Sleeping Bear Dunes National Seashore, MI
A week ago today, I climbed the sand dunes at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Seashore for sunrise. A nearly full moon illuminated the sand and upon reaching the summit, the eastern sky alighted in pastel magentas & oranges. These "sand mountains" are literally that - rising 450-feet from Lake Michigan below. Above, the landscape is fairly stark, very reminiscent of an alpine zone with stunted pines and low-climbing vegetation. After completing The Dune Climb and exploring some side trails along the way, I ended with 4+ miles & 600 ft. of elevation gain, plus a good cardio burn on the loose sand!