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 might just be able to accommodate you with a customized weekender just for you!

"While working next to you I learned the lesson of being aware of my surroundings. I found your innate skill at being a silent observer gave me a true gift, bringing fresh awareness of both the subject and myself." T. S. (New Mexico)

HOT-AIR BALLOONS AT WHITE SANDS NATIONAL MONUMENT, THREE-RIVERS PETROGLYPHS and VALLEY OF FIRES
September 19-21, 2008
2 days/1 night $395 (sat-sun); 3 days/2 nights $599 (fri-sun); per person, based on single occupancy.
Group size: 3 to 8
You provide your own transportation.


"Our eye must constantly measure, evaluate. We alter our perspective by a slight bending of the knees; we convey the chance meeting of lines by a simple shifting of our heads a thousandth of an inch…. We compose almost at the same time we press the shutter, and in placing the camera closer or farther from the subject, we shape the details – taming or being tamed by them."
Henri Cartier-Bresson (French photographer 1908-2004), on composition (American Photo Sep/Oct 1997).


Friday (D)
From Albuquerque, NM: Your adventure begins as you drive from Albuquerque through Southwest scenery - golden grass covered plains, plateaus, volcanic lava fields, forest, with the snow-peaked Sacramento mountains as a backdrop. The three and a half-hour drive (or longer with rest stops) to Alamogordo gives you time to disconnect and forget your city life routine.
From El Paso, TX: You will drive through high desert for about one hour and a half before reaching Alamogordo.

We meet in Alamogordo at 3:00 PM and check into motel. We drive to the White Sands National Monument in the afternoon to photograph sunset on the dunes.

Rising from the heart of the Tularosa Basin is one of the world's great natural wonders - the glistening white sands of New Mexico. Here, great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed 275 square miles of desert and created the world's largest gypsum dune field. White Sands National Monument preserves a major portion of this unique dune field, along with the plants and animals that have successfully adapted to this constantly changing environment.

Saturday (B, L)
We leave before dawn to catch sunrise at White Sands as hot air balloons take off from the dunes (weather permitting). Late morning at leisure with the option of visiting the Space Museum.
2-day participants meet us in Alamogordo for lunch, then check into motel. Digital presentation of selected work on White Sands by Carole Devillers. We depart afterwards for White Sands to photograph the spectacular white gypsum dunes at sunset, with a stop at the Visitor Center which has exhibits explaining through short videos the formation of the dunes.
Retun to Alamogordo for dinner on your own.

Sunday (B, L)
We leave before dawn to catch our second sunrise at White Sands with balloon launches (weather permitting).
In mid-morning we drive to Three Rivers Petroglyphs National Monument to discover rock art done by the Mogollon culture of 1,000 years ago. Over 21,000 petroglyphs have been recorded at this site. We'll enjoy a picnic lunch at the end of the petroglyph trail (about 1/2 mile) in a shade shelter offering an excellent vantage point of the San Andres mountains and the Tularosa Basin to the West, and of the beautiful Sierra Blanca rising to 12,000 feet to the East, imagining what it was like for the rock artists to live in this environment.

In the 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, provide interesting photo ops. A one-mile-long nature trail allows visitors to see the many varieties of flowers, cactus and trees typical of the Chihuahuan desert. If we're lucky, we may also see roadrunners, quails, cottontails, lizards, hawks and golden eagles.
The weekender ends afterwards as you drive back to Albuquerque (about 2.15 hours away) or to El Paso (about 3 hours away). Participants who do not need to rush back for a flight can stay for sunset which can be spectacular from the top of the bluffs, with a 360 degres panoramic view.

Weekender Cost: $395 to $599
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 supplement 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); services of expedition leader; all taxes.

Cost does NOT include: Transportation to/from your home city (you provide your own transportation - own vehicle or rental or carpool), 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 to Space Museum, entrance fees at Three Rivers Petroglyphs ($2.00 per car), entrance fees at Valley of Fires ($3.00 per person), tips.

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

For complete details, see our General Information page.