Catwalk over the Canyon

In the 1880's, the city of Graham built a mill to process metals taken from the nearby mountains and needed water to run the mill. The nearest water source was 3 miles away so the enterprising miners and mill owners built a 4 inch gravity fed water pipe from that water source to the mill, running the pipe through the canyon attached to the rock walls.

The water pipe was packed in sawdust and then a wood housing to keep it from freezing. About 20 years later, they replaced the 4" pipe with an 18" pipe and in 1935, after the demise of the mill, an intrepid bunch of men in the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) built a metal catwalk that followed the path of the original pipe line and created a walkway. It has been a tourist destination ever since. It was rebuilt - enforced etc. - in the 1970's but continues to follow the path of the orginal pipeline.

In fact, the pipeline under this part of the bridge is the original 18" water line. (probably best not to think about the fact that I'm standing on metal pipe over 100 years old...)

The metal catwalk wends its way through these enormous rocks, only about 30 feet or so off the canyon floor.

Because there was so much rain, several waterfalls had formed off the sides of the rocks, splashing down into the raging creek below.

The highest recorded flood line was marked on the side of the canyon, about 2.5 feet above the railing of the catwalk. Given the narrow canyon walls and the height, I would bet that "flash flood" doesn't even begin to describe that scenario.

The canyon was gorgeous and the trail is about a mile long. Unfortunately we only were able to hike half of it because the rain had caused a landslide. Boulders the size of a small car had crashed down the side of the hill and created twisted metal wreckage where part of the trail handrail had been. It will probably be awhile before it fully opens again.