The Catwalk

Nov 5/17  Weather 71/41 sunny and breezy.  get the leathers on and it will feel good.

It is a bit of a drive out to The Catwalk from Silver City, about 75 miles but we have nothing but time and a motorcycle!   This morning we were up early since the time fell back 1 hour last night.  I made a picnic lunch since most of the destinations in this area have very little to offer for lunch.  Last time we got caught with a bottle of water and a bag of Frito Scoops.  The ride takes us North West to a small town of Glenwood.  On the way there is nothing.  Nope.  Nothing.  hahaha getting used to that.  We always fill our bike up with fuel before leaving.  Good thing.

only bikers on the trail

the catwalk is quite sturdy

So yes you drive about 75 miles and then hike for a couple of miles in and out of the canyon on what is called "the catwalk."  Then a picnic lunch which was yummy and then back on the bike to ride back to Silver City.  But you know it was actually worth the day.  It is a day of history in the geological foundations of southwest New Mexico that draws you back to the mining in the early 1800's.  The result of cataclysmic volcanic actions, the area now offers a picnic spot next to Whitewater Creek, and a mile trail along steel catwalks that replace the original wooden stilted catwalks.  The town grew up around a mill with 13 claims about 4 miles upstream.

checking out the walls

on the other side of the canyon

The mill could not be built closer to the mines because of the rough, narrow canyon.  So workers constructed a 3 mile pipeline to provide water supply to the mill and town.  The pipeline hung on the canyon walls.  Today you can follow the exact route via the new Catwalk.  The newly constructed walkway cost $14 million just as couple of years ago.  The hike was very easy and quite gave you some beautiful views of the canyon.  Can you imagine the work to put in the wooden catwalk back in 1893???

catwalk suspended on walls of canyon