Day 3 - Prospector Trail. Snake, Rattle, and Roll

Monday, June 15, 2009

6:00 pm - Today's adventure: The Prospector Trail. 16 miles of mostly down hill, single and double track mountian biking, with some slickrock riding mixed in for good measure. ShaeLee agreed to pick me up after work, which allowed me to leave my truck at the Washington interchange. I rode home with ShaeLee, hopped on my bike and headed out. Some people are lucky enough to have cabins at ski resorts and have ski-in, ski-out access. I have bike-in, bike-out access. The Prospector trail officially starts near the Red Cliffs camp ground, rides past the Cottonwood trail head, connects into the Church Rocks trail, and eventually ends at the Grapevine trail head. However, it is possible to start in Silver Reef, and head South on dirt roads to the camp ground and connect into Prospector, making for a really cool commute to town. http://www.utahmountainbiking.com/trails/prospect.htm

As I was climbing the large hill out of the Red Cliffs area, just past Quail Lake, I came to a sandy wash that was too loose to ride in. I walked my bike for a few yards, and as I neared the rim of the wash and was about to get back in the saddle, to my fright, I was standing less than 8 inches from a 4' rattle snake. If you have ever heard a rattle snake in person you will never forget the experience. Instantly my fight or flight instinct kicked in, and needless to say, I was in no mood for a fight. If only I had been at a track meet. I would have set a new world record for the long jump with a mountain bike in hand. What an adrenaline rush. Even now as I write this, a full day later, my body is tense, my pulse quickened, and stomache slightly queasy. In Southern Utah we have two species of rattle snake, the desert sidewinder, and the great basin rattle snake. The great basing snakes vary widely in color from a deep forest green to light tan. This one was of the light tan variety with a beautiful oval pattern down its back. I am now resolved to carry a camera with me at all times. I would love to be able to share with you vivid images of the snake. As it is, all I had with me at the time was my cell phone. Move over Ansel Adams, there is a new photographer in town.

The snake is the blur in the center. My friend the horny toad. Fell off my bike trying to stop and get a good look.