That's not a baby shaking that rattle

[neverwashasbeen]

Hal, I would guess it was a Mitchell's. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crotalus_m ... ii_pyrrhus

My thoughts on the dangers of getting bit. The snake is as afraid of you as you are of it, unless of course you are an adult make, been drinking and trying to catch it. The rattle I've found has been an effective warning many times over the years. The only people I've met who were bitten were a preteen girl trying to pick up a "cute" baby (no rattles yet) and a transient who crawled into his sleeping bag and found one had taken up residence prior to his arrival. None of my hiking friends have been bitten. As far as hiking alone, what difference will it truly make if you get bit? The solace of companionship, but you still need outside help. The last thing you want to do is be physically active and spread the venom faster, especially since some of the snakes in the San Jac area have neurotoxins similar to the Mojave Green. Without the helicopter will you have to hike or can you wait for help? It would be a tough decision that I hope none of us ever has to make.

I appreciated the discussion on communication devices, some good information.

BTW, I saw my first Rattlesnake of the season in April on the Skyline.

[halhiker]

[quote="neverwashasbeen"]Hal, I would guess it was a Mitchell's. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crotalus_m ... ii_pyrrhus

That was my guess. Looking at pictures, it's amazing the color difference within the same species. The description of its habitat was particularly telling. Found on rocky hilltops and associated mostly with arid areas strewn with rocks and boulders. That's where I was for sure.

[Rob]

This morning I had my second encounter of the year, and both times he(she?) was crossing the trail. The first guy was moving slowly, so I snapped several photos and counted rattles later. The guy I met this morning was moving quickly and disappeared into brush before I could point and click -- therefore no photo.

[Mike P]

Hal, I would guess it was a Mitchell's. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crotalus_m ... ii_pyrrhus

Yup, a Speckled Rattlesnake, for sure. (aka Mitchell's Rattelsnake) They tend not to be very aggressive. Nice pics, Hal!

[magikwalt]

Thanks for the clarification Tim Le. The part that interested me was its ability to use a repeater station.

The Garmin Rino 530HCx combines a powerful, waterproof 5 watt FRS/GMRS radio with a full featured hand-held GPS! As a two way radio, the Garmin Rino 530 HCx supports all 22 FRS/GMRS channels, and even supports 8 GMRS repeater frequencies.

I was hoping to make use of the repeater sites that are being mapped along the PCT.

[Tim Le]

The Garmin Rino 530HCx combines a powerful, waterproof 5 watt FRS/GMRS radio with a full featured hand-held GPS! As a two way radio, the Garmin Rino 530 HCx supports all 22 FRS/GMRS channels, and even supports 8 GMRS repeater frequencies.

Whoops! I should have checked before saying it didn't. The newer 530Hcx does connect to repeaters on Ch. 15-22. Not sure if the older Rino units are also able to.

[pdforeme]

do these help, work?.....at Costco (not in the desert) a line of Motorola GMRS radios, small, 35 mile range ...(plastic packed, 2 into a sku, looks like all the old cheapo walkie talkies we all have, save for the 35 mile part...

[Rumpled]

As much as I've been outside in my life; I've only seen about 5 or 6 rattlers. Three of those all in the same area of Newport Coast.
Just last week, mountain biking with friends near Coto de Caza; one of my friends about 150 yards ahead of me screams and then I hear a rattle.
Seriously, I could hear it about 150 yards away!
The screamed snake and said go left. We were on a fire road and when I got there the snake had just made it to the right side of the road and started heading into the bushes. As I pedalled by at about 8 mph uphill, I tired to observe the snake. It seemed to me that his sides were kinda light green and his (her) upper side very dark brown.
We stooped and regrouped about 75 yards away and waited a few minutes.
That snake kept rattling the whole time and even as we rode off we could hear it for a little bit.
Man, that snake was pissed!

I considered in my mind what I would do if bit there. A couple of us had cellphones and reception shouldn't have been a problem. As we were on bikes, I figured I'd ride the downhills and try to easily walk the uphills until we found the nearest exit point off our ridge into civilization. Any bad effects and I would sit in the shade waiting for a rescue truck or helo. Probably coulda been done in under half an hour. Also would have sent a rider or two ahead to find the exit to civilization. I also almost always carry a GPS so could relay position. Though on this ride my batteries died. I could turn it on just long enough to get coords and then it would turn off.

[asabat]

Hi Rob,

The Garmin Rino 530 boast 5 watts Ham radio power and says it doesn't require a Ham license. From my days as a Marine 5 watts up high is going to carry quite a distance so the question would be is anyone listening. Also someone told me that there is a Ham repeater on top the Tram or the ranger station. Would you know about that?

Walt

Yes, there's a repeater on top of the tram at 145.480- (107.2). You need a ham license to use it. I know some of the state park rangers use it from time to time (or at least used to).

The Rino is not a ham radio. While it may have 5 watts, it operates on different frequencies and does not have access to mountaintop repeaters.

Check out my website on this at http://www.qsl.net/aa6j/pct.

[Cy Kaicener]

Frank A had a rattlesnake experience on Iron which is worse than Skyline in summer.
http://sangabrielmnts.myfreeforum.org/I ... t1699.html