Glenwood’s National Catwalk canyon area
As HC crosses over from Arizona to New Mexico, he notices no discernible change in the landscape. State lines are funny in that regard, only humans pay much attention, nothing else. The open road with high desert are all around him as he follows the map to a little speck called Glenwood where he hopes to find a gas station.
Glenwood is quiet, perhaps a little too quiet for him as he pulls up to the only pump in town. A man in a truck ahead of him appears to be sleeping. The RV parks and campgrounds are empty. He notices a worn sign across the street pointing towards the Catwalk recreation area, his destination. There is another sign below though that looks more recent, stating the area is closed, however it is dated a few days prior to his arrival. The gas tank is full, and since no one is around to ask, HC takes a chance and starts driving up the dirt road. He drove four hours to see this place, what is ten more minutes to find out if it is actually accessible or not.
Pulling up to the parking lot, he sees a a river that has broke it’s banks and it covering the road. One car is pulled over before the river. HC passes them and sees a truck ahead of him trying to cross, but gets stuck in the river about halfway through. The truck spins and goes into four wheel drive before finally, barely, making it out of the river and into the parking lot of the recreation area on the other side. HC decides to park his little corolla safely in front of the river. He speaks to the couple has a bit of a snack and asks if the area is open.
“It sure is, just opened back up today according to the Ranger. But that water is risky to try and cross in your car!”
My thoughts exactly. I slowly cross the river, soaking my feet and almost slip and fall on my butt, but eventually make it. On the brightside, you only have to pay if you park a vehicle, so I walk right in and start hiking. No ranger in sight, in fact no one is here at all.
This place, back in the day, was used by miners to bring out silver. Today the original catwalk was replaced and moved up by ten feet to hopefully avoid flooding and let one see the beauty of this unique canyon safely. I go about a mile in before I come to yellow tape blocking one from hiking further. Their is a dirt path where you can hike another mile or so deeper into the canyon, but our recent rains have blocked this off for safety reasons.
Admiring the unique canyon walls as I circle back along the catwalk, I come to some trees just starting to turning colors with the Autumn temperatures when I spot something foraging about. Upon closer inspection I see that it is a Coatimundi. In fact, it is an entire family of them. I call them the monkeys of the Southwest, even though they are closer in relation to racoons then monkeys.
The older couple that was having a snack when I parked before the river must have somehow made it across, as I see them coming up the path. I’m not sure why I called them older, as they are just like me. Retired and on a road trip enjoying the countryside. I point out the Coatimundis, to their absolute delight.
