Cedar Mesa Chronicles: Chapter 15 | Thursday – Sunday, November 27-30, 2025
Back before Diane even knew she had a meningioma and would be having surgery in October we were hoping to return to the Dinétah in New Mexico this Thanksgiving, but with everything going on lately we switched gears and decided to return to the Bears Ears region instead since it’s a bit closer to home and a more important place to us. Up until about two weeks ago Diane was still planning to join me this holiday weekend and we were planning to stick to easier hikes like we had done at Bryce Canyon National Park earlier this month, but unfortunately she has had some setbacks with her recovery and is not allowed to do any hiking right now, so she would be spending Thanksgiving with a friend while I spent the extended holiday weekend below the Bears Ears on my own since I was really feeling the pull to get back down there one last time before the year was over. I’m really hoping that Diane will be able to get over these setbacks and can get back out hiking again soon.
After leaving home early on Thursday morning I spent the rest of the four-day weekend wandering canyon bottoms, rims and the backcountry of Cedar Mesa. I revisited some places I hadn’t been back to in over a decade and found a few new sites, too. The conditions weren’t that great for photos most of the weekend, but here are a few I took along the way…
It felt great to be out wandering the canyons of Cedar Mesa again!
There was a lot of water everywhere along the canyon rims. Most of the potholes were brimful.
Oven Ruin
Overhead Handprints
Side View Ruin
Hidden Doorway
Two Rooms
Double Doorway Ruin
Long Ruins
Canyon Pinnacles
Cracked Roof Ruin
A highlight of the weekend was finally coming across this ruin that’s built under a massive overhang.
Block Ruin
Overhang Room
Front Step
Block Ruin Interior
Sandstone & Water
Boulder Gap Petroglyphs
Canyon Guardians
It was nice to revisit the Fallen Roof Ruins on Thanksgiving.
Handprints
Fallen Down Ruin
Red Bird Alcove
Rooms On A Ledge
Ruin & Petroglyph
Little Line Horse
Corner Village
Mineral Crayon Alcove
Porthole Ruin
White Hands
Nevills Arch
One Room
Before heading home on Sunday I drove across the Great Sage Plain and saw my best sunrise from the trip over Sleeping Ute Mountain.
Great Sage Plain Sunrise
Corncob Hollow Ruins
That’s such a great area, and you captured so many great shots of the ruins. I really liked porthole ruin, and block ruin is neat as well!
I think this is a little more than we’ve heard about what’s going on with Diane, and that’s got to be tough. Hopefully the setbacks are overcome and you two can get out hiking again together in the coming months. Sending healthy thoughts your direction!
Thanks Dan!
Lots of great shots particularly the overhang. I appreciate the effort to document, edit and upload your journal entries. I hope Diane feels better soon.
Thank you Robert!