Catwalk and Rocks

We met up with friends Jack and Nancy here at Deming yesterday. We decided that today we would visit the Gila Cliff Dwellings and The Catwalk.

We started off this morning headed for the Catwalk. After driving for a couple of hours through a lot of desolate landscape with very few towns we arrived at the Catwalk. The Catwalk follows the path of the pipeline built in the 1890s to deliver water to the mining town of Graham. Workmen who had to enter the canyon by crawling atop the narrow pipeline named the route the "Catwalk." The original wooden catwalk/pipeline is now gone but the National Forest Service has reconstructed it with steel grating and rails. Dean and I did the 1/2 mile trail plus just a little. This took us back into the canyon through narrow rock walls. It is said that Geronimo and Butch Cassidy hid out in this canyon. Pictures follow.....

The Entrance



The beginning of the catwalk...



Yes, it was COLD!



Jake & Nancy



Some views along the walk.....



We left the Catwalk with all intentions of going to the Cliff Dwellings. After going through Silver City and getting on the road to the dwellings we passed a sign that said 44 miles to the dwellings - 2 hour drive. Well it was 3 pm and we knew that we wouldn't have time to get there and explore before closing so we turned around and headed toward home. On our way back we decided to go to the City of Rocks State Park which we had seen the sign for in the morning. Good decision!

Formed of volcanic ash 30 million years ago and sculpted by wind and water into rows of monolithic blocks, City of Rocks State Park takes its name from these incredible rock formations. The rock formations at the park are so unique that they are only known to exist in six other places in the world.

At the entrance....



View of Rock City from observation point....




Do you see the elephant??? Neat balancing act....



This one split....



We had a very enjoyable day and came home tired. Tomorrow is oil change day for the truck and wash day - boring - LOL! But, stuff that does occasionally need done. Wed. we are moving to Benson, AZ. Check back soon......