. The first is in Alamosa at Kristi Mountain Sports and the second is Great Sand Dunes Oasis right outside the park. Sleds and boards are each $20 for a full day rental, and come with a block of wax (and a lesson on how to use them safely).
Sand Boarding
While we didn’t go sledding, we absolutely DID jump on a sand board and try our luck heading down the steepest, longest dunes we could find!
We had some experience snowboarding (we suck, but we can make it down the hills without crying, sometimes…) before sand boarding, so we were relatively confident.
5 or 6 butt flops later, we weren’t so confident. Steering in sand is a bit different than steering on snow, and the board goes much slower on sand than snow. With that being said, sand doesn’t hurt to land on, and more importantly it is warm.
Falling on your sand board in Great Sand Dunes is actually kind of fun! We plopped onto our butt and slid to a stop on the soft, warm sand. Only negative is you might be picking sand out of weird places a few hours later…
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Try sand boarding at Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado. Dogs are allowed! -
Try sand boarding at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve -
Try sand boarding at Great Sand Dunes National Park -
Try sand boarding at Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado -
Our dog, Kobe enjoying Great Sand Dunes National Park
Even our little chihuahua, Kobe, tried his hand at sand boarding! Don’t worry, he only went 5 feet or so before coming to a stop and walking off the board with a saunter that made all the female dogs in eyesight swoon.
Sand boarding was in our opinion what set Great Sand Dunes apart from other beautiful places in the United States. There aren’t many places where you can slide down a mountain in the summer, but this is one of them! The best one for boarding and sledding, in fact.
Beach Day
Many visitors to Great Sand Dunes weren’t coming for hiking or adventure at all, they were coming for a nice day at the beach!
A very short walk from the parking lot, there is a creek that slows through the sand field. This creek, not more than 6″ deep when we were visiting in May, made for a wonderful place to set up a chair and umbrella and enjoy a day at the beach! One with an incredible view…
Great Sand Dunes National Park IS dog-friendly. Bring your pooch for a fun day exploring the dunes, or hanging by the creek!
Our recommendation is to take it one step further and pack a beach-side picnic! You will have the most relaxing time soaking up the sun, munching on some yummy goodies, and taking in the sights and sounds of Great Sand Dunes National Park.
Camping
The Great Sand Dunes, like many national parks, has more than a few options for where to stay. Of course, there are lodging options within a few miles of the park, however we, as we always do, recommend camping!
Now, when it comes to camping, the more primitive the better in our opinion. However, we will say that if you prefer developed campsites, they have those as well.
The primitive campsite we found was right outside the park, not more than a few miles. It was right off Lake Como road, click for more information on this site. Why did we love it? Number 1, the price: free.
Number 2, the site had a stupidly stupendous view of the surrounding mountains and countryside. Going to sleep under the starry sky and waking up to a beautiful Southern Colorado sunrise will leave anyone refreshed and ready to take on the day!
White Sands National Park
- Location: South New Mexico
- Size: 225 square miles
- Yearly Visitors: 600,000 – 650,000 people
- Largest Dunes: 60 feet
Scenery
White Sands National Monument is truly unlike any other place we’ve ever been, or even seen pictures of. The sand is truly a brilliant color of white, so much so that it looks unnatural, like it was from some other planet.
Fun Fact: Much of ‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen‘ was filmed at White Sands!
As you drive through the New Mexico mountains and countryside on your way, White Sands sneaks up on you. This is especially crazy because you can see for MILES and MILES as you approach.
Once you do enter the National Monument, there is a 5 mile drive to the edge of the road. From here, all exploration is on foot! Or by sled… More on that in a minute.
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White Sands National Monument -
White Sands National Monument -
White Sands National Monument -
White Sands National Monument -
White Sands National Monument -
White Sands National Monument
The bright white color of the sand in this National Monument is the alkali that makes up the sand. Interestingly, this is the material used for commercial purposes in the production of drywall! We are VERY glad that this piece of land was preserved…
Best Time to Visit
White Sands is in New Mexico. New Mexico gets a LOT of sun during the summer. Do you like sun? That should VERY MUCH decide when you visit this sandy wonderland.
During the summer, the weather averages over 90 degrees, which is NO joke in the desert. Our best recommendations as to when to visit are when the temperature highs are in the 70s and 80s. These months:
- March, April, May & September, October, November.
We personally went in April, and had absolutely GORGEOUS weather. The sand was not incredibly hot on our feet, but we were still out there in tank tops and shorts soaking up the sun.
