The catwalk, an elevated pathway, was originally set up by miners in the 1890's to help ferry out ore from the canyon. Western New Mexico has a long tradition of mining, which continues to this day. Some of the mining camps eventually became towns, like Silver City, where we are staying. The wild west feel that so many of us enjoy is alive and well, in this part of our country. We are enjoying the theme of this area so much so that we decided to give each of us Wild West nicknames:
1. Elise (AKA mommy) is "Wylie Coyote"
2. Sierra is "Desert Owl" though Zoe calls her a deadly desert owl
3. Zoe is "Jumpin' Jackrabbit"
4. Mike (AKA daddy) is Buzzard - No adjectives to enhance my name, just buzzard, probably referring to the way I eat.
As for the park, Zoe and I decided to take a day trip to experience the Whitewater Catwalk area. Elise and Sierra opted out of going with us and decided to take a break from driving for the day. The park is an easy destination to see and once there an enjoyable hiking area for families. There were ample picnic areas both with and without grills. Many of the families that we did see there were swimming and splashing in the mountain stream to unwind and have fun. The Park fee was $3 per vehicle and is well worth it. For a Wild West experience to see how the early miners worked, or just to relax and enjoy nature, this place is ideal.
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| A modern catwalk for an easy stroll into the canyon. |
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| We both liked going under the rock ledges and overhangs. |
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| Beautiful canyon in the summer but is prone to flash flooding in the spring. |
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| Not a lot of people at any of the parks we visited. |
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| Some remnant pieces, mounted on the canyon wall, of the original wooden support structure of the catwalk. |
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| A fun canyon to hike for kids and adults alike. |
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| Kids love playing in the water. |
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| Zoe did a spell of jogging to exercise her knee. |
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