Post One Photo and Sentence or Comment

I've seen a lot of rattlesnakes (esp the local San Clemente trails near Pendleton - mostly the gray and black with some dk brown variety) but recently I was climbing Cholla and encountered an intensely reddish-orange rattlesnake and it had very distinctive black and white banding on it's tail before the rattle. I had stopped for hikers coming down on a steep part of trail and couldn't get restarted so pushed further up on the smooth side of trail when I heard the rattle. It was tucked under a bush on the edge of trail about 1.5' from me - way too close for comfort. Didn't get a picture while I was jumping out of the way so the attached is what I could find on internet. I've never seen one like that in my years riding SoCal - are they common in Aliso/Woods Canyon area?

View attachment 74429

I'm not sure but I've never seen one that looked like that. Down in San Diego County, I always saw the same type over and over and over. They ae more of a blah brown color. I'm sure @SnakeCharmer knows what they are. I call them rattlesnakes :D
 
I think it was a Red Diamond Rattlesnake from what I found on internet(?). Thought their range was more southerly (N Baja) but this article indicates most of SoCal too.

Screen Shot 2021-04-12 at 12.47.49 PM.png
 
I think it was a Red Diamond Rattlesnake from what I found on internet(?). Thought their range was more southerly (N Baja) but this article indicates most of SoCal too.

View attachment 74431


Ah yes the Mojave Red rattle snake.
I've ran across number of them here in OC. Quite attractive, in a keep the f away from me cause I can kill you, kind of way.

Riding on Saturday a skunk ran across the trail about 10 feet in front of me. Its Tail went up as it looked at me and I backed up quick as possible. I'm more afraid of the skunks than the snakes! Whew.....:sick:
 
I've seen a lot of rattlesnakes (esp the local San Clemente trails near Pendleton - mostly the gray and black with some dk brown variety) but recently I was climbing Cholla and encountered an intensely reddish-orange rattlesnake and it had very distinctive black and white banding on it's tail before the rattle. I had stopped for hikers coming down on a steep part of trail and couldn't get restarted so pushed further up on the smooth side of trail when I heard the rattle. It was tucked under a bush on the edge of trail about 1.5' from me - way too close for comfort. Didn't get a picture while I was jumping out of the way so the attached is what I could find on internet. I've never seen one like that in my years riding SoCal - are they common in Aliso/Woods Canyon area?

View attachment 74429
The upper snake is So Cal's most common, the Southern Pacific. The reddish one below is one you only see in da OC or South as far as coastal regions are concerned. They are out in the desert as well. I've seen several in the Coachella Valley. That one is called the Red Diamond rattler. A real beauty!
 
I tend to follow conditions. Too much wind, too many people...I don’t need much excuse for a “rest day.” :oops::cool:

Weekends in the San Gabes are an exercise in patience... I don't mind it- probably because I also get to ride it during the week when it's a lot less crowded. Weekday runs are for fun, flow, and PRs. Weekends are for practicing individual features and chilling as the conga lines pass. I'm in the minority on this one...

I imagine when the weather gets warm, there will be fewer people up there. When I did a Strawberry + Front Range solo ride in the right conditions, I had the whole 30 mile stretch to myself. :inlove: Of course, "right conditions" meant my GPS showed 126 on the pavement above Sunset. :Roflmao
 
Weekends in the San Gabes are an exercise in patience... I don't mind it- probably because I also get to ride it during the week when it's a lot less crowded. Weekday runs are for fun, flow, and PRs. Weekends are for practicing individual features and chilling as the conga lines pass. I'm in the minority on this one...

I imagine when the weather gets warm, there will be fewer people up there. When I did a Strawberry + Front Range solo ride in the right conditions, I had the whole 30 mile stretch to myself. :inlove: Of course, "right conditions" meant my GPS showed 126 on the pavement above Sunset. :Roflmao

I saw a grand total of 5 people on the way to and from Mt Pacifico last Friday. It was serene.
 
Back
Top