Current Weather
Of course, check the weather a week or so ahead of your trip, and plan accordingly. This area does not receive much rain, but Murphy’s Law is Murphy’s Law. You will more-than-likely get some wonderful sunshine, but still best to plan ahead!
Activities
White Sands is an ENORMOUS place. A person could spend an entire week exploring the park and not see it all.
However, we think that 2-3 days is enough to do everything in White Sands, and have an incredible experience along the way.
Whether you are into extreme sports or a walk on the beach, a wandering nomad or a settled family, White Sands has something for you.
Hiking
White Sands offers many hiking trails from short trails that make for an easy walk, however the biggest (and best in our opinion) hike in the park is Alkali Flats.
Alkali Flats is a trail through the ENORMOUS expanse that makes White Sands such a visually powerful experience.
The San Andres Mountains work together with the New Mexico sky to make a distant background, while the salt flats spread for MILES making photos a once-in-a-lifetime capture.
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Hiking White Sands National Monument -
Hiking White Sands National Monument -
Hiking White Sands National Monument
In addition, the wind is constantly moving and re-shaping the dunes and surrounding landscape. What does this mean? That every person who lays eyes on White Sands has a new visual, something different than anyone who experienced the dunes before them.
Sand Sledding
Sand Sledding was perhaps the most raw fun we had at White Sands. We felt like kids again in the Midwest, only we traded in snow and winter jackets for sand and tank-tops! A trade we’ll make any day of the week…
Sand Sleds can be rented from the White Sands Visitor Center at the entrance to the grounds. They are very cheap, only $10 or so, and you get some of that money back when you return the sled at the end of the day.
Full disclosure: hiking up the dunes every time to sled down is NOT easy. Walking in White Sands, just like in Great Sand Dunes, is TOUGH. If you’ve ever ran on the beach you know what we mean.
Our recommendation is to get 1 sand sled for every 2-3 people in your group. That way some can rest while others hike up the dunes and sled down!
Picnic
Whatever you do, whoever you are, you MUST have a picnic at White Sands. There are two options: either stop at one of the many picnic areas throughout the park or pack a picnic on your hike and eat on top of a dune!
What did we do? The latter. And we had a BLAST doing it!
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Picnic in White Sands National Monument -
Picnic in White Sands National Monument
We love whenever we get the chance to have lunch in nature, especially in somewhere as unique as you see while hiking White Sands. We had a sandwich and some apples in front of a sand/mountain/sky panorama that was pulled straight from that 1000 piece puzzle your uncle is still working on.
However, we were definitely in the minority in this regard. We saw many families and groups having picnics in the picnic area, having the time of their lives.
What is super cool about the picnic areas is that they are right by the dunes. Therefore, if you came with your kids and have a few sleds, you can go sledding, have lunch, and spend the day all in one spot!
Wildlife Trail
The second trail (first on the left) as you drive through White Sands is the Dune Life Nature Trail. This trail is a 1 mile loop through the part of White Sands that has more vegetation, and thus more opportunity for wildlife.
Unfortunately, we were not lucky enough to see wildlife on our journey, however we did leave the trail very educated on different species present in the park! There were signs every 100 yards or so, each explaining where a different species lives and how they are able to survive in the desert climate.
We recommend doing this trail more towards dusk, as that is the most likely time to spot wildlife, that is what we were told by Rangers at least. Enjoy!
Camping
White Sands National Monument does offer backcountry camping and more developed options, both of which look awesome and unique in their own right.
However, we are always trying to save a buck, so we chose to camp at some BLM (Bureau of Land Management) land on Holloman Lake right outside the park! Camping here is free, and offers an awesome opportunity to camp lakeside at a location very close to White Sands.
We personally didn’t go swimming, and recommend that you don’t either. Don’t treat Holloman Lake as a lakeside park that is great for picnicking and spending a day at the water, treat it as a campsite, nothing more nothing less.
Verdict
Great Sand Dunes National Park and White Sands National Monument each are uniquely beautiful, and offer a visitor a wide array of incredible experiences.
Our final verdict depends, of course, on your own personal interests! And on the time of year:
- In the middle of Summer, we say Great Sand Dunes
- In the late-Spring and early-Fall, go for White Sands
- Are you an extreme sport aficionado? Great Sand Dunes is your jam
- Would you prefer a day walking a trail through the dunes? White Sands has your name written all over it.
Really to be perfectly honest, you can not go wrong either way. Both of these places are natural wonders, and you should see them both!
