When you start any adventure I don't really think you actually have an idea of the journey it will take you on. I jumped into photography off my known love for beautiful pictures of landscapes and always thinking to myself "I wish I could capture this moment". I quickly started a YouTube binge of anything related to learn all I could before I made the leap. After my first endeavor of My First Sunrise I knew it was clear that this was something meant for me.
With my first early morning hike behind me I looked forward to see where else I can go, what else I can see and appreciate. It didn't take long into searching to see that the Great Sand Dunes National Park was only 4 hours away and a miraculous wonder of it's own. I kept looking for locations closer to go but I always found myself back on the Dunes. With this realization and a spurt of motivation I decided I'd go for sunrise. I expect that anyone like myself struggles with motivation at times and when you're in a "funk" it's hard to get out. Well I found my way out and that was sunrises and taking pictures. There's something to be said for that small inkling of motivation you get at any given moment of the day, and for that moment, I grab hold and decide that I will do it.
I had to plan for this expedition solely based on how far this drive is, what road conditions might be like, and how I'd ultimately fare against any hiking. Checking the maps I saw an opportunity to get the dunes in front of the mountains that rest beside them for sunrise if I could get far enough into the dunes by then. Knowing it'd be cold I had my normal attire fitted lastly with all my Eddie Bauer gear and picked a time. The sun was supposed to rise around 7:20 am best I recall and so being the early person I am I decided 2 am would be a good time to leave to get there. I had hoped if I got there early enough I'd be able to hike over the dunes to find the perfect spot as well as attempt astrophotography once again. What I got was not what I expected.
I left as I planned around 2 am and had a peaceful quiet drive the whole way to Walsenburg, CO, the small town nearby. It was the clearest night I had ever seen. It was a full moon, which seemed to be 10 times larger than anything we're used to and it was lighting up the sky and the land as if it were the sun. You could see clearly everywhere you looked with no doubt. The roads were clear and I had no delays.
As you turn towards the National Park you're welcomed, well, when it's night, by these large flowing shapes in the distant. You understand that they're the Great Sand Dunes, but you can't comprehend how astronomically large they actually are. They themselves are comparable to the mountains they lay beside. Once I parked I had realized I made it incredible time and could certainly attempt astrophotography. While I was checking for more information on the Park I went down the rabbit hole of reading about Mountain Lions and their residency there and habits in winter. Knowing I was alone, in the dark, and certainly not the top of the food chain in those parts I got skittish.
If there's one thing you'll realize when hiking at odd hours for sunrise, sunset, or just to hike it's that you're never alone. And I'm not saying the wildlife which is certainly out there, I mean other hikers. There is always someone else just as crazy as you are and with that knowledge I decided to wait and see if someone else arrived and then I'd start my hike. Sure enough another group of hikers arrived and started on their way. I followed quickly behind feeling the full extent of a sand dune winter. The weather was -10 F and had a breeze. Immediately my thoughts for astrophotography went out the window. I needed to stay warm and get ready for sunrise so I could get out of there.
I snapped a quick picture before I started my incline up the dunes. It can only be described as making me think of Aladdin with "Arabian Nights" playing in my head. That, and knowing that I regret taking my gloves off to take this picture. Climbing sand dunes are a feat, they at a steep incline and being sand one step takes 4 with the occasional sheet frozen sold.
I remember reading from my research that the highest point and hike is "High Dune" and that's exactly where I was headed. Cold, heart racing, and out of breath I was racing the clock. The sun was starting to crest over the horizon and the sky suddenly changed colors. This was the moment I had done all this for and I wasn't even prepared. I looked at the peak and pushed. With my hustle, I reached the peak in time to capture all I wanted with the sky in the most beautiful blues, pinks, and oranges. The peaks of the mountains bright pink like something out of a fairytale.
With the moment over, the colors gone I headed back. Realizing that it had only gotten colder as time went on. I slid down the sides of the dunes, which I can only imagine how fun that is in the summer time on a sled or board. It's a moment of joy and pride when you are on your way out after a successful mission passing by all these others who had just arrived and looking at you curious as to why you're leaving so early.
As I reached my car I could tell something was on my eyelashes and was dumbfounded to realize I had frosted over, literally.
I had finally done something for me. I did it alone, and it was for no reason other than to just do it. It's these moments that I now crave and give me joy. It's the anticipation and excitement to get the shot then to get home and see what you got. It's a wonderful feeling. I've enjoyed this new world I've found of photography.
