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Dick Erb
climber
June Lake, CA
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Topic Author's Original Post - Jul 14, 2011 - 12:39pm PT
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Judy and I took a walk in one of our favorite places below Olmsted Point last week. I was about two steps behind Judy crossing some slabby blocks of granite when I saw what I first thought was a ground squirrel appear right behind Judy's foot as she stepped off of one rock down to another. WOH, I suddenly realized it was a snake as more of it appeared and it started buzzing. A couple of quick steps and Judy was clear but adrenalized. I was pretty excited as well as I whipped out my camera. The snake did some nice posturing and rattling and looking quite threatening. Then after less than a minute it went right back into its hole. I peered over the edge of the higher rock and could see it through a triangular opening about a foot or so down there. I was thinking that when Judy stepped down near the doorway the snake made a strike but came up just short because of its position, and fortunately Judy kept moving as it came up out of the hole. That's the closest I have ever seen any body come to getting snake bit.
The rattler was the largest I have seen since years ago at Lover's Leap. I may have over estimated it at almost four feet and quite thick. It lives on a southerly facing slope at just over 8200' about 3/4 mile SSW of the Olmsted parking area. That is about two thousand feet higher than I have ever seen a rattler, and snakes were not at all on our minds. I blew up the photos to get a good look at the tail and counted thirteen buttons on the rattle in one photo. Guessing two molts a year at that elevation would make the age about six years. I suppose we will have to reevaluate our assumptions about Rattlesnake habitat.
I have read of rattlesnakes occurring that high or higher in the southern Sierra, but no one I know has ever seen them that high. I wonder where the highest encounters have been among Super Topo posters. My friend Eric Beck says there is no better forum for the discussion of high altitude serpents.
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G_Gnome
Trad climber
In the mountains... somewhere...
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Jul 14, 2011 - 12:55pm PT
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I saw the biggest rattler of my life (at least 6 feet long and as big around as my arm) up the north fork of the Kings river out of Courtwright Resevoir. It had to be nearly 9,000 feet of elevation. Fortunately he saw me and started rattling before I got to him on the only trail in the vacinity.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Jul 14, 2011 - 01:03pm PT
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The guy in the photo perhaps just said "Hold my beer, and watch this!"
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tallguy
Trad climber
eastside
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Jul 14, 2011 - 01:05pm PT
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Definitely climate change. I'd say that in less that 5 years we'll be battling swarms of thick rattlers on whitney and russell routes.
These are the golden years, enjoy climbing before it gets taken over by the poisonous serpents.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Jul 14, 2011 - 01:05pm PT
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Nice shots, Dick. He is a healthy looking N Pacific, Crotalus oreganus oreganus, but I doubt he is 4'. But maybe! :-)
Mineral King is 7800' and they are thick as fleas on a hound there. On the
west and south-facing slopes above they are found to 10K. It is all about
slope aspect and habitat.
According to CaliforniaHerps.com:
"Inhabits rocky hillsides, talus slopes and outcrops, rocky stream courses, rocky areas in grasslands, mixed woodlands, montane forests, pinyon juniper, sagebrush. Sea level to around 11,000 ft."
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PhilG
Trad climber
The Circuit, Tonasket WA
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Jul 14, 2011 - 01:07pm PT
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Good question, Dick (and beautiful pictures). I've seen them at the top of North Dome (southern exposure).
This far North (the Okanogan) I haven't seen any above 2000 ft.
Locker: Now that's a snake!
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TwistedCrank
climber
Ideeho-dee-do-dah-day boom-chicka-boom-chicka-boom
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Jul 14, 2011 - 01:08pm PT
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I don't hate many things. Rattlers make me feel like I've been chugging my share of Haterade.
They've been doing well in the Idaho hills this year - fatter than I've seen them in a long time.
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Branscomb
Trad climber
Lander, WY
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Jul 14, 2011 - 01:09pm PT
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I think they are moving up in elevation all over the Western US, with warming conditions. In the last 10 years I've seen them higher and higher in the Sinks Canyon. Where there used to be a few in the Main Area, they are now almost inescapable in the summer and fall.
As conditions are better for them higher, they are just exploiting new habitat possibliites. I leave them alone but they give me at least one good heart palpitation a year.
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this just in
climber
north fork
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Jul 14, 2011 - 01:11pm PT
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My highest was probably 7,500 on Shuteye Ridge. Both my dog and I walked right over it, then my brother pointed it out. One of those times where you're too busy looking at rocks when you should be looking at the ground. I was a little shocked my dog didn't pick up on it, though. It wasn't too big, but it was one of the coolest I've seen. A dark Diamond Back that blended in perfect with the bark, needles, and dirt. Never rattled, just calmly laid still and that's how we left him/her.
I've always wondered the same question, so thanks for the thread.
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survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
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Jul 14, 2011 - 01:11pm PT
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Good one Dick!!
Who else has rattler pix?
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msiddens
Trad climber
Mountain View
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Jul 14, 2011 - 01:12pm PT
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wow, great first altitude sickness, then sunburns and now what, rattlers? Its officially over and we're going to hell in a handbasket.
:-)
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Jul 14, 2011 - 01:16pm PT
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Who else has rattler pix?
I'd have to scan the ones I took from 10 inches. I mounted the camera to
a stick and put a cable release on it. Then I set the lens to its minimum
focus and shoved it right up in his face. He never struck cause he knew it
was fruitless.
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Nibs
Trad climber
Humboldt, CA
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Jul 14, 2011 - 01:17pm PT
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11,000ft?? yikes!
would not have expected a rattler at Olmsted - thanks for the heads up.
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neversummer
Trad climber
30 mins. from suicide USA
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Jul 14, 2011 - 01:24pm PT
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Definitely want to "train" my new dog to snakes... anyone got the beta?
I do know that my vet offers rattler vaccines, not sure how well that works but worth checking out.
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TYeary
Social climber
State of decay
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Jul 14, 2011 - 01:26pm PT
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As the climate slowly warms up over the years their nich will be pushed up higher and higher. Not uncommon to see "buzzworms" over 7000' in the San Gabriels now either!
TY
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froodish
Social climber
Portland, Oregon
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Jul 14, 2011 - 01:30pm PT
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Pretty healthy looking one at Suicide Rock (near the base of Hair Lip) in '09:
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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Jul 14, 2011 - 01:32pm PT
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Seen 'em up to 9,000'.
Let the camera get warm in the sun first. Then it will strike at it. But you are not very likely to be fast enough to click on it. Use a video camera.
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Gary
climber
Desolation Basin, Calif.
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Jul 14, 2011 - 01:35pm PT
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Tony, we saw a buzz worm at 8000' on the summit of Pacifico back in the '80s. In '07 we saw a snake, not a rattler, at 11,000', at the base of C. King.
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Eric Beck
Sport climber
Bishop, California
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Jul 14, 2011 - 01:38pm PT
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Lori and I were leading a Sierra Club hike on the Yucaipa Ridge (San Bernardino Mtns) and came upon one at 8000. Saw a big one at the spring on the Half Dome trail and also below Snake Dike, both perhaps 7000.
Folklore has it that there are none in the Lake Tahoe basin. I never saw one, but considering that they are thriving just over the hill at Lovers leap I am sceptical.
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M. Volland
Trad climber
Grand Canyon
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Jul 14, 2011 - 01:43pm PT
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I was stuck at by a rattlesnake while trail running from Glen Aulin to Merced Lake HSC. I sensed movement and looked down mid stride to see half of a snake, straight as an arrow between my legs. I surprised it and it struck, but it missed. I have not ran trails since.
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