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View Full Version : Trip Report Cedar Mesa Ruins & Rock Art



IntrepidXJ
06-22-2012, 06:34 AM
Friday - Sunday, June 8-10, 2012


The Original Trip Report on ADVENTR.CO (http://adventr.co/2012/06/cedar-mesa-ruins-rock-art/)


This weekend I met my friend Philippe and his wife on their annual trip to the Southwest from France. This year we planned a day to do a little hiking and exploring on Cedar Mesa (Last year we spent a day hiking in the San Rafael Swell (http://adventr.co/2011/06/san-rafael-swell-rock-art-iv/)). We spent Saturday hiking together and searching for a few ruins and rock art sites. That evening I ended up camping at their campsite in Natural Bridges. We also had an unexpected visitor to camp that evening when Laurent Martres (http://www.martres.com/) and one of his friends stopped by. It was nice to meet him since I used his Photographing the Southwest books when I first started getting into photography a few years ago. We also got to see a sneak peek of a new book he will be publishing soon. On Sunday I went off on my own to do a little more exploring before heading back home. Here are plenty of photos from the weekend in no particular order.


After work on Friday I drove down to the Mule Canyon Towers and set up camp nearby. I managed to get there just as the sun was setting and striking one of the towers.


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8147/7411858444_8a448222ed_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7411858444/)
Cave Tower Sunset (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7411858444/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


Philippe taking photos of the Bigfoot Ruins. The ruins are named the Bigfoot Ruins because there is a footprint in the mud next to the doorway of one of the structures.


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7245/7398955228_59ccfb07ea_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7398955228/)
Philippe and the Bigfoot Ruins (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7398955228/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


A pile of potsherds found at the Bigfoot Ruins.


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7238/7377329948_ac8f43ee51_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7377329948/)
Bigfoot Potsherds (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7377329948/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8164/7411773590_e2c01f47f6_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7411773590/)
Bigfoot Ruins (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7411773590/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5111/7411795202_0575bdd9cb_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7411795202/)
Bigfoot Alcove (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7411795202/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


The next few photos are from a large rock art panel found near 'The Shoe'


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7221/7361405794_456859ba59_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7361405794/)
The Shoe Panelramic (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7361405794/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7140/7411579620_69cbf8444c_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7411579620/)
Shoe Panel Detail II (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7411579620/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8150/7411551346_34cbe9eded_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7411551346/)
Left Shoe (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7411551346/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7126/7411493114_a066f5697a_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7411493114/)
Shoe Panel Detail (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7411493114/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7213/7377389600_b02d2521f2_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7377389600/)
Shoe Ruin (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7377389600/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


The Perfect Granary was very well-preserved and in good shape. The roof is still completely intact.


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7135/7411437346_7b32e78be9_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7411437346/)
Perfect Granary (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7411437346/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


There was nice reflected light and texture in the sandstone above this little granary.


http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5120/7411923786_a2599d3abf_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7411923786/)
The Golden Granary (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7411923786/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5319/7398826732_4d869885e2_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7398826732/)
Golden Granary (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7398826732/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


While searching some boulders for a different petroglyph panel (that I did not find this time), I did manage to find this small panel.


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8005/7416538732_255241d15e_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7416538732/)
Boulder Petroglyphs (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7416538732/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


I've wanted to find and photograph the Remnant Ruin for a while...I finally got my chance.


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7232/7188538553_a29594043a_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7188538553/)
Remnant Ruin (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7188538553/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


A closer look at the remaining pictographs above the ruin.


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8151/7416966016_1d60065113_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7416966016/)
Remnants (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7416966016/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


This is probably one of the largest potsherds I have come across so far. (FYI- I don't have small hands.)


http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5452/7188214373_cdeede9e59_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7188214373/)
Large Potsherd (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7188214373/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


There were a few more remnants of pictographs found nearby, too.


http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5328/7411882588_890ca80c3b_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7411882588/)
All That Remains (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7411882588/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


When I reached the Red Bear Panel, I was surprised at just how large it really was. Photographs don't do it justice.


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7092/7360161710_53e8592120_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7360161710/)
Red Bear Panel (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7360161710/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7280/7411957792_6ca4c953c5_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7411957792/)
Bear Panel B&W (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7411957792/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


I revisited the Collapsed Roof Ruin in a little better light. A large boulder of sandstone has broken off from the roof of the alcove and landed on this structure. Surprisingly, the ruin has managed to support it and not been completely destroyed.


http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5452/7377439410_d3b7f8659a_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7377439410/)
Collapsed Roof Ruin (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7377439410/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5322/7416842430_1dba70474b_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7416842430/)
Collapsed Roof (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7416842430/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


A small granary found nearby.


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8156/7416798856_762247618b_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7416798856/)
Tiny Granary (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7416798856/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


I also managed to visit the impressive Bighorn Ruins on this trip. There were a few interesting structures at this site.


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7131/7416947494_00ae5ffc0d_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7416947494/)
Bighorn Granaries (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7416947494/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


Two sheep petroglyphs near the ruins in black and white.


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7072/7377470094_0b1d8cff2b_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7377470094/)
Two Sheep (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7377470094/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


This large pictograph is found around the corner from the ruins.


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8014/7398865722_f3308473aa_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7398865722/)
Fading Man (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7398865722/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


A small ruin with the doorway in the roof.


http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5312/7416514756_d95fab7d04_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7416514756/)
Roof Access (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7416514756/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


Of course I needed to get a photo of the bighorn sheep pictographs with the ruins in the background.


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7238/7377506418_02bfe15031_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7377506418/)
Bighorn Ruins (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/7377506418/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr


As usual, I had another great weekend searching for ruins and rock art on Cedar Mesa and I'm looking forward to returning in the fall.


>> Cedar Mesa Ruins & Rock Art Photo Gallery (http://flic.kr/s/aHsjzQeH84)

BaitForTheBuzzards
06-22-2012, 12:58 PM
Love the photos of the grainery with the reflected light. Well done!

denaliguide
06-23-2012, 12:16 AM
very cool!! :2thumbs:

Smaugxxx
06-23-2012, 06:42 AM
This is one of the many artifact in the Bigfoot Ruins

55559

taatmk
08-02-2012, 12:56 PM
Nice!