Camping, Jumping, and no bears. . . oh my!

Good 'Ole Dino is dressed up for the harvest! It is a good thing Green River melons are so close!

Fall is just beginning; the shorter days, the cooler nights. It is exactly how I remember autumn in Utah being. 

In other words, PERFECT

We decided to go camping at what is called the Range Study and is a undeveloped area where everyone camps. There is a potty located at the entrance and the sites are man made and have self made fire circles. It is a popular area to park campers because it is free and close to ATV trails. We camped pretty far in hoping that all the trailers were just holding spots and no one would really be camping. We were pretty lucky not to have too close of neighbors especially with a ward camp out and all the bow hunting. Alas, since we were so far in we did have heavy 4-wheeler traffic at 5:30 am each morning as hunters went on their way deeper into the forest in hopes of snaring their favorite quarry.

One day we went exploring thanks to a map we scored from the Ashley National Forest. Scott took us on the Sheep Creek Canyon Geological Loop. It was amazing! Rock formations and sandstone towers and layers and layers of rock that looked like it had been thrust vertical during some violent event. It was beautiful! I loved the canyon and the vast changes in such a short distance.

We stopped at an overlook near Flaming Gorge. Suzie was less than impressed to be taking a picture.

Just a shot of the bridge over the Green River-I do love bridges.

Another day we did a small walk/trail between the Red Canyon visitors center and Canyon Rim campground. It was beautiful with great vistas overlooking the water far below!

Most of the trail was pretty rocky and sagebrush-ey except for this one part with trees! I had to take a picture while Scott laughed at my silliness.

We did not have a tent until a few months ago. We had been watching ads and garage sales. Finally we found a deal at Kmart for this 10 person tent. I love it! The door is short but the center is very high. I can stand up inside and get dressed without hunching over. There is also so much room that Scott and I feel spoiled. But we figure anyone can come with us and the price of a smaller one was more expensive-so how could we pass it up? 

A feature I love about this tent is the full mesh ceiling and back side! The covering is handy to keep the heat inside the tent and to keep out the rain we had every afternoon. On the sunny afternoon when the sun is bearing down on the tent and the trail weary camper wants a quick nap, taking the cover off provides an airy, cool, and ideal napping environment. I am looking forward to the night that is clear and I am able to lay and look at the stars while protected from flies, mosquitoes, and munching deer. 

Suzie had so much dirt to roll in, smells to sniff, poop to eat (dang cows), grasshoppers to catch, bees to chase, ants to torment that she would poop out in the tent (in above pic) or on the ground!

One afternoon Scott and I were playing Hot Dice (aka Farkle) when I saw a bee inside the tent. I ran inside and zipped up the window trapping the bee. Suzie discovered it and went in predator mode!

She could not lean against the tent because the nature of tents are taut slippery vinyl. Suzie figured out how to jump up to get the bee. 

She really can jump!!! I had been telling Scott how much she jumps at home. I decided to buy her a hula hoop. She is getting pretty good and jumping through the hula hoop yet I had no idea she could jump this high! She really wanted that bee-which she did get and proceeded to toss the dead carcass into the air and then go and pounce on it! She played with that bee until there was nothing left. 

Needless to say it was a successful and enjoyable camping trip! And luckily the bears stayed out of our campground so we were safe and we didnt have to sacrifice Suzie for an appetizer!