Posted by Scott Bideau on February 23, 2013 at 4:34 PM
The wife and kids will be out of town for 10 days the 2nd week of March. Makes me think I should get on the road and get some shooting in.
I'm thinking about the Sand Dunes, but any advice on conditions there in March would be appreciated. My research indicates that I will be (a) nearly alone and (b) car camping or driving back to Alamosa, but that's about all I know. I'm curious if there is consistently snow on the dunes etc.
If you have any other places to recommend - please do. I live in Steamboat so something without snow or maybe snow but with more jagged peaks is in order :)
Posted by Stan Rose on February 23, 2013 at 4:57 PM
Spring is the windy season (well, all of them are windy...) so be prepared to protect yourself from the wind. Temps can still go well below zero at night in March in the dunes, so yes, you will be 'nearly alone'. Persistent snow on the dunes is pretty rare even in Maarch but there's always a chance we could get a big spring storm--the storm track is being more gererous to us right now. They have a webcam of the main dune mass at the nps site--you can check that daily for conditions. If you have any specific questions feel free to PM me. Any time is a good time to visit the dunes!
Posted by Ryan Wright on February 23, 2013 at 5:13 PM
Spring wind blows. All puns aside, I grew up in the San Luis Valley and spring is terrible. Nobody wants to be there, so you'll be very alone. Spring days are typically windy and a good majority of them are cloudless. Good patterns form on the lesser traveled portions of the dunes though.
That being said, I'd still go there in the spring. I did last year, and I will this year.
Posted by Jack Brauer on February 23, 2013 at 8:23 PM
Four years ago I backpacked all the way around/through the dunes in mid-March. It was during an unseasonably warm spell, and the weather was perfect for the trek. Cold at night of course (down jacket, down booties, etc), but the days were perfect.
Discussion
3 repliesI'm thinking about the Sand Dunes, but any advice on conditions there in March would be appreciated. My research indicates that I will be (a) nearly alone and (b) car camping or driving back to Alamosa, but that's about all I know. I'm curious if there is consistently snow on the dunes etc.
If you have any other places to recommend - please do. I live in Steamboat so something without snow or maybe snow but with more jagged peaks is in order :)
That being said, I'd still go there in the spring. I did last year, and I will this year.
Here's my "trip report" : http://www.mountainphotographer.com/great-sand-dunes-loop-trek/
Anyhow, I suppose that good warm weather like that is probably more of an anomaly for March, but it goes to show that the weather CAN be nice then!