Mescalero Sands is an area of low, mostly stabilized and vegetated dunes east of Roswell. The easily-accessible part is BLM land on which ATVs are allowed; it's still a worthwhile visit but expect noisy company. I visited on the 25th of March, 2005. I'll have to visit again later in the year. The dunes should be greener, and maybe the heat will drive the ATVers away.

Soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca) and dunes, looking north.

Looking north over the dunes. Note the ATV tracks. The shrub stabilizing the dark stubbly dunes is shin oak, Quercus havardii. Each mound is a single plant. They can cover large areas, though generally not protruding more than a couple of feet above the surface of the sand.

A circle in the sand caused by wind blowing a stalk of dead vegetation.