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Scott McNamara
climber
Tucson, Arizona
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Jul 24, 2016 - 08:04am PT
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Sidewinders are very common where we live.
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Brokedownclimber
Trad climber
Douglas, WY
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Jul 24, 2016 - 08:16am PT
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I have a population of Buzzworms on my ranch, and seldom allow my dog her freedom during "snake season." She's had the rattlesnake vaccine, which according to my vet, reduces the severity of envenomation from "possibly fatal," down to "serious veterinary emergency." The same vaccine manufacturer has also begun selling a similar vaccine for horses, and they would have an excellent market in my neighborhood. One of the neighbors has 360 horses.
I keep a "snake hoe" handy by the front deck--just in case.
I recall seeing one big Buzzworm sighting on the way down from the base of El Cap; 2 Brits were fascinated by one who was simply "passing through, and were sorta' bent over looking at "a big fukkin snake," as they put it, and asked what it was. I told them to get the H*ll back because it was a rattlesnake. No, it never stopped travelling to rattle at them, but simply minded it's own business. Probably about 4 1/2 feet long, and rotund.
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Fossil climber
Trad climber
Atlin, B. C.
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Jul 24, 2016 - 09:19am PT
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I seem to recall that Roper was aiding a route to the right of Bridalveil Falls and got struck at by a snake back in the crack. He bailed. I also heard that someone tried the crack again months later and it was still there and still defensive. They can go a long time without eating - but maybe he picked up some lizards or something in the meantime.
I once guided a couple up the regular Royal Arches route. I had finished the lieback above the Rotten Log pitch and was bringing up the guy, who suddenly let out a shout, jumped off and said there was a rattler in the crack. I had climbed right past it completely unaware. Had a helluva time getting him and his wife past the roadblock. It would have been quite an event if the guide had been hit that far up.
Also took a guy off Lower Yosemite Falls who had been hit in the finger. At the time the first aid wisdom was apply a ligature and spray the bite with ethyl chloride to cool it. Probably did more damage than the bite.
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dee ee
Mountain climber
Of THIS World (Planet Earth)
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Jul 24, 2016 - 11:07am PT
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I was birding and stepped (in sandals) within 2-3 inches of this rattler several times before I saw him. Glad he was mellow.
Aren't the tongues awesome?
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zBrown
Ice climber
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Jul 24, 2016 - 11:37am PT
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'Fraid of Black Mambas too.
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tuolumne_tradster
Trad climber
Leading Edge of North American Plate
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Jul 27, 2016 - 08:42am PT
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Flip Flop
climber
Earth Planet, Universe
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Jul 27, 2016 - 08:52am PT
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Lots of buzzworm encounters at 7000' now. I blame Obama.
Word on the PCT is that strikes are up and earbuds were the common denominator.
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skcreidc
Social climber
SD, CA
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Jul 27, 2016 - 09:05am PT
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Same species (Southern Pacific Rattlesnake) in the same area (Mission Trails), but two different colorations. I have not seen very many red diamonds (Crotalus ruber) this year for some reason.
Word on the PCT is that strikes are up and earbuds were the common denominator.
Well, they don't take well to getting stepped on by dog or man.
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Flip Flop
climber
Earth Planet, Universe
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Jul 27, 2016 - 09:34am PT
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I got the clear message on the Loch Leven Trail last week. Totally black snake. I'm keeping my ears open.
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WyoRockMan
climber
Grizzlyville, WY
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Jun 17, 2017 - 06:52pm PT
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One of the reasons I don't wear ear buds when out hiking.
I would have stepped right on him, had I not heard him one step sooner.
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Charlie D.
Trad climber
Western Slope, Tahoe Sierra
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Jun 17, 2017 - 07:18pm PT
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Flying into Bozeman I struck up a conversation with the big tall burly Montanan seated next to me. I asked him what he does and so goes the conversation:
Him: I have an unusual job, I rid people's property of snakes.
Me: Rattlesnakes?
Him: Yep.
Me: How do you catch them?
Him: In the fall I attach a transmitter to a snake in order to find their den.
Me: Really?
Him: Yep
Me: Then what?
Him: Well I locate the den and cement it in with mortar with a PVC pipe coming out so when they come out in the spring I can gather them up in a bag.
Me: How many do you catch?
Him: Hard to tell but maybe 60 or more depending on the den.
Me: Holy sh*t, what do you do with them....kill em?
Him: After giving me a hard stare, "why would I do that...a man's got to make a living".
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Jun 18, 2017 - 08:51am PT
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Olde Blighty sucks for a herp lover - not snake one in over two weeks! :-(
It doesn't 'elp that they've only three species!
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Fritz
Social climber
Choss Creek, ID
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Jun 18, 2017 - 11:20am PT
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Speaking of Montana, my world speed record for seeing a rattler was on a butte north of Great Falls. It was a Sunday in early April & I had all day to get to Kalispell, so I thought I would go for a hike & do some fossil-hunting. I got out of my car about two-hundred feet from the butte's summit, after driving up a pretty-good road that ended at a communications array. Grabbed a rock hammer and took about 10 steps, before I noticed a Huge coiled rattler that did not rattle. I retreated & thought about how many rattlers there could be around, if I saw one in my first 30' of hiking. Then I left.
A redneck outdoor shop employee in Billings once told me a good way to know you were close to a rattlesnake den, was when you started seeing a lot of empty cartridges, especially shotgun shells. He said the locals had lists of dens that they would shoot up every spring, without affecting the long-term quantity of rattlers.
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Charlie D.
Trad climber
Western Slope, Tahoe Sierra
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Jun 18, 2017 - 01:34pm PT
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^^^love snakes but must say a dozen or more rattlers like that creeps me out.
As kids in junior high we kept snakes (gophers and king snakes) in aquariums, fed them mice we raised. My buddy a fellow snake enthusiast catches a rattlesnake brings it home to his aquarium. Within a week it escapes. He lives in a big house with his mom and dad + 8 siblings. His dad was a tough SOB who would kick your ass so he didn't dare tell anyone. They found it under the couch downstairs in the living room some time later all dried up. We later moved on to climbing and more foolery. That wasn't the only incident the old man was unaware of but the one that was snake related.
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StahlBro
Trad climber
San Diego, CA
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Jun 18, 2017 - 06:20pm PT
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Waiting to congratulate you on your top out.
Fortunately it was cold and it was not that enthusiastic.
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ontheedgeandscaredtodeath
Social climber
SLO, Ca
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Jun 18, 2017 - 06:49pm PT
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Used to see them all the time on fires in the desert. One time this guy on our crew startled one and it tried to strike him. Total dumb luck but it hit the shovel he was carrying instead of his leg. He was pretty shaken up but the rest of us had a good laugh!
Anyone climb at Sugarloaf on a hot day? What a nest of vipers!!!
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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Jun 18, 2017 - 07:00pm PT
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Landscape with Reptile; Rattlesnakes in an Urban World by Thomas Palmer is a thoughtful read.
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fgw
climber
portland, or
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Jun 19, 2017 - 08:47am PT
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midway up pitch 2 in El Potrero:
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