A recent federal ruling on drilling noise in a national wildlife refuge near Great Sand Dunes National Park suggests that the courts may be leaning toward more rigorous protection for natural sound in federal recreation lands.

This week’s quiz may leave sand in your shoes. Answers are at the end. If we catch you peeking, we’ll make you explain the culturally nuanced meanings of dune field, erg, and drass.

In the past, my national park visiting has been too intermittent and unfocused for comfort. But this year my New Year’s Resolutions are going to provide a sense of purpose and direction. Five parks is a very doable agenda. My list includes three Sure Things, a True Confession, and one Unfinished Business.

Acoustic monitoring reveals that Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve has one of the quietest soundscapes in America. Remote areas of the park have sound levels so low that they barely register on the recording equipment.