Woah Nelly!!!

June 7

A few hours into my hike this morning I passed within 2-3 feet of a rattlesnake in the bushes. Heard half a rattle (maybe it's true what people have been saying about them evolving to rattle less or not at all b/c all the ones that do have been getting killed), some hissing, and even what sounded like a huff from it. I immediately stopped and began scanning, finally finding it, or at least part of it. Slowly moved away and by changing my angle of view could pick it out. Mean black looking thing, slowly coiling itself into its defensive posture.

Stopped by a river to soak the feet (cold water!) and eat an early lunch.

And then began the detour due to fire damage from a previous year. 14 or so miles of dirt road walking, most of it jeep/OHV trails, which meant lots of ups and downs, flooded ruts and uneven, sometimes rocky, road. What I thought would be a breeze of a day ended up being quite tiring.

At one point late in the afternoon I'd stopped to take a leak in the shade off to the side of the road and while looking around saw another rattler. This one a little ways away, trying to climb a steep rock face. Took a closer look after I was done (don't think it ever noticed me as it didn't react defensively despite it being in a pretty vulnerable position. It was amazing watching its body contracting, slithering, and stretching as it moved up the wall of rock. Very cool.

Heard and saw an eagle or hawk of some sort screaching as it rode the wind. Reminds me, watched a bird at lunch as it managed to ride the wind and maintain a perfectly still position - funny and amazing at the same time. Saw a vulture as well later in the day - it passed me by as it realized I was actually still moving :)

Then late in the day, as the sun was setting, nature began to call. Dropped the pack, grabbed the trowel, TP, and hand sanitizer and began climbing uphill off the trail, looking for a good spot to dig a hole and do my biz. Was lovin how easy the digging was when I noticed something moving not two feet away from my foot. As soon as I noticed how it was moving and the shape of the thing I jumped half a step away. Not until then did it start its constant rattle as it continued moving away and out of the hole near where I was digging. Woah. Then I started noticing that the hillside was riddled with holes. Believe it or not there was a moment of hesitation as I gauged pressure, lol. The holes hadn't phased me before as I'd seen holes all over the place in areas all along the trail so far and all kinds of things coming out of them; mice, lizards (the biggest constant out here in these dry SoCal areas), ants, bees, etc. It hadn't dawned on me that not ten minutes earlier had been the first time I'd seen a snake coming out of a hole - a garter, in the middle of the trail, which upon sensing my presence began its comical and unsuccessful attempt to slither backwards into the hole it had just been exiting. Anyway, needless to say I soon abandoned the hole I'd been digging. I then chose a spot right off the trail (w/ no apparent holes), taking the very slight risk that someone might come across me in my very compromising pose that late in the day :)


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Location:Mile 317-ish