Well, tonight’s walk didn’t quit go like I thought it would.
There is an “access road” that goes to the fire break (Spring Trail) where the old entrance to the preserve was. It not a trail for visitors, it is what staff and volunteers use, mainly to get the tractor to the fire break and parts of the Creek Trail that is not wooded to mow it down for maintenance. Part of that access road is some of the thickest and most lush grass I’ve ever seen, which a path is kept mowed. I love using that path when I do my walks, especially in the evening…..that is where I both start and end my loop.
Now the unmowed grass is about thigh high now, with all the rains. And during the 4.68 inch day, the road (about 10yds away) had major run off that pushed all the piles of mowed grass into the standing grass and gave the outer part of the path a pushed out side ways look.
In the middle of the grassy part of the access road, on the right side of this in the pushed over part, about 3 ft from me, I see this tail, with a rattle on it. I look down the length of it (which was about 3 ft) and I see the back of the head of snake, with the shape that confirmed that what I was seeing on the tail, wasn’t my imagination. It was a rattlesnake!
I FROZE! Then I’m like, I need to get a picture, but I need to back up. So as I’m trying to decide between my point and shot pentax (OF course I didn’t have the canon with the zoom….would’ve been too easy) I texted ToRn…rattlesnake, trying not to move so not to get his attention! I then grab my pentax and take a step back. He felt the vibrations of my step, coiled up, looked right at me, rattled his tail and hissed!
Needless to say, I backed up much more and much quicker. By the time I got about 20yds away, I texted ToRn about it, told him to bring the camera, but he had issues of his own. (I’ll let him post about that….he is lucky he didn’t break his neck…..ggeezz) My heart is racing!
I go back down the path slowly, eyeing the rattler and did get a few pictures with my point and shot. So not the best, but proof that I encountered him and survived.
I went back to Admiral Ackbar to get the canon, of course, when I went back, he wasn’t there. But there was no way in hell was I taking that path when he was just there. I wanted to give him time to go where he needed to go. Not sure when I’ll be taking that path again.
Good thing that I’m always watching my feet (I’m a bit klutzy) so I saw him before he saw me. And with him being about 3 ft, I knew that was at least the minimum of his striking range.
When it comes to snakes, I love snakes…NONPOISONOUS ones. The rest I don’t want to encounter unless it is behind glass…lol I’ve held an 18ft python….so overall snakes don’t freak me out.
I almost went back to the rig and say screw my walk tonight, but I didn’t want fear to rule me. Of course, when I finished my walk I REALLY watched the trail and my feet and every stick on the path made me look twice and then saw one that made me jump….ggeezz But I did my walk, just no where near as relaxing as it normally is. Hoping that I’m not freaked out tomorrow. We’ve been here since the 21st of Apr and been in the desert since the 14th of Apr and that was the first one I’ve seen in the wild. I have been told that this is the time of year you start seeing them more and I know Larry has had at least 2 that I know of down at the Paton’s House.
I don’t think I’m going to be going off trails much, especially with all the rains, everything has grown so big and so fast.
Honestly, I would’ve felt much better encountering a mountain lion. I have a much better idea on the mannerisms of cats. They would just tear out my throat if I screw up and I’d be died quick, not given poison…icks.
Here are the pictures, I’m going to finish off my whiskey, read some Sherlock Holmes and get some sleep.