Cedar Mesa for Thanksgiving

IntrepidXJ

ADVENTR
Joined
Jan 17, 2012
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3,479
Thursday - Sunday, November 27-30, 2014

For Thanksgiving this year, Diane and I decided to spend a nice relaxing weekend on Cedar Mesa and we really lucked out with nice weather all weekend. The high temperatures were in the upper 50's during the day and low temperatures only dropped into the mid-30's at night. We had camped in colder temperatures in the mountains during the summer! The campground at Natural Bridges National Monument made a perfect base-camp for us, which also happened to be free during the winter months and was a nice surprise. Diane had prepared a nice Thanksgiving dinner that we ate next to the campfire on Thursday night. The rest of the weekend we hiked in search of ruins and rock art. We ended up visiting many ruins that I had been to a long time ago and that Diane had never been to before, which allowed me to try and get some better photos of them. We explored a few new areas, too. Enjoy the photos from our weekend!


White Canyon
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

The White Man pictograph.


White Man
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Hiking under Sipapu Bridge.


Sipapu Bridge
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Many reverse handprints in a very large alcove.


Many Hands
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Beautiful hiking in White Canyon.


Trickle
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

This little pictograph of a sheep looks like it was created with fingerprints of paint.


Fingerprint Sheep
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr


Canyon Hike
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr


Addition
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

These double-decker ruins were pretty cool. The roof/floor between the levels was even still intact.


Double-Decker
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Pink sky over Cedar Mesa.


Natural Bridges Sky
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Reflection in Road Canyon.


Reflecting Pool
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

The two handprints at the top are some of the biggest I have ever seen. They were almost as big as my hands, which is unusual since most of the handprints I come across are much smaller.


Big Hands
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr


Hidden in the Shadows
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

We caught some nice warm sunset light on the next few ruins and petroglyphs.


Oval Ruin
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr


Sunset Light
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr


Circles Sunset Panel
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Last of the light.


End of Light
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

The Oven Ruin.


Oven Ruin
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

I like how this ruin was constructed with large sandstone slabs.


Slabs
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

We visited the well-known Fallen Roof Ruins. It has been many years since I was at these ruins, so it was nice to get better photos.


Fallen Roof Ruins
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr


One Room
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Two dancer petroglyphs on the top of a large boulder.


Two Dancers
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

I love the little pictographs painted inside the structure.


Kachina Ruins
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Hiking under Kachina Bridge.


Kachina Bridge
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

This is definitely one of my favorite petroglyph panels in the area.


Spiral Panel
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr


Ruin Rock
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

A lot of atlatls and a big sheep.


Big Sheep
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

A small arch we hiked by that we are referring to as the Hidden Window, since it has no official name.


Hidden Window
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

I'll finish off with a sunset photo of the Bear Ears, prominent landmarks on Cedar Mesa and the surrounding area.


Bears Ears
by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

>> Cedar Mesa for Thanksgiving Photo Gallery
>> The Original Trip Report on ADVENTR.CO

Featured image for home page:
slide.jpg
 
Beautiful. I would love to see your photographic interpretation of Moon House.
 
Is the Fallen Roof Ruins the same as the House on Fire Ruin? I've never been there, but from pictures I've seen, it looks similar.
 
Is the Fallen Roof Ruins the same as the House on Fire Ruin? I've never been there, but from pictures I've seen, it looks similar.

No, they are different ruins. House on Fire is in Mule Canyon, Fallen Roof is in Road Canyon
 
Hiking the Bridges remains one of the greatest paths I've ever followed. Whether it was the light, the history, or whatever the three times I've been there its been nothing short of Magic. With all due respect to the throngs that love wind scoured Arches as opposed to the cottonwoods framing the Bridges sculpted by water IMO these are the greatest Arches. Yeah, their different. Spans?

Thanks so much for sharing. I bet there are other photos of the Bridges on here this pointandshootaramus is gonna love.
 
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