Family Camping Trip: Day One, Bryce Canyon

John's family goes camping every summer and this year, we attempted something pretty ambitious. As a family, we read Undaunted by Gerald Lund which retells the story of the Hole-in-the-Rock pioneers. These faithful Latter-Day Saints were barely one generation removed from crossing the plains to Utah and were asked to settle a harsh, isolated part of Utah to serve as a buffer between the Southern Utah settlements and the outlaws, cattle thieves and hostile Indians of the area.

The book was amazing and touching and especially poignant considering one of John's ancestors, Ben Perkins, was a part of the company. He was a Welsh miner and he used his knowledge of blasting and gunpowder to blast a path in the solid rock for them to traverse.

This trip was the first long road trip and camping trip for Charlie (and James). I was anticipating some rough moments with two one-year-olds, but they really were troupers and held up remarkably well.

Charlie's a little tired after all morning in the car

Checking stuff out at a pit stop in Scipio

The first day we traveled caravan style to Bryce Canyon. It was my first time there and I was amazed at how beautiful it was! We had a picnic lunch then hiked from Sunrise Point to Sunset Point with Charlie in the backpack. John did most of the heavy lifting, with a break in the middle where Breea wanted to take a turn. He eventually fell asleep in the backpack and slept for about 20 minutes.

We camped in Escalante, some of us in adorably tiny cabins (including our little family) and the rest in tents. After a hastily prepared dinner of cowboy stew and a few s'mores around the fire, we headed to bed early.

Aunt Anne with Charlie and James at our campsite (thanks Mark and Chelsea for this pic and several others)

This is already quite long, so I will post days 2 and 3 tomorrow!