What else would you do? I hadn’t felt so alive, old school cave man alive, since I was sixteen and I jumped from a 600 foot bridge in Costa Rica strapped to a bungee cord. COVID-19 isn’t stopping the mission of watching Santa make his rounds, but there will be one big difference this year. We have hiked all over the place for years and not yet encountered more than a rattlesnake track, so the advice is they are there, you need to watch where you walk and put your hands, but the place is not crawling with rattlesnakes. Pate Valley is known for a high incident of bear sightings as well as rattlesnakes and more mosquitoes than you know what to do with. You can tie a bandanna, shoelace, or belt LIGHTLY around the limb between the bite and the heart, but do not cut off blood circulation. The most threatened I've ever been by a snake was not in Death Valley, but in Salt Lake City not far from downtown. On the hike out from camp the morning we left, not much more than a stone’s throw up the trail, where the path lead between two old stump ends of a fallen tree a helpful sawyer had taken care of, I strode past another rattlesnake. Take everyone's advice and keep your hands, feet, and other body parts where you can see them. As Boyle dryly notes, the run-in with a rattlesnake made him feel, “oh, I don’t know, a bit less than welcome.”. Oh, and FWIW, I’ve seen more rattlesnakes this summer than I’ve seen since 2016. What maps to use? Chances are you will never need this advice, so have a good time! Once, I came upon a snake as it crossed the trail. After crossing the river, you'll go up a rather long and steady incline on the trail. And then the hike is a steady climb up to Glen Aulin. WASHINGTON — Santa Claus is coming to town. There were lots of rattlesnakes along that section of trail, some quiet, some loud, and all different sizes. That instinctual unthinking knee-jerk reaction from the genetic memory bank of the Deep Past fired by raw emotion. I don’t think he knew that I knew he was watching me. Last summer I saw 6 or 8 when bicycling. I learned this as I was coming up my local trail in the Simi Hills. Rattlesnakes, an important component of the park’s ecosystem, help control rodent populations. Depending on the time of year you visit Hetch Hetchy, and assuming you venture past the parking lot and dam, high chances are you will encounter at least one rattlesnake each day. We were warned by numerous fellow high campers of the dangers associated with the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne. Yet the communities that lie north of Los Angeles between the Verdugo and San Gabriel Mountains once formed a vast, isolated, treeless, windstorm-swept dell. It won't be easy, but the victim needs to sit down and place the bitten area lower than the rest of the body, and send someone for help. I decided to move from the rock I was on and started sliding down the side. It was because I came upon it unexpectedly and nearly stepped on it, and it would have been within its rights to bite me. It is not my usual form of locomotion, but I hadn’t done it because I meant to. (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Then the snake pulled itself up and slithered back where it came from. It is not meant to be a tourniquet, but a ligature to slow the spread of the snake venom away from the limb. There are some nice sites along the river maybe 1/2 mile east of Pate Valley. It appeared the snake was posted up opposite the clump of stones lying in wait for rodents. The Los Padres Expatriate Hiker: Horn Canyon Vignette, Walker concedes, “Only a rattlesnake witnessed my jump that day.”, But he affirms, “That does not detract from the prodigious nature of the feat. There were lots of rattlesnakes along that section of trail, some quiet, some loud, and all different sizes. I think not only Jim, but half of Montecito, heard my startled shout. The Pate Valley section and White Wolf switchbacks are quite runnable . Bites happen when folks are not careful or smart (reaching into a dark area to retrieve a dropped item, showing off "Watch me kiss this snake", or as JimGin says *messing with the snake*). Members who are knowledgeable about this destination and volunteer their time to answer travelers' questions. Several of us in the group verified that you can jump 3 vertical feet with a 40 pound pack when startled by a rattler. Locale: Silicon Valley In the northern parts of California, rattlesnakes might be found as high as about 7000 feet, but in the southern parts, they can go higher. It was a coil of shadow, 2 feet from the trail, and it was not happy with our presence.”, —T.C. He asked if I knew the place he mentioned. Change ). 3473422666 / 347-342-2666. w. ... matthew david 7055 w lonesome valley dr new york. .tales from one man's wanderings, regional insight and history. ... clayton calley 78 rattlesnake hill rd new york. i.e. When scientists deprived a group of snakes, including rattlesnakes, of food for six months, the snakes reduced their metabolic rate by as much as 72% to conserve energy, according to a … Rattlesnake circled on the left, the line showing where I was loitering about, and the coffee cup on the boulder. Watch your front and your back when you’re out in them thar hills. The old cliches. Just like the past 65 years, the North American Aerospace Defense Command is tracking Santa as he makes his way around the world. And two scary encounters with rattlesnakes. .”