We did it and we aimed Lucy to her second true boondocking adventure.
It happened a bit by accident as we found ourself with two nights in between stays and we made a quick call to head south towards the Colorado Desert. We are at the Sacred White Mountain BLM land which is just a few miles from the Great Sand Dunes National Park.
I found us this location thanks to an FB post about boondocking for big rigs in Colorado. Those who post put down a recommendation for lat/long coordinates and I am slowly getting very good at looking them up on googles earth. This one had a pin in an area that was suppose to be level and with a large parking area.
A little miscalculation on my part was the fact we would be heading there on a Friday afternoon. So when we pulled into the BLM area the spot I wanted for us was sadly occupied. My husband being undeterred pushed Lucy Lou farther up the road towards the Mountain. I admittedly got anxious by then as the road got rougher, narrower and steeper ahead. Lucky us there was another pullout which had occupants but who generously invited us in to park there as well. Yay! A good level spot and fun neighbors once again. I might state when one wants to boondock do not head towards areas on the weekends as they get crowded. Monday or Tuesdays might be better options.
Now parking in the desert has some interesting facts. It is very sandy, prickly bushes and cactuses, warm/hot during the day and pretty cold at night. There is a lot of walking trails which is like walking on a beach, pretty deep sand to wade through. The peace and quiet of the desert is breathtaking as are the sunsets. I was a tad worried at first and we did have some challenges again as in our generator being temperamental but leave it to my husband in figuring it out eventually. Oh and another highlight is how well we slept while being here. Not sure if it’s the quiet or the air but we both slept so very well as did the pups.
So in my book this boondocking was another success. Tomorrow we are heading back north a bit for a 4 day stay in a campground. There Lucy can recharge and we can get cleaned up, plus I want to do laundry.
Life is good and we do love learning new ways.
It was a truly magical place to camp at the feet of Blanca Peak for two nights. The strange part is how at peace we felt there, it was quiet and one felt protected. At 14,350 feet (4373.88 meters) it is the 4th tallest mountain in the Rocky Mountains.
Here is the story I found about it:
Blanca Peak is the fourth-highest peak of the Rocky Mountains located in the southern Sangre de Cristo range not far from Alamosa, CO. It is known to the Navajo people as the Sacred Mountain of the East. It is associated with the color white, and is said to be covered in daylight and dawn and fastened to the ground with lightning.
Blanca Peak. Navajo Sacred Mountain
Translation From: Foundation of Navajo Culture, by Wilson Aronilth, Jr.:
“We call it Sisnaajini (white shell mountain). It is the Sacred mountain made by First Man and First Woman, together with the Yei’i’ (the Holy People) and made with white shells, white lightening and rain clouds. Bald Eagles migrate through the valley in spring.
Each of the sacred mountains is a holy person dressed in various outfits. Blanca Peak has a belt. A layer of trees around it that is caused by the ‘tree line’ forms the belt. Just like any of the sacred mountains, Blanca Peak stands on its feet and extends out its arms.
The mountain is considered to be the eastern boundary of the traditional Navajo homeland. The Holy People dressed Sisnaajiní with a perfect white shell for positive thoughts and thinking.
Then the Holy People ran a bolt of lightning through the sacred mountain to fasten the East mountain to our Mother Earth.
As Navajo people, we were given Blanca Peak as a starting point. Blanca Peak was put in the eastern direction because the sun rises from there at the start of each day.
Blanca Peak should be thought of as the ‘north arrow’ on a map, which determines the orientation of a person’s mind and physical presence on earth. The eastern direction is easily determined each morning as it is dawning. The sun then rises.
During this process, you are waking up and thinking what it is that you will be doing for the day.
As you go outside of your Hogan, you’re already facing east toward the Holy People. So, being that Blanca Peak is in the eastern direction, Blanca Peak represents ‘thought’. Thought comes first in everything that you do. Blanca Peak was carefully formed.
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