New Mexico Weekenders

It takes time to explore 1000 years of history, and our weekenders will only give you glimpses of a past and present that fascinate everyone - prehistoric and Native cultures, Spanish heritage, Old Wild West - and of a future that makes everyone dream - astronomy, aviation and aerostation - all this in the most varied climates and landscapes. Yet, these 2-3 days expeditions are definitely interesting, and perfect for those of you who don't have much time to go and explore our beautiful state of New Mexico, as well as practice photography. This is your opportunity to do both, with the guidance of a professional photographer.
And if the dates are not convenient to you, let us know and tell us when you could go - we just might be able to accommodate you with a customized weekender just for you!

"Thank you for the wonderful White Sands trip. I had a great time and really enjoyed it. I got many fantastic pictures and I already put some of them on my website. I have introduced your photo tours to some friends and will keep doing so whenever possible." J. H. (Canada)

WHITE SANDS NATIONAL MONUMENT, BILLY-THE-KID NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAY and VALLEY OF FIRES
June 13-15, 2008
2 days/1 night $410 (sat-sun); 3 days/2 nights $610 (fri-sun); per person, based on single occupancy.
Group size: 3 to 8
You provide your own transportation.

"Do not shorten the morning by getting up late; look upon it as the quintessence of life..." Arthur Schopenhauer

Friday (D)
Your adventure begins as you drive from Albuquerque to Alamogordo through Southwest scenery - golden grass covered plains, plateaus, volcanic lava fields, forest, with the Sacramento mountains as a backdrop. The four-hour drive (with rest stop) gives time to disconnect and forget your urban life routine. (You may also fly to and drive from El Paso - one hour and a half).
We meet in Alamogordo at 3:00 PM and check into motel. We go to White Sands National Monument later in the afternoon to photograph the dazzling white dunes at sunset. Dinner in Alamogordo.

Saturday (B,L)
Early in the morning, we drive to White Sands National Monument for a photo shoot in the dunes. This is the time of year when New Mexico state flower, the soaptree yucca, bears its lovely creamy blossoms, and they are plentiful in White Sands.
2-day participants meet us in Alamogordo where we have lunch together (12:00PM or 1:00PM), then check into motel. After a digital presentation of selected works by the tour leader, we depart in mid-afternoon for White Sands National Monument to photograph the spectacular white gypsum dunes at sunset, with a stop at the Visitor Center where exhibits and a short video film explain the formation of the dunes. Retun to Alamogordo and dinner on your own.

Sunday (B,L,D)
The White Sands gates will be opened especially for us before dawn and before public hours, to give us the opportunity to photograph the sun rising on the dunes.**
In mid-morning we drive through Billy-the-Kid country, stopping at Ruidoso Downs to view the magnificent life-size horse sculptures in the gardens of the Hubbard Museum. Then on to Lincoln, a village forgotten by time, spending the afternoon in the footsteps of Pat Garrett, Billy-the-Kid and other characters of the Old West - famous or obscure, as we explore Lincoln. With its main and only street lined with adobe homes and buildings dating from its colorful and often violent past, Lincoln presents many photo ops. We'll visit the old Court House as well as the old adobe Tunstall store, time-capsules in themselves. We won't find any gas stations or convenience stores in Lincoln, and there's only one public telephone, but it wasn't always so peaceful. Gunshots, some fired by the infamous outlaw Henry McCarty alias William H.Bonney (Billy the Kid) often echoed in the surrounding hills during Lincoln's territorial days. Lunch in Lincoln.
Because it looks much as it did a century ago, it isn't hard to picture the Kid's escape from the courthouse jail, the shootouts, and the more peaceful inhabitants taking cover as bullets flew.

In late afternoon, for a striking contrast with White Sands, we stop at the Valley of Fires where a 2-mile wide by 20-mile long black volcanic lava flow formed between 1,500 and 2,000 years ago when Little Black Peak erupted, giving us interesting photo ops. A one-mile-long easy nature trail allows us to photograph the many varieties of flowers, in bloom at that time of year, like sotols, yuccas, cacti and trees typical of the Chihuahuan desert. If we're lucky, we may also see roadrunners, quails, cottontails, lizards, hawks and golden eagles. Or we could even see a herd of Pronghorn antelopes grazing by the roadside (rare! but it has happened).
We enjoy a picnic overlooking the lava flow bathed by the golden light of the early evening. The weekender ends afterwards as you drive back to Albuquerque (about 2.15 hours away) or El Paso (3 hours away). Participants not pressed by time may opt to remain at Valley of Fires until sunset (8:20 PM) if it looks promising***.

** If less than 3 participants, the ranger's early opening fee of $100 will have to be covered by the one or two participants signed-up or we will go for regular open hours (7:00 AM).
*** Out of state participants may have to spend an extra night (not included) in El Paso, or Albuquerque, or in Carrizozo (4 miles from Valley of Fires) depending on their flight schedule.

Weekender Cost: $410 to $610
Reservations: A $200 per person deposit is required to secure a place on our weekenders, which can be paid via Paypal or by check. The balance is due 30 days prior to beginning of weekender.
If less than 3 participants sign up, a small-group fee of $75 p.p. will apply, or the weekender may be cancelled.

Cost includes: Hotel accommodations based on single occupancy; meals as indicated (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner/picnic); entrance fees at Old Lincoln County Courthouse Museum; services of tour leader; all taxes.

Cost does NOT include:
Transportation to/from your home city (you provide your own transportation - own vehicle or rental), alcoholic beverages, items of personal nature and incidentals, entrance fees to White Sands (a one-time entrance fee of $3.00 per person), entrance fees at Space Museum (optional), entrance fees at Valley of Fires ($3.00 per person).

NOTE: Since we'll be leaving Alamogordo very early to be on site for sunrise at White Sands, we may not be able to have breakfast at the motel. Fruit, danishes, granola bars, juice, coffee and tea will be available in the tour leader's vehicle. Bottled water will be available at all times.

For complete details and registration, see our General Information page.