New Mexico & Arizona - 2003 (Re-run)

 White Sands became a National Park in 2019.  During my 2003 and other visits, it was a National Monument.  Whatever its designation, it is a beautiful and interesting place to visit.  Truth is, however, there is no sand there.  The white dunes that cover 275 square miles are actually made of gypsum grains.  Thanks to the winds there, the dunes are constantly shifting so that every time one goes there, it looks a little different.  Paved roads must be scraped frequently because they are continuously being covered by the blowing grains of gypsum.  In fact, while parked in nearby Alamogorda, winds blew steadily all one day in excess of 60 MPH.  Even after closing all the slideouts in the motor home, it still felt like it could be overturned by the strong gusts.

La Mesilla is a small town, population around 2000, in the southern part of New Mexico.  Following the Mexican War, the border was established just south of the village of Dona Ana.  Some residents were unhappy being part of the U.S. and re-located below the border, forming La Mesilla.  However, a few years later the border was moved even farther south by the Gadsden Purchase.  La Mesilla was then the main town in the region.  When the railroad was to be built through the area, the people of La Mesilla demanded too much money for right of way.  In the small village of Las Cruces to the north, a landowner saw the potential value of the railroad and gave free land to the railroad.  La Mesilla stagnated while Las Cruces grew to more than 100,000 population.  Now a historic landmark, La Mesilla is a minor tourist attraction.  La Posta Restaurant was once a stop for the Butterfield Stage Line.

Fort Bowie was built in southeastern Arizona to fight the Apache Indians, led by Cochise and Geronimo.  Today, only foundations of the fort and a nearby Butterfield Stage stop remain, along with a small cemetery.  The remains of Army personnel were moved to San Francisco, leaving only civilians in the cemetery.

The Chiricahua Mountains, formed by volcanic activity more than 25 million years ago, were home to the Apache Indians for many years.  A small area of the mountains has been designated a National Monument due to its unusual rock formations.  Compressed ash and pumice from many eruptions created a thick layer of rock that has subsequently been eroded to form pinnacles and spires.  Miles of hiking trails through the formations attract a few visitors to this remote location.