There’s your answer. Go see them both. You will one hundred percent not regret a single minute.
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Great Sand Dunes National Park -
White Sands National Monument
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You can develop the rear shoulder, lats, and higher back muscle tissue
with a single arm row, making it a great choice if you are
quick on time. The seated dumbbell shoulder
press is the best compound exercise to construct bigger shoulders
because you can lift heavier weights. I like the seated version because you presumably can isolate the deltoids with out stabilizing via your legs.
Tackle muscle imbalances by incorporating workout routines
that focus on opposing muscle teams. Strengthening your back muscles, rear deltoids, and
higher again may help counteract the effects of overdeveloped chest muscles, improving
posture and decreasing shoulder pain.
Not only that, however it is likely one of the
lifts that athletes do at events like the Olympics and other
weightlifting competitions. It is an efficient and efficient way to
obtain a full-body exercise in a brief time period. Be sure to bookmark this guide as your go-to useful resource for constructing robust,
resilient shoulders. I’m Murshid Akram, a personal coach, health blogger,
and founder of thefitnessphantom.com.
Most instances of shoulder impingement syndrome can be handled conservatively, however in some circumstances, notably if the bone
is affected, surgical procedure could also be required.
One Other widespread explanation for secondary shoulder impingement syndrome is bursitis.
Extreme friction on the subacromial bursa results
in inflammation of the small fluid-filled sac, known as subacromial bursitis.
It discovered that sixty seven % of the research individuals slept on the
same aspect that they had been experiencing shoulder ache.
There are a quantity of potential causes of shoulder ache that could happen whereas
you’re sleeping. In this text, we’ll explore each of them
in more detail as properly as the steps you probably
can take to assist get a restful night’s sleep. Upper arm ache from nerve damage is commonly accompanied by pins and needles and/or numbness in the arm or burning
shoulder ache. Stress on the nerves that run from the neck across the shoulder and down the arm could cause pain within the upper
arm.
Back extensions work the erector spinae muscular tissues that assist straighten and rotate your again. When a bodybuilder
is ripped, you presumably can see the erector spinae muscle tissue in the shape of a
Christmas tree in their decrease back. The pull-up and the lat pulldown are each
incredible width-builders, so decide the one you like.
There are several variations of each raise, and
every has some nuance to it. Furthermore, the shoulders are a
tough joint, and not everyone will be in a position to perform all three
movements with out aggravating their shoulders (i.e. shoulder impingement).
Here are some easy shoulder exercises that you are able to do to strengthen your shoulder
muscular tissues and prevent injuries. The heavier the weights, the
more steady your shoulders have to be — so give them some further consideration. Yes, scapular wall
slides help posture by strengthening the again and shoulders,
concentrating on the traps and rhomboids.
The mixture of all three actions hits the anterior and lateral deltoids
and helps you build sturdy shoulders. These extremely efficient
health club based shoulder workout routines are included in my
list of 12 Best Shoulder Exercises together with a number of different favorites utilizing dumbbells and
resistance bands. It’s essential to activate the shoulders
earlier than we practice them for a couple of key reasons.
The shoulder joint is a three-dimensional ball and socket joint, which implies the this complex joint has ample range of movement.
We additionally need to train the shoulders through their complete range of movement, including on stretch, in order to build shoulder energy
and dimension. The best shoulder workouts even have to make
sure we correctly activate the shoulders, create overload,
and embody explosive movement.
Moreover, people with pre-existing medical situations, similar to osteoporosis, should all
the time seek the assistance of a physician before making an attempt the listed shoulder workouts.
The Arnold press is a popular shoulder workout that enhances shoulder power and stability.
The exercise will get its name from bodybuilder, actor,
and politician Arnold Schwarzenegger who popularized the train. The Arnold press entails a dynamic range
of movement, ranging from a bicep curl into a rotating overhead press, which targets a quantity of components of the shoulder
muscles. The rotation movement in the Arnold press engages the anterior, lateral,
and posterior deltoids, providing a whole shoulder workout.
He currently lives in Massachusetts and continues to compete
in powerlifting. Hypertrophy refers again to the improve and development of muscle cells, which makes you stronger and builds your endurance.
It’s best to follow a exercise routine that comes with both compound and
isolation workout routines for the most effective results.
Your shoulder muscular tissues are made up of the anterior deltoid, lateral deltoid,
and posterior deltoid. While these muscle tissue are referenced separately,
they’re really a steady association of muscle fibers that share the same tendon.
