Rattlesnake 101
March 27, 2009 by taha
Pinnacle Peak visitor
Okay, let me first say that I am not an expert when it comes to snakes. However, with that said, I do know enough about them to be able to admire them from a distance. Call me crazy, but it is always a treat to come across our desert dwelling snakes on a hike. Let me reiterate… I like to see them from a distance. I actually had a great opportunity this past week to do just that!
While out hiking on Pinnacle Peak on my way back down the trail, I turned the corner of one of the switchbacks and whoa….there it was. Surprisingly, I was one of the first to come across the rattlesnake as he crossed the trail. I say surprisingly because I have never seen the Pinnacle Peak trail so crowded! The snake must have been waiting for the perfect opportunity to pass by unhithered. Anyway, the photo at the top of this post is the one of the actual snake I saw on this hike. It was a Western Diamond-Backed Rattlesnake. After seeing this truly “pretty” snake, I thought perhaps it would be fun to share some information about these reptiles that call the Sonoran Desert home.
One interesting bit of trivia that I learned from the folks over at the South Mountain Environmental Education Center is that there are more kinds of rattlesnakes that live in the Southwest than anywhere else in North America! However, you are more likely to be struck by lightning than bit by a rattlesnake. That should be encouraging to those of you who may be fearful of hiking in areas where rattlesnakes reside. What also may be of interest to you, is that the majority of rattlesnake bite victims are younger (under 30 years of age), male, and inebriated. I think you get the picture. If you mess with the snake, it will mess with you.
Now let’s move on to the rattlesnake that comes to mind most often when talking about the desert southwest, the Western Diamond-Backed Rattlesnake. This particular snake is Arizona’s largest rattler. It can reach lengths of up to 7 feet (or more). I’ve heard that a coiled snake can strike at a distance half its body length. So if my math is correct, that means as long as I stand 30 feet away from this rattlesnake, I should be safe! Bummer. I don’t think my zoom lens is that strong.
So back to the rattlesnake. A rattlesnake is a pit viper. This means that the snake has heat sensing pits to detect warm-blooded prey and predators. These heat sensing pits are located on each side of its face between the eye and nostril. Since people are larger than most desert animals (that’s another blog post), we project a lot more heat and the rattlesnake senses that we are too big to eat. Another feature that defines a rattlesnake is the flattened, distinct triangular shaped head, elliptical pupils like cat eyes and fangs that fold back into its mouth. One of the defining characteristics of a Western Diamond-backed Rattler are the black and white bands around its tail right before the rattle.
Speaking of the rattle, many people do wonder about what exactly is inside that part of the snake’s tail that makes that rattling sound. Well, actually there is nothing inside the rattle. The rattle itself is made of hollow segments of keratin. This is the same substance that our hair and fingernails are made of. The rattling sound is created when these segments of keratin are rubbed/shaken together – think of dry leaves rustling in the wind. I cannot tell you how many times someone walking behind me brushed up against a dry bush on the side of the trail and I’ve stopped short in my tracks looking for the rattlesnake! Now for the “however”. One thing to keep in mind, contrary to popular belief, you do not always hear a rattle as a warning when you come too close to a rattlesnake. Young snakes have only what is called a “prebutton” and really cannot create the rattle sound and for one reason or another an adult rattler may be missing his rattler all together. So always keep an eye out as you hike along don’t just rely on your hearing.
So, rattlesnake 101 desert safety tips:
- Stay on the trail. You may encounter a snake on the trail, but you can see it and it can see you. Don’t go wandering about off trail where you are putting your feet down in areas that are not cleared and don’t go climbing up rocks and boulders where you are placing your hands where you can’t see them. You never know when a snake might be happily sunning itself on the boulder above you and there you go disturbing its fine day.
- If you hear a rattle, stop immediately. Look around for the source. If it’s your 8 year old nephew, then all is good (except for the 8 year old nephew). If you do see a rattlesnake, do not make any sudden moves. If you can, back away slowly to put some distance between you and the person closest to the snake. Seriously, that’s what I would do. Okay, not really. If someone is closer to the snake than you, then their hearing is not as acute as yours and you need to move them back with you away from the snake. More than likely, the snake will move along its way and you can continue your hike. Do not approach and/or try to encourage the snake to move along as it may take it as a challenge.
- It is always advisable to also wear high-topped shoes or boots for hiking in the desert.
- Lastly, stay alert and keep your ears and eyes open!
So those are the quick, (not all inclusive) rules of safety to try and avoid negative encounters with the rattlesnakes. If for some reason there is an encounter that results in the rattlesnake biting someone, the first thing you should do is call 911 immediately. Then have that individual remove all jewelry such as rings, watches, bracelets, etc. Do not apply a tourniquet, do not administer any type of drugs or alcohol or suck the venom out (now we have 2 victims), and do not apply ice. Any person bitten by a snake should be transported to the hospital without delay even if you do not think it was a rattlesnake. And you do not need to take the snake with you to show the doctors what type of snake bit the individual. The doctors will treat the symptoms not the species of the snake.
Just as an added FYI, a typical rattlesnake bite will require 20 vials of antivenin ($3,000 per vial) and a tetanus shot. But look on the bright side, it’s better than running into a rabid bobcat. Oh, did I mention we have those too?
