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Mar 10, 2008 3:23 pm US/Mountain
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Great Sand Dunes Will Soon Be Awash In Snowmelt
ALAMOSA, Colo. (CBS4) ―
Winter is a quiet time of year at the Great Sand Dunes in southern Colorado, but visitors and rangers alike know what's coming soon.
"As soon as that snow on the Sangre de Cristo Range starts to melt, the creek waters will come down around the Great Sand dunes and create Colorado's natural beach," said ranger Patrick Meyers.
That "beach" even offers the smallest visitors a way to surf ... sort of. The snowmelt brings the Medano Creek back to life. That flow of water pushes the sand into small dams.
"As these build up higher and higher, the water pressure will eventually break the sand, sending the wave down about 20 to 30 seconds, so kids can actually body surf the waves in the creek," said Meyers.
Those waves can be powerful enough to carry children along. Those surfing days are still weeks away in the Great Sand Dunes, but until the national park offers plenty of space to walk and vistas to enjoy.
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