If you might have biceps tendonitis, you’ll feel pain and tenderness in your shoulder space.
If easy measures like relaxation, ache relievers and ice don’t assist improve
your situation within a couple of weeks, your supplier could suggest
surgical procedure. If you have biceps tendonitis, you’ll have
bicep ache or tenderness in the area in entrance of your shoulder.
This pain might worsen should you continue to participate in physical
exercise or attempt to carry your arm over your head.
But normally, just because you’re harm doesn’t imply you
need to keep away from shoulder workout routines, Dr.
Scantlebury says. In reality, weaving in more of
them may actually be what helps you quash the aches, pains, and niggles if your
issues are as a end result of weakness or instability surrounding the joint.
Additionally, there may be small tweaks you can make—like switching up your grip on the
overhead press, for example—to make things extra snug.
The barbell upright row is a wonderful exercise that you are in a position to do at home to build large Trapezius muscular tissues.
The bent-over face pull is an adduction train that targets posterior delts from
a special angle than reverse flies and builds firm shoulders.
The dumbbell shrug works on neck muscular tissues and provides definition to your shoulders.
You can do it because the final train to complete your shoulder coaching.
Longer rest occasions let you use heavier weights and achieve a higher training volume,
one of the main components regulating muscle progress. Of
course, your workouts take for much longer should you rest for five minutes between every set.
Strong biceps muscles play a vital role in varied sports activities and activities involving lifting
or pulling, corresponding to weightlifting, climbing, and
throwing. And, of course, they contribute to practical movements in on a regular basis life.
By shifting your position, you’ll shift the main target to your front
delts as a substitute. Along along with your seated position, you’ll additionally take away any probability
at cheating your shoulders by beginning with the burden on the bottom, so
you’re lifting from a lifeless cease place. If you’re still
unsure which is the most effective shoulder exercise for you, head again to
the highest of the web page and have another read
of this guide. Traditional pushups do work your shoulders, but
if you would like to switch up this train barely to focus on them a little bit extra, try performing pike pushups as an alternative.
Bent over reverse flyes target a fancy community of shoulder muscle tissue,
so they are perfect for fitness fanatics eager on working this area.
Regardless of the game, a wholesome shoulder will have a excessive degree of balance between mobility and stability.
When there could be imbalance, whether or not within the strength of the shoulder muscular tissues (i.e.
anterior vs. posterior) or in stability vs.
mobility, there’s a larger danger of impairment or injury.
The banded face pull plus pull apart combo
is a superb motion for anyone who’s slumped over with poor posture that leads
to their shoulders falling ahead and rotating inward. The deltoid is a big muscle responsible for lifting the arm and giving the shoulder its
range of movement. The bicep brachii can be susceptible to injury as a result of it is related to the scapula.
The greatest shoulder workout routines for novices are like one of the best total shoulder exercise.
However, the concept is to decrease the depth
and volume of this workout. This will assist
a beginner acclimate to this full shoulder workout and not be too sore or exhausted
from their effort. That’s why I like to incorporate a triceps train on Shoulder Day, Chest Day, and Arm Day.
Together, these heads of the deltoid are responsible for the arm’s movement
in a number of directions, taking half in a key role
in pushing and pulling movements.
Now let’s have a look at every of those causes
of left shoulder ache in a bit extra element.
Please remember, any new incidence of upper arm pain ought to be assessed by your
physician to ensure an correct analysis. While individual treatments can vary per
person, less is extra when treating most shoulder pain.
On the contrary, combining your back and shoulder workouts into one coaching session provides a number of benefits.
Superset workouts are good for growing the depth of their shoulder training when you have no underlying shoulder or joint points.
Safety ought to all the time be a top priority for your
well being and fitness journey. Alternate Options exist if body weight
exercises prove limiting or unsafe.
They construct energy for actions such because
the bench press while enhancing shoulder stability and mobility by
working the stabilizing shoulder muscles. As a outcome (typically after a number of workouts)
the athlete is ready to perform any and all actions together with barbell bench presses and overhead barbell presses.
Compound shoulder workout routines are a group of workouts that simultaneously goal
multiple muscle teams within the shoulders, arms, and upper back.
Like the back session, your shoulder exercise consists of five workouts, from heavy presses to isolation workout routines like lateral raises to
hit your shoulders from every different angle.
You don’t wish to ignore any a half of this complex muscle group for full
delt development. Performing the targeted workouts listed above helps strengthen your
shoulders, and alleviate and stop pain and damage.
References:
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