My Office
March 21, 2009 by taha
Arizona State Flower - Saguaro Blossom
“Welcome to my office. My name is June Kleier and I’ll be your guide today.” Is how I like to greet my guests! I love that my office has no doors, no windows and no light switches. My office has fresh air, amazing views and unlimited opportunities to experience, explore and enjoy. My office is the world’s most diverse desert, the Sonoran Desert.
I say to my guests, “This is your hike!” I customize each hike to meet the needs of my guests. We hike at their pace, we take as many photos as they like and we stop to take in the beautiful scenery as much as they want.
My office changes daily depending on the type of hike my guests request. Take A Hike Arizona offers leisure nature hikes, moderate hikes with gains in elevation and challenging, heart pumping treks through the pristine desert. We truly have something for everyone.
To get to my office, I travel all over the Phoenix valley to some of the most beautiful locations in the Sonoran Desert. Some of my favorite locations to hike are the Superstition Mountains, McDowell Mountain Preserve, South Mountain, Cave Creek Regional Park, Camelback Mountain, Usery Regional Park and Fountain Hills Regional Park (to name a few).
Take A Hike Arizona chooses the mountain, trail and type of hike based on the needs of our guests. Our goal is to make your hike a memorable experience. We want you to leave the valley with a better understanding and appreciation of the desert and its ecosystem.
So I encourage you to call Take A Hike Arizona, LLC toll free at 866-615-2748 or visit our website at www.takeahikearizona.com and visit my office. My door is always open. I can almost guarantee that the sun shines in my office 325 days a year and it has an annual average temperature of 71 degrees Fahrenheit. Oh and did I mention that my office is currently full of spring wildflowers?
Put your life on the "line" AND go hiking!
March 4, 2009 by taha
"A" Mountain
Okay, so we’re not really talking about risking your life on some extreme hike! We’re talking about hooking up with a fun group of people and riding the light rail to the “A” Mountain in Tempe! Take A Hike Arizona is partnering with Rail Life to get our friends out there to meet each other and network in a fun way! The plan is to meet on Saturday morning, March 21st at 8:00am at Mill’s End Coffee shop on the Southwest corner of 3rd & Mill (right off the 3rd & Mill light rail stop).
For those of you who may not be familiar with our A Mountain in Tempe, the official name of the mountain is actually Tempe Butte. The City of Tempe refers to the same mountain as Hayden Butte. Locals refer to it as “A” Mountain due to the 60 foot tall painted letter A near the summit. For a small bit of land, it certainly does have enough names! But, I digress. The base of Tempe Butte is at 1,150 feet while the summit reaches an elevation of 1,496. For those of you without a calculator (I can’t do math in my head), the total climb is 346 feet and 2 inches. Okay, I just threw in the 2 inches to see if you were paying attention!
The Butte may not qualify as an all out hike, but it does provide a nice quick jaunt uphill (just over 1/2 mile) and provides nice views of downtown Tempe, Tempe Town Lake and the surrounding area. Contrary to how it looks from a distance, Tempe Butte actually supports a nice variety of flora and fauna. You can find cholla cactus, barrel cactus, palo verde trees, mesquite trees, and even our majestic saguaro! As far as wildlife sightings go, you probably won’t find too many javelina or mule deer on this spot of land, but you can find cottontails, jackrabbits, pack rats and lizards!
The Butte is also a designated historical landmark. Just off the trailhead on the Leonard Monti Trail, you can find a number of petroglyphs carved into the rock by the Hohokam people. The Hohokams lived in the Phoenix area between 500 A.D. and 1450 A.D. How anyone can do that without air conditioning is beyond me!
So, anyway, the idea is to have a fun, casual get together while getting some exercise and fresh air! Not only that, but June and I (owners of Take A Hike Arizona) will be there to provide the interpretive part of the hike. That means you get to hear all kinds of fun facts about the desert inhabitants! All you have to do is show up, bring your own water and snacks and comfortable walking shoes. We look forward to seeing (and meeting) you there!
Fun Facts about the desert
March 2, 2009 by taha
The Sonoran Desert is the most diverse desert in the world;
Did you know that:
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There are more plants and animals living in the Sonoran Desert than most forests;
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There is on average a mountain rescue in the valley every 3 days;
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If you’re thirsty, you are already dehydrated;
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There are about 500 edible plants in the Sonoran Desert;
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There have been people living in the Sonoran Desert for the past 12,000 years;
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A jackrabbit can outrun most animals in the desert;
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The creosote bush gives us the smell of the desert;
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The average person that is bitten by a rattlesnake will need 20 viles of antivenin;
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One vile of antivenin cost $3,000.00? (yikes!)
These are just a FEW of the fun facts that you’ll learn on a Take A Hike Arizona hike. Whether you are visiting the valley or a resident, the guides of Take A Hike Arizona want to make your hike to the Sonoran Desert a fun, yet safe adventure. If you are fortunate enough to visit the Sonoran Desert, why not experience, explore and enjoy it by hiking with a professional, knowledgeable guide? All of our guided hikes are designed with you in mind! We choose our trails based on your ability, needs and interests. Our guides are all CPR and Wilderness First Aid certified. We provide your water, snacks, lunch, backpacks, trekking poles and all entry and permit fees. Make the most of your time in the desert and make your hike memorable. Take a hike with Take A Hike Arizona!
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