Campout

Last weekend, we headed up to Payson for our ward campout. It was nice to get up to some cooler weather! We enjoyed roasting marshmallows, watching a movie, eating dutch oven cobbler and visiting with friends. After the campout, we went by a nearby fish hatchery. (Sarah thought we were going to a fish hat tree and wasn't sure what that was. I think it is a Dr. Seuss invention--doesn't it sound like something out of his books?) We also went to Tonto Natural Bridge.

The new tent we bought for the occasion. It has two rooms with one of which is a dark room.

Megan loved playing with the fire.

Hayley found this large dinosaur tooth that she wanted to show U. (He'd been one of her nursery leaders.)

Megan, Matthew and Sarah eating breakfast.

Sarah relaxing on the tree.

Megan enjoyed sitting on the tree as well.

At the fish hatchery. Matthew was very concerned about the electric fence and stayed far away from the tanks once he saw the sign.

So many fish!

Matthew concerned about Me--he did not want her getting close to the electric fence.

Some fish were jumping up where the water was pouring into the tank.

Matthew feeding the fish. We learned that the electric fence is only on at night. Matthew felt much safer.

Sarah found some wild blackberries.

So many blackberries! Sarah and U spent quite a bit of time harvesting them.

Me with some blackberries.

Sarah on the Waterfall Trail at Tonto Natural Bridge.

So much green!

Sarah took this photo of all the different colored trees.

Tonto Natural Bridge from up top. It is believed to be the largest natural travertine bridge in the world.

Interesting formations in the travertine.

That's a hearty plant!

Pine Creek with colorful red rock.

A cave that we explored that was a little above the creek.

Megan and Matthew liked having walking sticks. The red stone was slippery at times.

Matthew and Megan at the end of one trail.

Me with the bridge and waterfall behind me.

It's really pretty!

Someone told us that we could hike under the bridge and join up with another trail. Since we'd planned on taking that trail as well, we decided to do that. It was a bit steep and rocky but there were some footholds along the way that helped with the hike.

Me and U, Matthew and Megan after climbing up and over the rocks. (If you zoom in above Me's head, you can see someone holding onto the red wall, starting to make their way over the rocks.)

View of the bridge from the other side.

U on the sacrificial altar. (He thought it looked like an altar and thought he should try it out.) 

Matthew being like his dad.