I had never seen one before, so I was pretty stoked to check it out... but I gotta admit, I did not want to get close! There is something very sinister about a creature so small that can catch you unawares and kill you with it's venomous bite. I'd almost rather encounter a moose or a grizzly bear out on the trail than accidentally run right by a snake and get bitten because I didn't see it.



So needless to say, Matt shot this photo... I did not get this close! But when I rode by (as far off the right side of the trail as possible), I could clearly see the warning rattles lying on top of his coiled body. Thankfully, they weren't shaking!



