In August 2007 after dating for two years we proposed to each other and packed up the car for a camping trip in the deserts and forests of southern Utah.
Newly engaged lovebirds!
We stopped at Natural Bridges near Lake Powell where Erin was bitten by an unknown insect that caused some radiating pain in her arm. Matt, lovingly, pumped her full of Benadryl and stayed up all night to make sure she kept breathing! Erin was ready to go the next morning so we set off for Bryce Canyon where we enjoyed another full campground (oh, yeah.) and some spectacular views. For whatever reason (probably because we decided to flee Utah and the annoying, rude campers) we don’t have many pictures from this part of the trip.
Leaving Utah in a hurry!
After Bryce we zipped over to Zion, Erin’s first extended visit, where again we struggled to deal with the thousands of people already there.
We’d been a bit spoiled with our camping trips that were down scary dirt roads that giant, gas guzzling RVs can’t even begin to navigate and do not attract anything but the hardiest campers.
We spent a lot of time at Zion picking up trash on the trails so that was good.
After a horrifying night next to an RV that was running non-stop to keep the inside air-conditioned while the owners played cards outside, we jumped in the car and hauled ass back to Colorado.
We ended the trip with a nice long weekend in Black Canyon of the Gunnison where we hiked, sort of swam, and met a lovely family from California (who we are still in touch with to this day!).
Cold, clear, mountain water
Magnificent view
Moss & Aspen