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

I hear ya.. Ryan and I have encountered a number of big rattlers in both El Moro/Laguna Coast area and especially Santiago Oaks/Irvine Park areas.. I am always nervous this time of the year when they begin to resurface looking for some heat.. it's very cool when we see a big one from a safe distance but we've had some close calls at speed where we thought they were branches and then had to lock brakes to avoid major issue.. I always just tell him to stay alert and always look ahead..

 

those are gopher snakes

 

Came up on this today in Oneill; also saw a gopher snake, but he slithered away before I could take a pic.

 

Saw this guy on the Rancho Penasquitos loop trail about a week ago.

View attachment 153143

 

Riding through the Ladera Ridge singletrack last summer, I had my head down during a climb. By the time I noticed the rattler lying across the trail it was maybe a foot away from me. My first instinct was to try to jump off the bike. Unfortunately I was clipped in. :-O Luckily I wised up before I fell down and was able to pedal away. I'm sure my heart rate jumped 20 bpm in 1 second flat. Funny thing is, the snake was completely oblivious. It didn't coil up or rattle. I'm sure he was just as surprised as I was.

Every time I go through there now, I keep my head up and examine every branch on/beside the trail. It's a PITA, but better safe than sorry.

 

I have seen rattlers galore this year so far. Almost every ride in the last two weeks. It's a bit unnnerving, especially on the singletrack. I've seen what I'm pretty sure is the same snake at the exit of Waterworks my last two times through there. Worried I might not be able to miss one one of these days.

 

Saw this mofo last Friday. Luckily I was in my truck. Otherwise I would of S'd my corduroys



Anyone know what it was/is?

 

A snake without a rattle. A non-venomous, non-threatening, non-rattlesnake? :?:

 

Saw a rattler in Aliso on the lower connector from Meadows to Wood Canyon. The bike bounce, foot stomp method cleared the bugger without incident, as always. (AKA the Lisa Simpson method). From a safe distance, stomp your feet and perhaps bounce your bike up and down. Snake will sense the vibration and head for cover. This works far better than throwing things at it or trying to move it with a stick. Bunny hopping works well too - for the first rider...

 

stole you pic as reference I saw one last friday on cactus at whitting.

 

I saw this lil fella last week up by Angelus Oaks. Sleeping under a rock my kid happened to dislodge. Luckily for everyone he was too cold to move!

 

Looks like a gopher snake. Harmless to humans but they are very good at imitating the sound of a rattlesnake when threatened, by vibrating their tail against dried brush.

 

I expect syndication payment as well as royalties.

 

That's not a rattler? The tail end looks like a rattle.

 

^^ Diamond shaped head = venomous snake (i.e., rattler).

- shud

 

last week end a group of us were with shuttle Dave and ran across a 3 foot rattle snake on the Sunset trail.

 

Just got done a Whiting-Luge loop with snakes everywhere. The X-credit before mustard there was a 4ft garter, on mustard 4' rattler, on the x-credit up to Mark's Bench a 4ft rattler, and on STT a 3-4ft rattler. All completely stretched out across the trail. Really cramp'n my PR game on Strava

 

Can you get a closer pic next time please? Really hard to see his eyes. :clap:

 

My kid and I saw this little guy stretched across the fireroad today

 

Next time!!!