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Rattled by Rattle Snake at base of C'est La Vie Redgarden Wall Eldorado

Original Post
Cindy Mitchell · · Denver, CO · Joined Jan 2006 · Points: 65

7-9-2013 about 5' below the belay ledge at 5 pm. He was poised to strike when my partner noticed him. We climbed other routes but ended up rapping C'est La Vie around 8pm. The snake was still there and still pissed.

This is the first time I've actually seen a rattle snake in Eldo and it rattled me. :] I know, stupid pun, couldn't resist.

Jay Eggleston · · Denver · Joined Feb 2003 · Points: 21,326

Yikes!

John Keller · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2001 · Points: 5

Yup... heard of them being in that boulder pile above the concrete slab before.

Ben Walburn · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2007 · Points: 680

This is the third time I have heard of Rattlers there.

Mike Pharris · · Longmont, CO · Joined May 2007 · Points: 125

I've seen a baby rattler on Hawk Eagle Ridge before. They are there.

Erik Pohlman · · Westminster, CO · Joined Dec 2006 · Points: 4,035

They are all over there... you just have to know where to look for them. Last year, I put my hand 6 inches from one on the steep approach trail on the west side of the Bastille.

Rick Blair · · Denver · Joined Oct 2007 · Points: 266

Cindy,

Just grab it by the tail and hold it up. Softly say "Eaaaaasy there little fella, I'm not gonna hurt ya." ( Best done with and Australian accent.)

I thought everyone new how to handle poisonous snakes by now.

PRRose · · Boulder · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 0

What you need to know about dealing with poisonous snakes is available here

holiness-snake-handlers.web…

Hallelujah!

Woodchuck ATC · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 3,280

Thar' good eat'n...dat's fur sure.

Tommy Ormond · · Eldorado Springs, CO · Joined May 2008 · Points: 265

Crocodile Hunter shows the boys the best way to learn about 12-foot crocodiles at the crag is to stick your thumb in its butthole.

Oy, he didn't like that!!

Mike McHugh · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2013 · Points: 420

A lot of buzzworms in Eldo this summer. A few weeks ago, near the Potato Chip, one of them scared the tuna salad out of me.

A hiker on the Fowler trail got bit yesterday. I went to see if the snake was still in the area, and found this little feller about 1' off the trail:

Awwwwww, for cute!

Craig Quincy · · Louisville, CO · Joined Sep 2001 · Points: 306

Why did it have to be snakes? I've spent a lot time in Eldo and have never seen one. Snakes scare the crap out of me.

youtube.com/watch?v=ClwIj3x…

Benjamin Chapman · · Small Town, USA · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 18,818

Tom Ormond.....the topic is rattlesnakes, not a crocodiles! And neither has a butthole, they have VENTS. Now back to our regularly scheduled post without any further erroneous interruptions.

Donald Kerabatsos · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2013 · Points: 0

So put your thumb in their anal vents. Same thing.

Locker · · Yucca Valley, CA · Joined Oct 2002 · Points: 2,349

I'm using my "Anal Vent" currently to rid myself of last nights dinner and unless I want to accidentally stick my finger into it, I had best use my higher quality TP when wiping.

Benjamin Chapman · · Small Town, USA · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 18,818

Locker.....we thought you might be using that finger to edit your next post on the wall of whatever stall you're utilizing to deposit the remnants of your dinner via your arsehole/vent/anus.
No, wait.....I've LOST my train of thought, somewhere in cyberspace......REWARD!

Locker · · Yucca Valley, CA · Joined Oct 2002 · Points: 2,349

Rattlers are no problem! Just know that they are present, scan around when you hike/walk, when you hear one stop, get an idea where it is, go a different way! If you see one, stop, check it out because they're cool as hell, don't fuck with it, take a photo or two, then leave it alone.

Another obvious one. Don't blindly reach up under any rocks.

Look the things up online. Study their habits. Know something about them since you'll for sure be seeing each other along the way!

;-)

Benjamin Chapman · · Small Town, USA · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 18,818

Great advice, Locker. Thank you. Way too many folks don't follow your guidance and learn to coexist with these beautiful creatures. Too often their instinct is to harm it and later complain about the rodents digging into or chewing holes in their packs. Thanks, again.

Ben Walburn · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2007 · Points: 680

I've been climbing in Eldo for many years and I have never seen a snake there. It seems that sightings are a regular occurrence now. Is there in fact more snakes now than before or is Mountain Project making it more visible? This makes me think twice about bringing my dog which is a bummer, the canyon is one of her favorite places.

...I climbed Cest La Vie yesterday and glad to say I'm bite free today.

Locker · · Yucca Valley, CA · Joined Oct 2002 · Points: 2,349
"This makes me think twice about bringing my dog"

Well now that's a HUGE plus! Gonna have to make sure and get some MORE snakes up there!
Mike McHugh · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2013 · Points: 420
Ben Walburn wrote:I've been climbing in Eldo for many years and I have never seen a snake there. It seems that sightings are a regular occurrence now. Is there in fact more snakes now than before or is Mountain Project making it more visible? This makes me think twice about bringing my dog which is a bummer, the canyon is one of her favorite places. ...I climbed Cest La Vie yesterday and glad to say I'm bite free today.
It seems like it's changed over the last few years on the South side of the canyon. Until a few years ago, there were usually one or two legit rattlesnake sightings on the Fowler trail each summer. Last summer, I can recall four (one of them was a poor little guy on the Bastille descent ramp!). Already at four this season, still some summer left to go. Not a plague, just a little more active.

The boulderfield below C'est usually has one or two sightings per summer. Seems like it's about average this year.

IMHO, it's like Sinks, or North Table, or ... recreate, but be mindful.
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Colorado
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