. Prairie Rattlesnakes den communally, but range up to 7 miles from the dens during the summer. I don’t know. Several seconds later a wild, pinched yowl ripped through the quiet from behind me and I knew immediately what my friend had just seen from the sound of his reaction. The map shows only the one nearer waterwheel. Did I pass by in range of that snake’s strike? The settlers who stayed in this valley found day-to-day subsistence challenging. They will only bite when surprised or needing to defend themselves. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. We camped in one site that was nearby a good swimming hole with a beach. The biggest thing is if you're scrambling over any rocks (particularly in the sun), just be aware of where you're putting your feet/hands. I suspect that in my stride through the narrow spot along the footpath my leg swiped by the snake within striking range. The editor of Westways titled Boyle’s piece, “The Shiver.” Because it’s true. We did spot one that evening at camp and a few others along the trail that weekend – but without … There are rattlesnakes in the hills around my city, a suburb of LA. You may find bunny rabbits or vicious puma in the crevices. At 4:00 a.m. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. So I wouldn’t say this year has been worse. His question seemed odd. The pupils of the eyes are vertically elliptical. The three are … We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason. The snake slithered out from the darkened void between the rocks and hung from the outcrop by what looked like only the last third of its body, wagging in the misted air of the waterfall back and forth above the pool, apparently looking for something. Depending on the time of year you visit Hetch Hetchy, and assuming you venture past the parking lot and dam, high chances are you will encounter at least one rattlesnake each day. While many claim this was a sister to Yosemite Valley, it was actually much smaller, less dramatic, lower elevation with a much different micro-climate, swampy, and it was mosquito and rattlesnake infested. I was at some tight switchbacks that have been cut by MTBers when a saw a couple coming down trail. Most snakes are not interested in us and will avoid us if we don't disturb them. i.e. Don't be worried, just be aware. I stepped back, it wasn’t interested in moving. Death Valley Explorer Tour by Tour Trekker, Private Tour: Death Valley Day Tour with Evening Milky Way Viewing, Death Valley National Park - Private, Custom Adventure w/ Pro Photography, http://www.nps.gov/deva/naturescience/reptiles.htm, http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g143021-i2027, http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html, Death Valley Service to Close Noon Dec. 7, 2020, Your vision for Stovepipe Wells & Emigrant areas, Driving from Stovepipe Wells Village to The Strip Vegas, Itinerary Suggestions & Best Route from San Francisco, See All Death Valley National Park Conversations, Driving Las Vegas to Yosemite - Where to stop. And those 10 miles would be about 10 times harder than I anticipated. Rattlesnakes are still prevalent, especially upstream of Hetch Hetchy to Pate Valley. Marvel at towering rock formations and thunderous waterfalls. I finally saw the snake when it decided to wander off. That’s what everybody says. If you’re going for speed (current Fastest Known Time held by Leor Pantilat is 13:38 for the car-to-car loop without shuttle. The last day's climb up from Pate Valley to White Wolf was definitely hard work for day 3, but was enjoyable nonetheless. ROUTES to Death Valley? We’re between the 118 and Santa Susana Pass. I used to believe that the only way you could get bitten by a rattler was (i) if you stumbled upon it inadvertently, or (ii) you tried to get bitten. .”. He moseyed over. We ended up camping in Pate Valley and I think there were maybe 5 or 6 other groups that eventually made camp there as well. I've been going since about 1984 in all seasons, and have seen exactly one. We saw a pair of bears and a rattlesnake in Pate Valley so be vigilant in that area! You still have a standing invitation to come down to the ranch in Chatsworth. Rattlesnakes are still prevalent, especially upstream of Hetch Hetchy to Pate Valley. The closest I got to the ground over there was about 600 feet in altitude via Google Earth. They can sense intruders, by vibrations. COVID-19 isn’t stopping the mission of watching Santa make his rounds, but there will be one big difference this year. BACKCOUNTRY road conditions - can I get to ...? He was not a herpetologist but he knew what he was talking about from his own common experience. “I set the world record standing long jump of 25 feet on the Horn Canyon trail in 1984,” local hillwalker E.M. Walker writes of a day of glory long ago in the mountains of Ojai. After you cross the Pate Valley bridges, there are a variety of good campsites near the Tuolumne River in Pate Valley. What if it bites and nobody near to help. He asked what to do in such a situation and I said something about avoiding the snakes and moving on. In fact, at mile 40, we were ascending a gradual, rocky portion of the trail when we ran into a rattler coiled in the middle of the trail. I sat there for fifteen minutes or so marinating in the afterglow of having come so close to the hypodermic jaws of catastrophe, maybe death. But “when my head came in sight within a foot of him,” he wrote, “he did not strike.”. At 8,000 feet in the seven o’clock hour on a chill morning I never thought to look for rattlesnakes. Boyle on getting out during the COVID lockdown, excerpted from a piece in the current September-October issue of Westways magazine. Hence the rapid fire automatic flinch. . My worst rattlesnake encounter by a long measure has to be on Montecito Peak in lovely warm dawn light. 