Snattle Rakes!

[daniel banquo merrick]

I was near Squaw Dome this year and saw what was clearly a fairly large snake spine.



Fairly fresh and being cleaned up by yellow jackets. Thought it was odd to see snakes at 7000'. About two minutes later I was walking along through some ankle high brush and saw something moving about one step ahead. I figured it was a gopher snake or king snake but as it went by I could clearly see that it was a rattler. I couldn't get my camera out fast enough before it vanished into the brush. A little over three feet long. I spent the rest of the day beating bushes with a stick before I went through. I believe that this is the first time I have ever seen one above 4000'.

A web search finds that they occur up to 10,000' but that must be someplace warm like Mexico. What's the highest you've ever seen one?

[larsj]

Never seen one up there Dan.  Little comfort knowing this as I was rattling around in the brush all summer.  Had a big one in my wood pile recently but I think it ran out of mice as I have not seen it for a couple of weeks.

lars

[DaveyTree]

I saw a few and one on the ridge on the other side of the San Joaquin after packing out passed the balls. Figure we were at about 9000'. Anything that high is a timber rattler. It had 12 rattles and tasted great. Had to fight off my son and his friend for the last piece.

Timbers are generally darker and thicker but not near as common. My buddy has run into several over the last couple weeks in the foothills of the western version.

[mungeclimber]

7k up in the Carson Iceberg wilderness. Never seen a man jump that high before that trip.

[susan]

Walking back from High Eagle last June, I was surprised by one that suddenly started rattling in the brush along the trail as I stepped right next to it. I screamed, jumped back, but only caught a glimpse of how big it was by how thick it was. The conditions were warm with a good amount of snow melt in spots. Not sure the elev. but that's maybe about 7500 ft. Most often we've found them resting in that common ankle deep shrub that looks like mini manzanita and is all over the ridge. I like to wear light weight shoes, but if planning to bush whack I try to wear ankle high boots except when it's really hot. Also, I try to be on the lookout before touching the many fallen logs we scramble over... especially on sunny days when there's lots of snow melt as that's when we seem to see them most. 

[NateD]

Maybe Jerry will post up a pic of a big one that has resided for years near the base of one of his routes on the south side of Squaw Dome.

[mungeclimber]

Walking back from High Eagle last June, I was surprised by one that suddenly started rattling in the brush along the trail as I stepped right next to it. I screamed, jumped back, but only caught a glimpse of how big it was by how thick it was. The conditions were warm with a good amount of snow melt in spots. ...

I remember this. Missed the pic opportunity on this one.

[susan]

Heard of another big, non-rattling rattler sighting last weekend not far from Jackass area. Guess it was just sunbathing and not bothered even though it almost got stepped on.

[Jerry]

Lots of rattlesnakes in the Squaw, Disappearing, Jackass and Fuller areas. Watch your step and look under rocks BEFORE you sit down! We named "Rattlesnake Crack" on South Squaw Dome for one that lived at the base one whole summer. Sorry Nate, I've been gone so long (guiding hiking in Zion and Bryce for nearly a month) that I can't remember how to post photos, never really did figure it out anyway.

[NateD]

No problem, Jerry. And welcome back!

[YETI]

You sure are right Jerry!

I was following a partner up a slab approach a few weeks ago, went to high step over some pine needles, and 'noticed' a 3 footer who was lying straight under my legs.

Scared the jeebs out of me. 

He was not angry, but then again they don't have to be to give you a kiss.

[susan]

Who am I kidding. Even after Yeti seeing that snake a couple of weeks ago, I've been in full swing thrashing through the woods mode again without a whole lot of attention to looking out for snattlers. Am hypervigilent for minutes at a time, then the the thrashing takes over. 

[mungeclimber]

I'm hypervigilant, but you can't see squat when thrashing. I like trails.

[susan]

True dat munge. We spent a lot of time thrashing a couple days and then at the very end of our stay John just about stepped on this guy.
 

Had to reach for the cellphone on this one

I had been on guard from the start since I almost stepped on one the first day.

[susan]

Mike, Did you get any photos of that baby rattler yesterday?
 
At base of Chiquito, I set my back pack down on some small rocks and before I stepped away noticed a baby rattler must have slithered out of those small rocks to get behind my heels. I jumped away having read these little guys can attack 3 feet away and release a full monty of venom. Anyway, beautiful snake but it had started to rise, darted it's tongue in and out, and as John said, sounding like it was getting a lot of texts as it was rattling so loud for such a little thing.

Heard somewhere that this would be a big year for snakes.