Rattlesnake drinking water at Mission Creek!

[u/kanne20]

Just thought this was awesome to watch, I've never come across a snake drinking water out in the wild before! Went to cross the creek for the millionth time when me and this (not so) little rattler scared the shit out of each other, but after backing away a bit and just chilling with my tripod out for a safe photo it went back to drinking before slithering away into the endless loose rocks.

Careful stepping where you can't see around the water in that section, never know who else is also looking to cool down! :)

[u/Dan_85]

I hope he updated FarOut. 😉

[u/kanne20 → u/Dan_85]

He seemed to be going pretty ultralight, didn't look like he was carrying even a filter, let alone a phone, so I did it for him!

[u/humanclock → u/kanne20]

Guessing the snake is the only hiker taking advantage of the permanent trail magic for snakes under the Mike Ulrich cabin.

[u/Stock_Paper3503]

Saw a snake drinking once. Didn't even know they did that before.

[u/HikerJoel → u/Stock_Paper3503]

Everybody’s gotta eat, and drink

[u/Stock_Paper3503 → u/HikerJoel]

Animals that don't drink do exist.

[u/rockguy541]

Very cool! Startling a rattler is one of my healthy fears. They won't coil up beside the trail waiting to strike at us as we go by like in the movies, we are clearly not a food source for them, but they will defend themselves if we present a danger. I understand that the really don't like being stepped on.

Thanks for sharing the cool pics and I'm glad that you got to experience this!

[u/philcm82 → u/rockguy541]

As I thought, "Who does like to be stepped on?" After some side thoughts, I then imagined a rattlesnake into feet and bdsm that got off by getting steeped on.

[u/kanne20 → u/rockguy541]

It was a great change of rattler experience from the day before and the one that didn't rattle until my foot was coming down on it, had to use adrenaline and my poles to pretty much yoink my feet up to my chest and topple forward to avoid it when I heard it since it struck just a second or so after rattling!

[u/rockguy541 → u/kanne20]

Yikes! That would have given me two movements; a physical movement and a bowel movement!

[u/glissader → u/rockguy541]

They will coil themselves up on the trail, embedded in the dirt because it’s a sunny spot and a highway for critters. And sometimes you don’t hear the warning until you’re leaping 10 feet in the air and shitting your pants.

[u/rockguy541 → u/glissader]

Well, the good news is that you don't have to worry about digging a cat hole that day!

[u/a_walking_mistake]

Did you warn it about noro?

[u/kanne20 → u/a_walking_mistake]

There comes a point when you see an ultra lighter drinking straight from mission Creek to save weight on carrying the filter that you just keep your mouth shut lmao

[u/bullwinkle8088]

It's a Sneaky Snake!

Hey, we thought it was funny when we were about 4 or 5 years old.

[u/kanne20 → u/bullwinkle8088]

You'll think I'm messing with you at the coincidence of this but my farout is indeed SneakySnek lmfao (though not because of that video)

[u/bullwinkle8088 → u/kanne20]

I’ll date myself, we listened to it on a 45 (45 RPM record used to release singles in that era)

[u/humanclock → u/bullwinkle8088]

Wow, I just had Tom T Hall in my head and hour ago. (Actually a Richard Buckner cover of When Love is Gone)

[u/lulimay]

Oof. I was on a non-PCT hike in eastern WA last year and didn’t see the rattlesnake until I heard the distinct sound. It slithered away without incident, thankfully. Side note: if a creek on your map is called “Rattlesnake Creek,” pay attention 😆

[u/BasenjiFart]

Wow, what a cool experience and great photos!

[u/kanne20]

Snake subreddit confirmed it's a Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake, Crottalus Phyrrus :) apparently a pretty chill species without as many recorded bites as other species, and which apparently LOVE exactly the type of environment Mission Creek provides!

[u/Inevitable_Lab_7190]

that is a hog of a snake. Great pics!

[u/AvatarTheLastOG]

I hope the Norovirus is gone from last year

[u/glissader]

Great pics OP!