So Much Sand!

Mt Baldy, part of Indiana's National
Lakeshore, is moving.  The top of
the fence is about 6' 3."
9/17/2017  dwm photo

Outside the sandbox in my backyard, I never paid much attention to sand.

I expect to see sand in the desert and at the beach.

My parents told me they spent their honeymoon at the "Indiana Dunes."  I perceived those dunes were in Indiana and probably near Lake Michigan and let it go.

Judging by what I saw at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and along Lake Michigan's east shore; my knowledge of dunes is as small as the dunes are big.

Dunes can move five feet or more a year at the south end of Lake Michigan.  That is something you can learn from a book.

But the mountain of sand called "Mt. Baldy" illustrated it clearly.  In the photo at right you will notice the sand surrounding (and eventually will bury) the tree on the left.

The sand is close 10 feet high around the tree and the top of the hill is taller than the tree.

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
9/17/2017

The National Park Rangers had a trail to the top of Mt. Baldy, but closed it due to shifting sand.  I walked around it to the water which allowed me to walk half-way up the dune.

If grasses don't take root with other vegetation the sand keeps moving.  We saw a history of that in Michigan where hills were stacked like waves inland from the water.  Those hills were built on sand.

Soft-footing in the
loose sand.  (dwm)

It's instructive that tiny grains of sand stacked and shaped by the quintillions can change the landscape.

As I walked over and through sand and assorted dunes in Indiana and Michigan I noticed wisps of grass and ponds of water.

If water was out of sight and there were no people around, the land looked other-worldly.  I guess that is why much of Star Wars was filmed in a desert.

The sand along Lake Michigan comes from the water.  The vast amounts were originally stacked in place by glaciers and increased by its melted retreat.

Dunes at Ludington State Park, Michigan.  (dwm)

 I didn't have the right shoes, so I tromped along with running shoes and socks.

The shoes and socks did OK, but at times if one foot lifted or landed at just the right fashion it would 'splash' sand inside the opposite sock and shoe.

You should take a visit.  Maybe go barefoot where it is safe to do so or take the time to remove shoes, socks, and leave the sand behind.