SsssNAKE SeasoN ......,(merged threads)

I was riding up Cholla on a very empty Friday at Aliso, and to my surprise I came across a 3-4 foot long Garter snake. It interrupted my climb (not that i can clean it in one try anyways) but was pretty cool to see it slither right across the trail.

Several years ago while hiking our group found a small rattler. it was sitting in a bush alongside the trail, and luckily warned us with its rattle.

Anyone else have experiences with snakes/rattlers on trails?

 

just wait a couple more months and your number of snake encounters will triple when out on the dirt!

as far as my experience goes, i've come across the typical gopher and rattle snakes out on our local trails. the coolest encounter was at holy jim a few years back when we came across this guy here; a california king.

 

I figured they must be pretty common around here, but I was really surprised to find this one moving around during winter after a rain. I thought they usually only come out during the warmer months?

 

I have only ran into a snake once and it was a rattler. It was near the top of Mathis off the trail maybe a foot on the left side.

 

Thats a very large, moutain king, a lot cooler find then a cal king, mountains are tri-colored vs cream/black

Thanks for the post about the garter? sure it wasnt a gopher ? what was the coloration? Its a little earlyt o be seeing snakes other then ringnecks, sharp tails and other salamander eating snakes
I breed baja mt kings

 

The snake was pitch black. Now that I think about it, it probably wasn't a garter snake because it was pretty thick around.

 

Question for Rockin.. or anyone.

A number of years ago, I was out hiking in a small canyon with a seasonal stream and came across an orgy of the orange and brown nexts. There must have been 500 total and they were in balls in the creek.
I've always thought I would see something similar again, but have yet to.
Any idea on why they were in one canyon and I havent seen them again?

 

Like everyone else, I've seen my share of snakes on the trials.

My worst experience was while tail running at Calavera with our dog, Oso. He ended up getting bit and died 5 hours later at the vet. It was a huge snake, which it had to be to take down an 80lb lab.

My most recent encounter was also at Calavera about 2 weeks ago. Here's a photo

 

Ricky has me beat by a mile, but I've been catching, feeding, breeding, selling and raising snakes for 30+ years. Even with my fascination with all things snakey, I've only come across 2 while MTB'g.

I have noticed that garter snakes seem to come out early and tolerate cooler weather than many local snakes. One summer, we were hiking high above Bridgeport to a small lake. The nights were in the high 30's and the days were sunny but only 65. While we were sitting on the outflow, I assured my wife to be that there was "no way" any snakes would be at this elevation on such a cool day. Yep, within 5 minutes I saw and caught four or five little garters wriggling through the ice cold water.

Thanks for sharing! :clap:

 

almost ran over a cal king that looked like this at el morro one day..

 

Garter snakes are the only snake in the artic circle !!!

Breeding balls of nexts??? I have no clue what spelling error, or what that is?



O !!! newts !! cal newts im sure

 

The only snake I've encountered riding was going up Cholla, not sure what kind of snake it was.. but it was dead on a rock and it looked like someone placed it there.

 

Nice blast from the past, Guero!

 

I've seen a couple of huge rattlers on Coto West Ridge - usually in late Spring months/summer months. One of the rattlers was just off the trail and was rattling really loud - scared me almost off my bike while grinding up a hill. Saw a little gopher snake once at top of Cholla, and a little dinky rattler in the spring on Coyote Run in Aliso Woods - dude didn't move when I rode by. Saw a dinky gopher snake cruising down from Beeks Place one fall day - didn't move when I went by. Very unusual to see any snake in the winter, especially after and with all the rains. Maybe he got washed out of his hibernation burrow.

Thanks
HP

 

Year before last, I had close encounters with rattlers on 3 of 4 rides, each at different spots, and all within 2 weeks. Yeah, I've been a bit phobic since then!

I guess with all this rain, that'll mean lots of critter-feed out there, which in turn will mean lots of snakes this year. Time to practice bunny-hopping the bike! Whee!

 

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awe fu@#$%^&*

 

snakes on the trail is better than SNAKES ON A PLANE!!!!

 

Have had to spit water many times to clear a 3+ foot rattler on the top of dripping cave, crossed one many time on wood canyon - dang near ran it over as I had someone next to me, no out. The first thing I look at is the tail.

Have seen baby rattlers many times on the road back out to the church. Always be careful where you put your foot down.

Have seen a huge buck there too - late in the evening, just past the bridge crossing on wood canyon on my way back up to the park. He was beautiful with a huge rack.

 

one time a big scary rattler snake jumped out of the bushes and ate me

 

I ran into my first snake at Peters Canyon which scared the crap out of me and sent me home.