This one of the hardest hikes I’ve ever done. I’m in terrible hiking shape and the dunes shift under your feet as you try to climb some 70 degree inclines to get to the high dune, which you can’t really see from the bottom. Definitely go barefoot in the morning before or after summer. I can’t imagine how much sand would get in your shoes if you tried going up in them.
The visitor center said it would take 2 hours and that was the time I was trying to beat going all the way to the highest point and back.
I figured I would climb to the top of the nearest hill peak and follow the peaks to the top. Once I got about half way, I decide “Screw That!” because the peaks constantly shift under your feet and you’re constantly going from hot to cold sand. I ended up walking down and taking some of the steeper hills straight up the side. Every step is really half a step because the sand is constantly shifting under your feet. I ended up taking 30 steps, resting for 10 seconds, and repeating that 3 times before a 30 second rest. I did have a couple of Ninja moments where it seemed I could walk on top of the sand instead of sinking in it.
It took me about 54 minutes to reach the top where I realized three things:
- There was another, taller peak I had to go to. Dammit!
- I’ve never experienced such quiet since I was on a hike near the Arctic Circle in the Northwest Territories. It’s good to be the first and only person at the top.
- The Dunes are much, much, much bigger than what you see from the visitor center. You only see a fraction of it from the bottom.
It took another 10 minutes to get to the top of the High Dune along a ridge where I finally figured out a tightrope walking technique that helped me stay on the top. The way back was much easier along the ridge once my footprints were created.
The way down was FANTASTIC! I felt like a giant crashing down the the powder with my foot sinking almost up to my knee with each step. It was easy, fun, and fast. An hour and 10 minutes up, twenty five minutes down. 23 minutes faster than I was hoping for.
I’d like to do this one again when I’m in better shape, and spend more time in the quiet of the High Dune.
Highly recommended:
Here are the stats:
- Distance: 2.67 miles
- Time: 1:36:36
- Elevation: 8,309 ft
- Elevation Gain: 771 ft
Here is the map:
Here’s the pics:
At the base of the dune
That peak is the goal
Looking back from the smallest hill
Love these ridge lines
Can you see the other brave soul
I didn’t even know that big hole was there until I got above it
Looking east from the first hill
The way back
Looking west from the first hill
Next goal
The plan was to walk along this
Nope. Time to walk straight up
Second peak looking west
Second peak looking back
Second peak looking east
It doesn’t look that steep from up here, but it is!
Next goal. The peak!
There’s a higher peak??
From the visible peak looking west
From the visible peak looking back
From the visible peak looking east
From the visible peak looking northwest
From the visible peak looking north
From the visible peak looking northwest
That’s the High Dune. Next goal
No Choice but to walk the line now
High Dune looking southwest
High Dune looking south
High Dune looking east. No more pristine ridgelines
I was mesmerized by the motion of the sand falling. There should be a video
Want to go down into the real dunes?
The real dunes
High Dune looking northwest
High Dune looking west
High Dune looking southwest
Time to head back
Another hidden hole you can;t see till you get high
I didn’t really notice the patterns till I was on the way down
Trying to get all Cedric on this one
Here’s the video that looked much cooler in person.
