Ready to trek across the sparkling white sands of White Sands National Park? Then mark your calendar for September 26-29 for RMOWP’s 47th conference in Alamogordo, New Mexico.
On July 1st New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham declared New Mexico fully open for business, including lifting the lifting of restrictions on the size of gatherings. However, in keeping with your concerns regarding Covid, we’re planning more outdoor activities than usual, a few more things to do on your own, and staying at least somewhat socially distanced when we are together.
So, what will we do? In addition to photographing the glistening white gypsum sands of White Sands National Park (especially scenic at sunset), we’ll discover the true Wild West at Oliver Lee Memorial State Park. A must-see in the area, that you’ll explore on your own, is Three Rivers Petroglyph Site, with more than 21,000 ancient petroglyphs. Other local attractions include the New Mexico Museum of Space History for a glimpse of the beginnings of America’s space program, the Tularosa Basin Museum of History, Alamogordo’s Old Town, and of course the Toy Train Depot.
Headquarters will be the Holiday Inn Express, with nightly rates of $135 plus taxes per night, which includes a hot breakfast. Please make reservations by August 26 by calling the hotel at 575-434-9773 and telling the desk clerk that you are with Rocky Mountain Outdoor Writers and Photographers.
See the conference schedule in this newsletter, but be aware that due to various post Covid-19 changes in Alamogordo, especially involving food and drink, there is not as much detail as we would like at this time. But please bear with us, it’ll all come together by September!
Alamogordo (Spanish for fat cottonwood tree) is a small city in south-central New Mexico, about 90 miles north of El Paso and 210 miles south of Albuquerque. At an elevation of 4,341 feet, it could still be quite warm in late September. But maybe not. Be prepared for anything, and layering is always recommended when spending time outdoors in the Southwest.
See www.alamogordonmtrue.com. For information on White Sands National Park see www.nps.gov/whsa.