Made up memory: Trail-Head Breakfast

L-R: Mom, Emily, Aspen, Camille, Ben

In 1995, we were on one of many trips to Canyonlands and Moab. 

It was a beautiful spring morning, with a slight chill in the air.  We were looking forward to the sun finally peeking out over the mountains to warm our cold, tired bodies.

We had learned early on to always dress in layers, because a Moab morning could be cold, but a Moab afternoon may cook you like bacon.  I always secretly giggled at the sight of us all with sweatshirts, blankets, gloves and hats paired with a ragged pair of shorts.  We were the absolute epitome of true Utahn's.  Always wearing shorts unless it was a blizzard out.

I imagine Ben and Dad were anxious to get on the trail and start the fun, as well as wanting to give us ample time to take side trails and run obstacles over and over to see how the Jeep would flex and crawl, always completely enthralled with the power of a machine they had customized with their own blood, sweat and tears.

The rest of us sleepily agreed to go.

This meant packing in our breakfast...not our usual routine.  Most of the time we would make a yummy dutch oven breakfast at camp, eat, clean up and head out.

But knowing Ben and Dad, they wanted to watch that sun come up over the red rock spires, because it is magic.  And never wanting to disappoint those men in our little family, we packed up the cereal and left.

And they were right.  The sun coming up over red rock spires is breath taking.

It made that cold cereal taste better than any dutch oven feast ever could.