Lunchtime ride

[ChrisG]

I went for a quick ride todat at lunch at Aliso Wood Canyon. It was great getting during the week, hardly anyone was out there. Tons of rattlesnakes though. Didn't see any, but could hear them rattling away in the brush.

I started at the bottom entrance, straight up Cholla and down Lynx. Lynx is super fun these days, its like a luge run. I detoured onto Coyote and back out to the trail head. It was a great ride, done in little less than an hour.

[TURNERob]

I doubt those were Rattlesnakes you heard, probably those bugs (don't know what they are)....but those things are always buzzing. A R-snake wouldn't rattle unless it was pissed off or defending itself.

[ChrisG]

Originally Posted by FXRob

I doubt those were Rattlesnakes you heard, probably those bugs (don't know what they are)....but those things are always buzzing. A R-snake wouldn't rattle unless it was pissed off or defending itself.

Could be although I've heard and seen plenty of rattlers in my time and I'm pretty sure it was rattlers.

[JamR]

Originally Posted by ChrisG

Could be although I've heard and seen plenty of rattlers in my time and I'm pretty sure it was rattlers.

More than likely it's the Cicadas out there, especially if you heard the buzzing in various places in the park. Their buzz sounds very similar to a rattlesnake but is pretty persistent.

Rattlesnakes won't typically be buzzing in the bushes unless you are really disturbing them; but even when disturbed, they quickly quiet down once they are away from the source of the disturbance.

Quite often when I've coaxed them off the trail into the bushes with a stick, or my bike; many of them don't even buzz at that point. You have to get them pretty ticked off to get a good rattle out of them.

That being said, there are definitely a lot of rattlesnakes out this year and they seem to be well-fed, fat and happy.

[JamR]

Just a side note......I've been struck twice by rattlers and on both occasions no pre-warning rattle was given, so at least in my personal experience....they don't rattle unless they are really annoyed for a while.

Word of caution during the warm seasons.......watch yourself when hiking close to the brush and be careful not to do too much bushwhacking. Walking in knee high brush puts you at an elevated risk of getting struck without warning.

Adam,

What's the best thing to do when your bit by rattle snake?

Im with Rob and Adam on this one, most likely what you heard was those bugs/beetles.

[ArrrKelly]

Wow. This is a hot debate.


Adam. Dude... are you saying you got bit by rattler or did they just strike at you?

[ChrisG]

Rattlesnakes/cicadas, either way I wouldn't want to meet any one of 'em in a dark alley Bottom line, it was a great ride. Anytime I can get out there and it isn't a zoo is a bonus.

There have been tons of snakes this year though, I saw a baby rattler on the paved access road this weekend and you see lots of snake trails going across the Wood Canyon Rd. Just keep looking way ahead of where you're going especially on slow climbs.

Have a good wekend

CG

[TheFarLeft]

so those things are cicades

I was always wondering what they were....

like JamR said, you really need to provoke a rattler to hear it rattle. It's more of a loud hiss than rattle too.

I second chumbawumba's question, JamR. What's the best thing to do when bitten?

[pshloss]

I researched this a little and there are slightly conflicting opinions. Here is my summary:

1) Only about 4 deaths per year occur due to snakebite in the US. So keep calm and get help. The main thing is getting help ASAP with minimal effort by the victim. If it is downhill to the car and not very far, I would suggest riding down if the victim is up for it. Otherwise, keep victim calm and still and call for or ride for help.

2) They do say suctioning (without incision, using a snakebite kit type of suction) is mildly useful if performed right away. Here's recommended device costing $14.

http://www.outdoors-online.net/Merch...tegory_Code=BS


3) A constricting band, like a belt or bandana applied with moderate force between wound and heart (slow blood flow, not cut it off) was recommended by an Australian site. A tournaquet (cutting off blood flow) is NOT recommended.

4) Keep wound area lower than heart (to minimze blood flow).

5) Do not cut the area or apply ice packs.

**The #1 message I would give: Don't ride alone, especially in remote wilderness areas. The woman who survived the lion attack was riding with someone at a time of day when the park was busy. The man who died was riding alone during a time of day when the park was pretty empty.