Re: Snakeses & Bearses & Bulls, Oh MY!!

I've lived in AZ all my life and have encountered maybe a handful of rattlers that I actually saw. My closest encounter was on a hiking trip along Deer Creek. Having just hiked in I wandered down to the creek to splash some cool water on my face. After doing that I looked over to my right and there is a rattler at the waters edge. No harm no foul I went on my way and so did the snake.

A few years ago I hiked from the Lava Pump House up to Lava Tank and never spotted a snake. They could have been all around me for all I know. I just try to keep an eye out and not plant my feet where one might be coiled up.

One time I was hiking the RGS grade west of Cima and came up on a bear on the grade. He turned and looked at me and then ran off.

Yesterday out on the Magma AZ grade I came up on a coyote and as soon as he saw me he bolted the other way. A second coyote who hadn't spotted me yet started coming towards me and then realized I was there and bolted after his companion.

Wildlife encounters are part of the experience for me. Keep you distance, make some noise and they tend to wander on their way.

To me the oddest encounters have been with deer out on the trail. I was hiking a trail into the eastern Superstitions one day and this deer, coming the opposite way, ran right by me on the trail. It was so close I could have pet it as it ran past. I had a similar experience on a trail up in Glacier with one of my daughters only this one just kind of wandered by.

I worry more about cattle and Elk on the road at night!

Dave