Close call with Mr. Rattler

mtnbikerdude87

mtnbikerdude87

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I had a run in with Mr. Rattler today. As Im heading down Rock-It, I see a fat snake crossing the trail. I yelled out some obscene words and slammed in the brakes. Since I was heading downhill, I manage to endo right in front of the snake. I was probably half-a-foot in front of it. It started to rattle and began to coil up. As this is happening Im thinking to myself: "Dont bite me" and I was screaming like a lilttle girl at this point. I managed to get out of the snakes way and after he preceived me as no threat, he went on his merry way. After that, I still was in shock so it was hard to concentrate on rock-it. What a close call!
 
mtnbikerdude87 said:
I had a run in with Mr. Rattler today. As Im heading down Rock-It, I see a fat snake crossing the trail. I yelled out some obscene words and slammed in the brakes. Since I was heading downhill, I manage to endo right in front of the snake. I was probably half-a-foot in front of it. It started to rattle and began to coil up. As this is happening Im thinking to myself: "Dont bite me" and I was screaming like a lilttle girl at this point. I managed to get out of the snakes way and after he preceived me as no threat, he went on his merry way. After that, I still was in shock so it was hard to concentrate on rock-it. What a close call!
Click to expand...
scary stuff man. But now its another story to tell.
 
I seen a similar situation once where a friend of mine was standing 6 inches away from a coiled rattler (after he want OTB) that wasn"t rattling till he walked off about two feet.
 
man that is a close one! i was heading down lynx on a pretty late ride (around 8pm) and i'm going at a pretty good pace since it is a few hundred feet from the start... when out of no where a deer comes flying down the hillsideat full speed and leaps across the trail about 10 feet from me. man that really was a shock and kept me on my toes for the rest of the descent. during the same ride we also saw a baby rattler and a tarantula
 
I've had the same experience twice now out in El Moro. The last time freaked me out so bad I cut my ride short and went back to the car w/ my tail between my legs... Yeah, I'm a wuss.

Glad to hear you're okay.

Shannon
 
Not to second guess you, per se, but wouldn't it have been safer to keep riding past the snake? And, as much as I don't like to hurt animals (but, in a choice between them or me, I choose me), couldn't you have just run it over if you couldn't pass it? Rattlers can only strike half their body-length and even then they pretty much have to be coiled to get a strike at you. It just doesn't seem like the snake would be able to whip its head around and get me as I went over it. Either way, I think that's safer than doing a soil sample right in front of Crotalus viridis herlleri.

On a similar note, when I was riding the San Sevaine fireroad about two weeks ago I came across a fat rattlesnake. He was just finishing going across the road and I saw him before he saw me. Truthfully, I thought it quite beautiful and was taking a good look at him, from six feet away on the other side of the fireroad, when, as I drew even with him, he began to buzz! Damn! I knew, logically, that I was in no danger, but the adrenaline started pumping anyway and my feet shook a little on the pedals in response. It was awesome! He and I parted ways, both probably a little startled, yet safe. Snakes are a trip!
 
I think Gurp may be right, not saying I would not do the same thing. I would more than likely end up over the bars as well. Even if they do manage to get you they dont always inject venom when they bite.
 
Gurp - I know what you mean, I've ridden past rattlers many times and I don't get freaked out. I usually get off the bike to check them out but when they start rattling it sends an involuntary chill up my spine even though I know I'm in no danger.

What did freak me out was having a fox jump out of the bushes when I was right next to him at El Moro. Poor thing was likely more scared of me and took off down the trail only to be chased back up by Dean and Lance. He didn't know which way to run.

Seeing wildlife is great
 
Glad you are OK Steve, but I would have liked to watch that one.

I am always seeing sticks in the trail thinking that they are snakes. So far many snakes, no problems.

Last Sunday Scott got a major rush from a pissed off rattler he came to close to on Silver Moccasin. The rattlers in the San Gabriels seem to be alot darker in color.

Picture is of the second snake Scott found that day. He was pretty good natured until I hung out too long and got a little to close. Right after this picture he turned around to let me know to leave him alone.

I am glad that we don't see many Mojave Greens, they can get agressive.
 

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gurp13 said:
Not to second guess you, per se, but wouldn't it have been safer to keep riding past the snake? And, as much as I don't like to hurt animals (but, in a choice between them or me, I choose me), couldn't you have just run it over if you couldn't pass it? Rattlers can only strike half their body-length and even then they pretty much have to be coiled to get a strike at you. It just doesn't seem like the snake would be able to whip its head around and get me as I went over it. Either way, I think that's safer than doing a soil sample right in front of Crotalus viridis herlleri.
Click to expand...

You know I had a similar experience with a rattlesnake about a month ago. I was riding along the double track near the road and there was a snake on the trail. I figured I would ride past it and I did. As I was passing the snake, it jumped at me, but didnt get me. So I guess I was still scarred from that incident. And I didnt know that they cant strike that far, but I didnt want to risk it.
 
tkblazer said:
man that is a close one! i was heading down lynx on a pretty late ride (around 8pm) and i'm going at a pretty good pace since it is a few hundred feet from the start... when out of no where a deer comes flying down the hillsideat full speed and leaps across the trail about 10 feet from me. man that really was a shock and kept me on my toes for the rest of the descent. during the same ride we also saw a baby rattler and a tarantula
Click to expand...

me too. a few years back while riding in el moro heading down "slow and easy" as I am railing a turn a deer came out of the brush and jumped over my head, totally freaked me out!!! f/n crazy - in the years to follow i still dont think i have seen another deer there
 
DAMN- I have had two snake encounters near Rock-It/Coyote. My third was an actual bang up- I hopped up onto a trail and my front tire landed ON the snake-

Danger or not, anything with fewer legs than me gets the look of disgust.
 
i've ran over a few snakes, never stopped to be scared of it...i guess im lucky thought because my eyes arent very good and i havent really done many rides with my contacts in, so i dont know its a snakes until my front tire is 2 feet away from it and then when i finally realize it was a snake im already 10 feet past it
 
Dean, that rattler you pictured above is exactly like the one I saw. Heavy black banding like that. Kewl! :D And, yet, scary. :bang:
 
Seems to be the prominate species out this way. I see more of these darker ones. It seems like the ones in the desert are more lighter and tend to be more docile (excluding the mojave greens).Ranger told me they're a subspecies of a certain kind that I forgot what he called them. I think I've seen more rattlers this year then ever before. I've had a few close calls too.
 

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