ski'n, bike'n & hike'n with the kids: Visiting the new Bear's Ears National Monument

On one of the busiest US Holidays of the year, we see exactly one other family who came to view the ruins next to camp.

One of our favorite camp breakfasts is Rösti. I first had this in a hut in Switzerland while skiing the Haute Route. The hash-browns come dehydrated so they're really lightweight and compact. Rehydrate them with boiled water, fry them up slowly with lots of butter and olive oil. Patience, patience. They get wonderfully crispy if you can just bring yourself to cook them a little longer...then add shredded cheese (Ementhaler and/or Gruyere are favorites), melt. Finish it off with eggs over the top, poached (by putting a lid on) or stir in. YUM!

breakfast is served

Leisurely, leisurely we got ready to explore around camp...ruins to see, a viewpoint to explore.

off to see the ruins

the desert was blooming

3 structures. two tucked under, one (of many) up on the point (right skyline below tree)

we were told the one on the right is nicknamed "Boulder Tower"

that section of Comb Ridge back there is a presence

I'm a sucker for lichen patterns

the view was spectacular. 180˚ required 17 photos.

I love cactus flowers. they're incredibly soft delicate and come from a plant that's so hardy and harsh

spotted what looked like a granary across the valley - a stone's throw from camp

I'm thinking it's a tarantula burrow...

back to camp, lunch and reading PeterPan

we pitched the sunshade

After lunch we took another walk; this time South along the rim

the Mormon Tea was blooming too (aka Ephedra)

yup, it was a granary!

jasper

O's a pretty good walker but...

so colorful

here's one of the things we just love about this area. we had just spent the morning walking over to the viewpoint in this picture (top skyline). we spotted a granary from there, across the canyon. now, from the granary, we see that we were right over at least five more structures. we LOVE the sense of discovery this place gives