Flaming Gorge

Ever since we got married we have really wanted to go camping as a family, but especially since this is likely to be our last time in the West for a while. We decided to head north to escape some of the blazing desert heat and enjoy the lush greenery of the Flaming Gorge Reservoir. The park is on the Utah/Wyoming border. They have huge trout, lots of wildlife and many rock formations & dinosaur excavation sites. We had our hands full just trying to cook on a campfire, pull rocks out of Abby's mouth and avoid any too-wild forms of wildlife.

We got a late start and pitched our tent in the dark. Neither L'Anita nor I got much sleep because of strange noises we heard throughout the night, mixed with bear stories Caleb had filled our heads with the day before. We thought the low bellow we were hearing must have been a crossbreed of a moose and a bear. Abigail didn't mind at all. She woke up once and after snuggling up with her mom in her sleeping bag, she feel right back to sleep. In the morning we found the culprit. It was a horse with a wheezy cough.

We drove around to see the sights and to give Abby a nap because a tent is way too much fun for napping (and too hot and too bright - the thought never crossed my mind before).
Here is a shot of Abby escaping the tent. She usually ran toward it unless, of course, we actually wanted her in it.

The second night we moved our tent to a shaded area where the ground was dry and free of rocks. We slept much better, as the mystery of the strange animal noise was solved. Abby climbed into my sleeping bag this time. It was really cold at night and she isn't good at keeping the covers on. Fun times.

The last day we went for an easy hike with amazing look-outs starting from the Red Canyon visitors' center and walking along the ridge to our campground (Greens Lake) and back.
Gorgeous!