end of the trail

Well, at least for me it was!
I went on a hike this morning and almost stepped on this rattlesnake. My foot got super close to it and it immediately coiled into striking pose and freaked the living sh*t out of me. I hurriedly backed up and waited for it to move, which it didn't. I decided that the snake "won" the hiking game, and I turned around and went back down the hill. I wasn't even about to try to go around it. Those things are bad news if you get bit by one.
Crazy how perfect in blends in with its surroundings. No wonder I didn't see it!

[Brian]

Yikes. Blends in very well. I would be freaked too. On the brightside you got a photo of the day out of it!:)

[Krista Marson]

@sonyguy It's not really the best shot in the world, but I wasn't about to get any closer to it to get a better one!

[Lisa Poland]

Scary. My hubby and boys have encountered rattlers while hiking before. They do blend right it. If they didn't rattle, you'd never know they were there.

[Krista Marson]

@homeschoolmom oh, it rattled, alright!

[Jon Lip]

Yikes! I'm with you K. Me and snakes are a no-no.

[Bep]

Makes me shiver...

[Mags]

Yeah. I'd be done too!

[Paul]

Yep! End of my walk too!

[Suzanne]

I like the way you have presented the image and the story! Glad you weren't bitten!

[Bill]

Every time I go out west I hope to see one at a safe distance. I've only found one while hiking. You are fortunate that you didn't take one more step.

[Carrie Shepeard]

I would have quickly ended my hike too. How scary.

[Krista Marson]

@cwbill funny, I feel that way about Gila Monsters. I've lived here since 1994, and still haven't seen one in the wild. Guess I shouldn't want to...

[LManning (Laura)]

That is amazing camouflage. I’m impressed that, like a true 365-er, you stopped to get the shot! Glad this story had a happy ending.

[Teriyaki]

Not the sort of wake up call you were looking for?

[Milanie]

Like the way you composed this story - In that environment he definitely is well camouflaged - so glad you heard him before that next step!

[Walks @ 7]

I admire your being able to take a shot, I'd be shaking too much.

[Domenico Dodaro]

I fully agree with @joysabin A viper attempted to bite me ages ago (luckily I was wearing high boots, it didn’t make it to my leg) and I’m still shivering…

[Diana]

What a great shot and presentation, I guess that would not be the place for me to go on a hike! So glad that all ended well!

[moni kozi]

Wowsie! I bet Vikki will freak out if she sees this :D Superbly blending in the environment.

[Issi Bannerman]

Oh, boy, glad you missed it! Brave photo.

[Babs]

Oh wow so glad you managed to spot it before it did you any harm, so scary

[Marij]

Good you saw it

[Caryn]

That's my problem with snakes. I'm not afraid of them but they always seem to show just where I'm about to step or, worse, just where I have already stepped.

[Kate]

I can see why you almost stepped on it.

[haskar]

Great camouflage. You have to walk very carefully so as not to get too close. I already have shivers.

[Helge E. Storheim]

Yes, I think I would have turned around t that point too :-) Brave of you to stop and take a photo.