A 79-year-old man on a Mount Tamalpais fire road was bit by a rattlesnake several times on Sunday, prompting an air rescue toan East Bay hospital.

A call before 2 p.m. sent Marin County firefighters to the aid of the hiker at the junction of Old Railroad Grade and Hoo-Koo-E-Koo fire roads.

The hiker picked up the snake and was bit as many as three times, including at least one bite on each hand, said Marin County fire Capt. Joe Gallardo.

The snake was estimated to be 9 to 12 inches long, indicating the rattler might have been an adolescent.

“From my understanding, baby snakes are known to disperse all their venom when they bite, while an adult will strike quickly and only release a small amount of venom,” Gallardo said.

The hiker, who was walking alone, was initially helped by mountain bikers before being reached by two firefighters along the dirt road.

After an initial examination, he was transported via all-terrain vehicle to the Throckmorton Fire Station, where a Mill Valley Fire Department ambulance was waiting and a California Highway Patrol helicopter was en route.

According to Gallardo, medics on scene at the fire station noted the hiker’s condition — including swelling, numbness and tingling in both hands, as well as increasing numbness in his jaw and neck — before determining he should be transported by air to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek.

A post from the CHP updated late Sunday indicated the hiker was in stable condition following treatment.

Gallardo noted it was fortunate the hiker was not on a more remote Mount Tam trail, allowing firefighters to reach the victim quickly and begin transport right away. The junction is less than a mile from the station.

“Luckily, it was a busy weekend out here and he had help quickly,” Gallardo said. “Mainly, we would tell people, ‘Don’t pick anything up.’ Snakes are around and, when the weather gets warm, they do seem to be spotted more often. We are trained to be cautious, give the snake some room, and let it move across the trail on its own.”