Unusual Sighting

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    • November 24, 2005 at 4:52 pm #81375
      Bob Martin
      Participant

        While hiking into Lake Stuart a few summers ago, I saw an unusual snake crawling across the trail. It was a rubber boa (Charina bottae) about 18 or 20 inches long. I carefully placed my hiking staff on its tail so my fishing partner and I could get a better look. In all my years of roaming about the state I’ve never seen another one.

      • November 25, 2005 at 6:50 am #85436
        Brian Curtis
        Keymaster

          Rubber boas are awesome snakes. Their tail looks more like their head then their head looks like their head. I saw my second one this summer on the trail up to the Snow Lakes out of Leavenworth. Here’s a shot of it:

          I must have been the first one up the trail because a bit later I spotted a rattler. It got into the brush before I recovered my senses and could get my camera out. Before the tip was over I also spotted two different varieties of garter snake.

        • November 25, 2005 at 5:09 pm #85437
          Bob Martin
          Participant

            Thanks Brian, Your photo looks as good as the one in the Audubon Society Field Guide. I hope I see another rubber boa someday. They’re interesting snakes. As for rattlers, I’d just as soon pass.

            Years ago during basic training at Ft. Ord, one of our gung ho training lieutenants was showing the rest of us the proper way to enter a fox hole and come to a shooting position. He was shocked to discover that a gopher snake (which looks a lot like a rattler) had entered to hole first and was coiled up at the bottom. First we heard a bloodcurdling scream, then the M-1 came flying out of the hole, and then the wild-eyed, terrified lieutenant came scrambling out. I think he soiled his pants. There was never a better example of, “Do as I say, not as I do.” It provided a lot of much needed comic relief to our platoon.

          • November 30, 2005 at 8:01 am #85438
            Anonymous

              WoW!!! That’s something. In all my years I’ve never seen one. Just goes to show you sometimes things just pass you by…
              McPil

            • December 1, 2005 at 8:25 pm #85439
              Anonymous

                Hey Brian,
                How about contributing this rare snake photo to AlpineQuest.com’s Guest Photo Page…can I put it up with your OK?

                McPil

              • December 1, 2005 at 8:43 pm #85440
                Brian Curtis
                Keymaster

                  Sure, you are welcome to use that pic.

                • December 2, 2005 at 3:54 am #85441
                  Anonymous

                    Thank you Sir,

                    http://www.alpinequest.com/rubberboa.htm

                    Mcpil

                  • December 8, 2005 at 1:11 am #85442
                    Anonymous

                      I saw one on the trail to Waptus LK in the early 90’s.

                    • December 21, 2005 at 11:37 am #85443
                      Anonymous

                        :X Now imagine if the world was like that.:I

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