maple springs today

[m210]

so today, we were climbing up maple springs. about 1/2 way up, i see a nice 3' rattler making its way accross the road. it was taking its time, and not aggressive, so we jumped off the bikes to check it out, and take a photo (from a distance). right when the snake was about to cross and move into the rocky shoulder of the dirt road, some a-hole on a motor bike comes ripping down, sees the snake and aims right for it. he managed to run over it right when the snake was on the rockiest part of the road, and broke open the snake's skin about 1/3rd down his length. of course, the snake freaks and tries to get out of there, but can't make it up the bank of the road and starts to head back towards us. we jump back on the bikes and continue on, but this really bothered me...

i ride for all the reasons those of you reading this do: fitness, racing, adrenaline rush, self expression and for the joy of being outdoors. i'm not a snake lover, but i do love nature... and snakes happen to be a part of that. seeing any animal intentionally hit like that is so unnecessary.

i know there are moto riders in this forum, and i'm sure many will say "maybe he didnt see it". bullshit. he saw it, and aimed for it. the path the bike took was intentional. there was more then enough room to go between us and the snake if he had wanted to. its that sort of destructive attitude that ruins and shuts down trail systems.

i know that that rider most likely isnt a member of str, but in the chance that he is, maybe he'd like to answer why he did that? what did you gain from that?

all i can say to everyone is please respect the trails and wildlife that is out there... what we have here in california is pretty amazing compared to the rest of the u.s.

[Waldo]

That really, really sucks. That's the time you hope the poor snake somehow gets caught up in his tires and thrown up into the jerk's lap.

Alternately, throwing a Heckler into his spokes as he went by probably would have taught him a lesson.
Just a thought

[ocrider]

I saw 3 foot rattler on Maple springs once cut in half. Figured it was froma motorcycle cuz the entrails were dragged down the road. Pretty sad...

[m210]

yes it is....

[genusmtbkr5]

That Totally Sux! If you don't respect nature, nature will have no mercy on you! He better hope he never has a breakdown out there!

[Pain Freak]

Kharma works, he'll get his!