The Cat Walk
Whitewater Canyon, NM |
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For anyone visiting New Mexico, we can heartily recommend visiting the Cat Walk near Glenwood, NM. We were there on a glorious fall day in October 2011. |
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The history of the Cat Walk goes back to 1883, when a pipeline was run down through Whitewater Canyon to provide water for a gold and silver processing mill. The original 4" pipeline was replaced in 1897 with an 18" pipe; both carried water three miles through the canyon. Here is the start of the trail at the mouth of the canyon. |
| Although the foliage was a bit past peak, it was still a colorful hike into the canyon. |  |
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The trail follows along the side of the canyon. |
| Then one comes to the Cat Walk itself. In the 1930's, the CCC built a wooden walkway using the supports originally placed for the pipeline\; in 1961 the US Forest Service replaced the wooden walk with this metal one, still using the original anchor points. |  |
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Whitewater Creek flows about 10-15 feet below the walkway.....most of the time. The canyon is prone to flash flooding and the water can rise quickly and dramatically. |
| It's rather amazing how narrow the canyon becomes. |  |
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Continuing past the walkway, we cross a small bridge built atop a section of the old pipe. |
| The canyon is a jumble of rocks - here we had to duck through a narrow opening. |  |
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The rocks on the cliff walls hang out over the trail. |
| All along the trail one sees cuts like this that supported beams for the pipeline. |  |
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Looking back down the canyon. |
| Another section of the 18" pipe. |  |
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Liz is crossing a bridge made entirely of fiberglass. |
| We're almost to the end of the trail. The last hurdle is this narrow suspension bridge with a mesh walkway. |  |
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See - we made it! Here we are at the 1.1 mile marker at the end of the trail. Now all we have to do is retrace our way back down the canyon. |