Nevertheless, it is a good walk, and mostly in the shade at least early in the morning, so we headed up. I guess we feel we have to do this hike once a week to keep confidence in our ability to do so, if that makes sense.With the campground being closed, I don't think we will see a lot of other people on the trail. Not that it ever is overrun, except on Easter Sunday. Perhaps we will see more wildlife; there was a lot more scurrying off into the bushes today, but that may also be because the weather is heating up. Temperatures are forecast to be in the low 100's in a couple of days.
Dan and Emma walked right past this black tailed rattlesnake, and I was sorry to see that most of his rattles had come off. Bad news for those of us who respect him and appreciate a warning. We usually see the western diamondback here around the house, in the mesquite grasslands, but this one is common in the oak scrub at a little higher elevation. Yesterday this little gopher snake greeted me as I opened the potting shed. I hope he stays and keeps the rodent population in check.
2 comments:
Anneke, only you could make a snake in the shed seem like a good thing, altho I do agree. Last spring I found both a black snake and a garter in my compost pile and was thoroughly delighted. Plenty of little critters for them to live on around the yard. But your snakes are prettier than mine are!
Snakes are very much part of the environment, and I think they just get a bad rap. But I must admit that I am careful when I open doors (take a look at the June '09 entry labeled "Robbed"), and where I put my hands. This one took my breath away, initially.
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