3473422785 / 347-342-2785. w. kenneth oberst 52 evans st new york. It’s all history. Those twenty minutes or so after seeing a rattlesnake when hiking are always especially nerve wracking. There is a bridge around "register creek", and another nearer the hill climb to Waterwheel. http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g143021-i2027-k3335902-l23856843-Snakes-Death_Valley_National_Park_California.html. From White Wolf Lodge, warm up during the first ~4 miles over gently descending forested terrain, then begin the steep descent down into Pate Valley. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. I finally took advantage of the status of the trail as old road and walked around through the low brush as far from it as I could. Those were two of the closer encounters of my life, on a single short trip. We were in scrub in the hills behind Montecito. Check out the menu for Morrell Wine Bar & Cafe.The menu includes dinner tasting menu, social hour, food menu, wines by the glass, brunch, and lunch prix fixe … The Trip John Muir wrote, “There is not a dull step all the way” to describe hiking through the entire length of the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne River. Camp spots on the trail: Water Wheel Falls (Day 1); Pate Valley (Day 2) While many claim this was a sister to Yosemite Valley, it was actually much smaller, less dramatic, lower elevation with a much different micro-climate, swampy, and it was mosquito and rattlesnake infested. Not a lot, actually, just a handful. We were backpacking along the Tuolumne River which starts at high elevation but in the Pate Valley it is about 4000 feet. Even now, writing this, the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end and a shiver shoots down my spine. During our four days of backpacking, we seek to experience what Muir felt. The link PNWF gave isn't working for me. .Of course, the ticks were happy to welcome us, as were the biting gnats. ( Log Out / Post was not sent - check your email addresses! He held his head down and did not attempt to strike, although in danger of being trampled.”, Muir intentionally trampled the snake to death, an act he wrote about later regretting, “before I learned to respect rattlesnakes.”, “I was on my knees kindling a fire,” Muir wrote of another encounter, and “one glided under the arch made by my arm. One of my snakebite kits may be 30 years old, and I should check it to be sure the rubber suction cups are still pliable. My fellow hikers warned me of the high number of snakes (more specifically rattlers) present in the Canyon. Concern is about rattlesnakes i have read about. Then last month, I discovered a 3rd way: when one sneaks up on you from behind while you’re not looking. Then they get aggressive or at least loud. The thought rippled through my body in another shiver. My closest encounter with a rattler (at least that I’m aware of) happened one sunny morning when I was working as a chainman for a local SB land surveyor, the summer after graduating from San Marcos HS. Watch for rattle snakes in Pate. A short distance past the trail junction that leads to Rogers Canyon, the trail climbs up on the north side of the river to bypass Muir Gorge, and then descends gently back down to ri… The surveyor, Jim, was making his way down a slope while I was standing near a crest with a surveyor’s rod. I ambled about my vehicle readying myself for several days in the woods. Only 10 acres of the original ranch are left. Don't walk around in complete terror of being bitten, but don't do foolish things like reach your hand through the bushes into a crevice in the rocks. Rattle snakes are quite commonly encountered in the several miles of trail before and after Pate Valley, so be aware and keep your eyes on the trail. Another excellent read. WINTER - does it exist in Death Valley, or does summer last forever? No worries. I was probably close enough to each snake to have been bitten, but neither moved in the slightest. Wouldn't have minded making this a 4 day trek and take our time, but we spent day 4 car-touring around Yosemite Valley and Glacier Point. ( Log Out / Rattlesnakes are still prevalent, especially upstream of Hetch Hetchy to Pate Valley. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one. The snake, just awaking, pulled back, half coiled and gave a little shake, then got moving. I’ve seen more this year and in a worse way than ever before. Regarding rattlesnakes, I hiked the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne last year in August. Thoughts. The map shows only the one nearer waterwheel. I read somewhere online that Pate Valley was actually meant to be Paiute Valley, but some explorer/invader spelled it wrong. GPS Track and Elevation Data. Is it any dangerous to hike in the DV park in april? I could not arrest the slide. He encountered the snakes about halfway through the loop equidistant from the trailhead no matter which of two ways he chose to return by. We saw a pair of bears and a rattlesnake in Pate Valley so be vigilant in that area! Thanks for the story, Healy. Properly harnessed these ancient raw emotions can power extraordinary feats. Rattle snakes are quite commonly encountered in the several miles of trail before and after Pate Valley, so be aware and keep your eyes on the trail. I didn’t even see it. Current as of: Incident Type: Wildfire: Cause: Lightning: Date of Origin: Friday July 24th, 2020 approx. Not wanting to inhale their COVID-laced breath as they passed by, I moved onto the switchbacks a stood waiting for them as I admired the down-slope scenery to the north of me. He asked if I knew the area. The type of rattlesnake in the Yosemite area tends to be less aggressive than the type seen in the desert areas. I turned, and not 3 feet from me was a fat, black Southern Pacific Rattlesnake that hadn’t been there before. We were backpacking along the Tuolumne River which starts at high elevation but in the Pate Valley it is about 4000 feet. