Oh Crap...Snake!

[brianc]

So I went out to a new place to ride, north of town today. It was a very wild place. No other people around and it looks as if no one had been there in months. I decided it was time to take my 10D on a bike ride. So I loaded up the camera and both lenses in a pack and threw my normal hydratoin pack over that. Wow how do people ride with that much weight.

After the first shooting session I was walking up and arroyo. I just about stepped on something big and red. thankfull his/she was juas as scared as I was. and up the tree she flew.

I had the camera with the 70-200mm around my neck. Anyone know what kind of snake this is? No rattle. about 4 feet long and 1.5-2 inches in diameter.

very cool experience. I hadn't come across many snakes in my time in the desert. but I'm gald I had the camera to capture it. (one twig, grrrr)

The rest are a few action/scenery shots from the area.

[mtbbrian]

Wow Bri!
I have yet to see a snake on any ride I have been on.
Thanks for sharring.
Brian

[brianc]

every sound from then on was another possible angry local.

(I was in Salt Lake 2 weeks ago. But I didn't have time to leave the airport.)

[Lava Lamp]

Nice photo! I think you found a coachwhip.

http://www.enature.com/fieldguide/sh...&recnum=AR0103

This is interesting from the above website: "! Warning! If harassed, a Coachwhip may coil up, shake its tail, and strike repeatedly, often at the face. Its bite is not venomous."

It's funny with snakes (and other animals) once you get used to seeing and looking for them you'll see them a lot more...

[mtbbrian]

[QUOTE=brianc]every sound from then on was another possible angry local.

(I was in Salt Lake 2 weeks ago. But I didn't have time to leave the airport.)[/QUOTE

I bet is shook you after that!

I live real close to the SLC Airport.

So when do you head back east?

Good Luck!
Brian

[Spike]

Nice pic of the snake! It was keeping a close eye on you, wasn't it? I like how the head is framed by the branches and you caught it flicking its tongue.

Spike

[darkman]

A 10d? When did you get that?

Btw, where is this location? It doesn't look familiar.

Mike

[Ultra Magnus]

I ran across a snake once.. Literally.. I sometimes ride around my work neighborhood, and there's a lot of old dead branches and grey sticks littering the trails. I didn't think anything of it one day, until the stick moved after my front tire ran over it! I felt bad, but wasn't going to go back and see what kind it was!! I don't know if it happens, but I've heard stories of snakes biting riders in the ankles when riding in the summer..

[Kokopeli]

This is a coachwhip, though the local variant (southern CA) has a lot more black, especially around the tail.

Your warning stands true as well. I used to catch tons of snakes as a kid and none ever bit me as many times as one of these beauties.. They strike fast and they strike often, but only when they are unable to use their incredible speed to slither away to safety.
~Brian