Snake Encounters of the 3rd Kind

Centennial High School (center)

Becca and I have encountered only a few rattlers this spring and summer, so we were cautiously pleased to come upon one today.  It wasn't especially happy to see us, though, and gave a few halfhearted rattles to ward us off.  It needn't have been concerned; we are very respectful of these desert denizens.  The trouble is:  after you've had your encounter you're rather jumpy for the rest of your hike, seeing snakes where only lizards tread, almost bounding away from a grasshopper rattling around in the lower branches of a Creosote Bush.

Getting started

Hugging the mountain flank

West of Tortugas

Semi-agitated Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

An unnerving stare directed at us

Butterfly on Chinchweed flowers

Pal of the pale-yellow butterfly

Sometimes you find the oddest things in the desert

The late-bloomer I photographed yesterday

An old staple of the Apache's diet

The flowers are quite tasty

Desert Zinnia and Prickly Pear Cactus