A rattlesnake! I actually walked right by it without being aware of it
until Joan called out. I may have been within a foot or so. And it
was rattling, although at low volume and I have tinnitus. I convinced it
to leave the trail so Joan could come by by lobbing some dirt at it. I
can't believe I didn't see it sooner. This is the third rattlesnake
I've seen in the Magdalena Mountains in 40 years of hiking in the range.
Date: 2026:05:24 09:39:05
File: wRCW58051.jpg
Camera: PENTAX K-5 -- Lens: smc PENTAX-DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 ED AL [IF] DC WR at 135.0 mm -- Exposure: 1/160 f/5.6 ISO 100