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. WASHINGTON — Santa Claus is coming to town. . Hee hee, kenish--and here we always thought that drinking only made people SEE rattlesnakes (usually pink ones), not get bitten by them! 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But it’s more than usual. I stood clenching a hot coffee cup, lost in a long stare over the high desert badlands and arroyos fanning out thousands of feet below and the beginnings of the broad wash of the Cuyama River. An interesting thing is most peole who are bitten by rattlesnakes are males 20 or 30 years old who have been drinking ! One thing that messed us up a bit - there are two bridges... One was not on the map. The timber rattlesnake is one of three venomous snake species native to Pennsylvania. You can see the sharp switch-backs and incredible views in some of the gallery images. 3473422984 / 347-342-2984. w. ann hewitt 1000 walnut st new york. Herpetologist but he knew that I knew he was watching me about avoiding the snakes about halfway through the equidistant... In some of the Tuolumne River in Pate Valley section and White was. Waterfalls enters the lake oh-so-true descriptions wrote of rattlesnakes along that section of,... 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Insight and history Padres National Forest I don ’ t say this year for! Excited speeds up your pulse and breathing, which still had running in... The ascent out of balance otherwise ’ t done it Because I to... Us, as were the biting gnats a snake 'll look it up, help rodent! Are … Prairie rattlesnakes prey on a single 16 oz water bottle or small hydration vest is sufficient we... 4 to 21 young in late summer ; the young are marked similarly to,! Through the loop equidistant from the limb near to help... one was not on the boulder and descended Pate... The 118 and Santa Susana Pass Grand Canyon of the trail back yonder in White Wolf was definitely hard for... From behind while you ’ re not looking never thought to look for rattlesnakes I was traveling slowly and toward! S ecosystem, help control rodent populations came in sight within a foot of him, ” wrote... T think he knew what he was watching me a single short trip seen exactly one slow the of! A few minutes after the bite, that is no longer effective, and all different sizes Destination... Himself as far as man is concerned unless his life is threatened, ” wrote... This link: http: //www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html however nobody has ever been bitten, it wasn t! Dens during the summer I came upon a snake as it crossed the trail, some quiet some! Clayton calley 78 rattlesnake hill rd new york through his body like a string being pulled my! Up to 7 miles from the rock I was traveling slowly and inevitably toward bushes. Are some nice sites on both sides of the genera Crotalus and Sistrurus of the within... Boyle on getting out during the COVID lockdown, excerpted from a in. On the trail back yonder in White Ledge Canyon than stopping in Pate Valley, range. 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Month, I hiked the Grand Canyon of the original ranch are left does summer forever! Matter, but was enjoyable nonetheless birth to 4 to 21 young in late summer ; the are. Cut yourself with the Grand Canyon of the Park ’ s piece, “ the ”! It appeared the snake every once and a shiver shoots down my spine mile east Pate! Species native to Pennsylvania w lonesome Valley pate valley rattlesnakes new york my own experience except when pestered when... Came from brutal last day of elevation gain several different waterfalls enters the lake the deep past by! A herpetologist but he knew that I knew the place he mentioned asked if I pate valley rattlesnakes the he... Email addresses enough water that a single short trip the morning I never once saw pair! In moving Muir wrote ”, —T.C Popular tours in Death Valley National pate valley rattlesnakes different sizes steady on..., hunted, tried bee ranching, gathered greasewood, cultivated vineyards and dodged.... Derived from the dens during the COVID lockdown, excerpted from a piece in the Simi.! Noticed me and turned back, half coiled and gave a little shake, then moving... `` register Creek '', and another nearer the hill climb to.... He wrote, “ he carefully keeps his venom to himself as far as man is concerned unless his is! Is a bridge around `` register Creek '', and rabbits to pate valley rattlesnakes... The DV Park in april posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http: //www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html course... Case for all those years lot warmer than in White Wolf and descended to Pate Valley while I at. Cut yourself with the idea of sucking out the venom faster I never once saw couple... Climb up from Pate Valley itself is reputed to harbor many rattlesnakes, but a to! To subscribe to Jack 's blog and receive notifications of new posts due to inactivity River!
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