Comb Ridge/Cedar Mesa Easter 2010

[Moody]

"Here is this vast, savage, howling mother of ours, Nature, lying all around, with such beauty, and such affection for her children, as the leopard; and yet we are so easily weaned from her breast to society, to that culture which is exclusively man on man."​

-Henry David Thoreau​

With the agenda of no agenda, we ventured south from Salt Lake City to Comb Wash with some great friends the Law's. Through rain, snow, and wind, we arrived at our camp under ominous skies. The threat skirted the western horizon as we established camp, though the sun beat out the rain, and left us in the clear.

 

[Moody]

It was official: Spring had arrived here.

Matt, who lives the dream as an employee of Black Diamond Equipment, resides in Salt Lake City with his wife, Sarah, and two children Toby and Mallory. Sarah and my wife, Hilary are college friends, and both teach for Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind.

It was cool enough to require a jacket and a hat, but the kids didn't seem to mind:

Olivia discovering she likes Chai:

 

[SWbySWesty]

What a fun outing! Ugh, I can't wait for next weekend! Thanks for the photos!

 

[Moody]

We were joined late in the evening by a great friend of mine Nate, who teaches in the same district I do. He had two friends out from Indiana, Brian and Lauren. Both Brian and Lauren are police officers there, and are set to be married soon. They had never experienced So. Utah, and arriving late in the evening they didn't know what they were in for.

The weather forecast suggested the first night was to be the coldest. They were right. We awoke late, and waited for the warmth of the sun to creep over the top of the ridge.

 

[ttora4runner]

Nice, Moody. :victory:

 

[Moody]

The next day we ventured out to find some particular ruins up on Cedar Mesa. I had a topo in hand with the general area circled, though we found it difficult to cross an area due to mud. We finally found our way around, and went to find the ruins. We found some really neat things along the way (left for posterity of course). I couldn't help get all giddy thinking I was walking in the footsteps of someone who lived here 900+ years ago...

Potsherds covering the ground....

The sun was shining, bellies were full, and kids were happy....

 

[Moody]

Back at camp, we were greeted by the Donnaway family. As the kids all played and dug holes in the ground, we enjoyed each other's company around the fire as a dutch oven full of ribs were readying themselves for eating.
Some of us reverted back to our childhood and played in the fire...but that is a story best left for later.

The next morning we said farewell to our law enforcement friends, as Nate wanted to show them as much as possible throughout their visit to Utah. We set out to find another set of ruins, and we were on our way...

Maize:

 

[JKWE]

Were the ruins and petroglyphs inside the Fee area - about half way down the Comb Ridge road? We opted out at the creek crossing that looked deeper, muddier and too steep on the far side to make it up with the trailer.

 

[Moody]

Were the ruins and petroglyphs inside the Fee area - about half way down the Comb Ridge road? We opted out at the creek crossing that looked deeper, muddier and too steep on the far side to make it up with the trailer.

They were actually just off of the highway towards Natural Bridges NM. They aren't marked or anything, I just saw them from the road when I was down there in December.

 

[Willman]

Man am i bummed i missed this one....I was all packed ready to roll....Nothing like unpacking for a trip that didn't happen....

I'm glad we did stay home.....the little one decided to up chuck in the middle of the night leading to a fun weekend for clean up....

Looking forward to the next one (trip that is)!

 

[Moody]

Man am i bummed i missed this one....I was all packed ready to roll....Nothing like unpacking for a trip that didn't happen....

I'm glad we did stay home.....the little one decided to up chuck in the middle of the night leading to a fun weekend for clean up....

Looking forward to the next one (trip that is)!

Next one is Escalante in May....

 

[radar95zj]

very cool thanks for the write up. That looks like it was a blast

 

[kcowyo]

You started this thread after I was already on the road. This is where I stopped to read the signs and saw your name in the register. You'll have to go back to see what I wrote about you beside your name.

Nice shot!

The three water crossings were still running very high last weekend. Loads of fun, even without a snorkel... Biggest surprise of our run down the trail? Meeting someone from Boulder, WY (same county as Cora) coming the other way. Then saw him again the next day camped way out at Hovenweep! Weird SE Utah moments...


:campfire:
.

 

[Moody]

You started this thread after I was already on the road. This is where I stopped to read the signs and saw your name in the register. You'll have to go back to see what I wrote about you beside your name.





Nice shot!

The three water crossings were still running very high last weekend. Loads of fun, even without a snorkel... Biggest surprise of our run down the trail? Meeting someone from Boulder, WY (same county as Cora) coming the other way. Then saw him again the next day camped way out at Hovenweep! Weird SE Utah moments...


:campfire:
.

Small world, isn't it?

I am actually happy to hear the river crossings are still going strong. We really wanted to go up Fish Canyon, but I nearly got stuck in mud trying to cross...I figured with it only being 5-6" deep I would be fine, I was most certainly wrong. My lawn likes all of the red dirt though, must be all the iron?

I am anxious to see what you wrote on that register....

 

[Moody]

A few more:

Some killer dutch oven: