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

I know, I know.... Without a picture it did not happen. But I assure you it did.

Today while riding the Bench Trail in Sycamore Canyon I'm just humming along and I hear "SSSSS". I keep rolling along while looking at my front tire, thinking I got a flat. Meanwhile my buddy yells at me, "Dang!!! You just missed running over a good sized Rattler by about an inch."
Yikes!! I didn't even see him. Good thing I didn't hit em.
 
Today we did Pre-Ride Rwanda 25miles. This creature was well camouflaged. Ripley almost ran over it 'til we found out...it was Red Diamondback @ Tijeras.

I don't know which one is BADASS, Ripley or Red Diamondback? ;)

DSC02813-copy.jpg
 
I like those reds - they gotta be the fattest, badass rattlers around.

Saw three rattlers in LCWP today. While looking up trail at some hotties, nearly ran over one. Freaky moment.
 
The Reds are beauties... so insane when you see one up close after you thought it was a tree branch from 50 ft back.. we see at least 3-4 huge ones in Oaks/Irvine Park area each spring.. luckily they're so huge you'd have to be blind to run one over..
 
Yup, that beast was curling at the edge of the trail blended in with the trail. Ripley just passed it by almost ran over it 'til he realized it was a Diamondback. I spend times to get the shot. Gotta kneel down just to get the same eye level with him and his nasty look. Beautiful snake!
 
RED DIAMONDBACK | The Beauty and The Beast at Tijeras.

We rode Tijeras Creek trail. This creature was well camouflaged. Ripley almost ran over it 'til we found out it was a Red Diamondback rattlesnake. The biggest one we've seen so far. So meaty!!!

[video=youtube;JLbw4FCW2Go]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLbw4FCW2Go[/video]

Pics,
DSC02817-copy.jpg
DSC02813-copy.jpg
 
There's Red Diamond Backs that hang out on STT, Weir and El Moro that I've come across...so cool!
 
You guys are crazy. The sound alone makes me pedal faster the other direction, much less stopping to take pictures of a coiled rattler!
 
So after an experience I had this morning and Indy's pics above, I felt the need to find out what the striking distance of a coiled rattler might be. I'm sure it's in this thread somewhere in the last 550+ posts, but I couldn't find it with search, so on to Google. Most sites I read said between 1/3 and 1/2 their body length for strike distance. And they run from 4-6 feet length, so to be safe, figure a 3 feet strike distance. Any snake experts (Gary?) want to verify or clarify? I'm giving it way more than 3 feet myself I can tell you that.

I've seen a couple rattlers this spring and they were both fairly benign and slithering off into the bushes by the time I got anywhere close, thank goodness. But this morning, on STT, just after I hit the dirt where it's still doubletrack, I hear a hiss (oh the Stans will take care of that). It gets louder and then the rattle, really loud. I'm on the right track and just off the left track in the weeds (6-7 feet maybe) is one big pissed off coiled rattler. No I didn't get a pic. Peddled like mad then stopped to check the ol chamois. I wasn't "that" close to it, but was a bit freaked the rest of the ride that an aggressive one would attack me from the brush on the side of the single track. Maybe it had a fresh meal it was protecting? Like this thread from last year.... http://www.socaltrailriders.org/forum/general-discussion/63373-tom-bomb-making-friends.html .


 
If I see a rattlesnake on the trail with size as big as 'lil anaconda...I'll be freak out too! #-o

This video taken in San Ramon trail, CA.
[video=youtube;2tGPkdjfByc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tGPkdjfByc[/video]
 
Today's reptile sighting was a gopher snake out in the middle of the trail, catching the sun. Probably about a five footer, maybe six. Absolutely no interest in me at all. I walked the bike around behind him and kept on rolling. Interesting aside, while coming up another trail, there were a lot (at lest seven) dead lizards on the trail. Very strange, as they did not appear injured or half-eaten. Is there some sort of regular Spring die-off among some species?

8665507005_5de5a5a785_c.jpg
 

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