Half Dome – Yosemite Musings

There are a variety of snake are in Yosemite. I know, they can be scary, but most could care less about us humans. They are shy and tend to stay out of sight. It’s actually rare to see the slithery creatures. Above is a critter I was able to snap off a quick shot of. He was moving fast, so I don’t have his head. But from the tell-tale bands I can tell that it’s a Sierra coral king snake (aka mountain king snake). It is certainly one of the most vividly colored snakes in Yosemite. It is the only snake in the Park with black, red, and white bands. They grow up to be about 25 inches. This critter was in Little Yosemtie Valley. They are harmless, docile, and can be picked up but I discourage interfering with animals – Leave no trace principles. One of my hike-mates recoiled in fear, confusing this with the poisonous coral snake which is never found in this region. Leave our snakes alone – they help clean up the rodent population.

Unrelated thought worth quoting: “There’s somethin’ happening here; what it is ain’t exactly clear. There’s a man with a gun over there, tellin’ me I've got to beware.” – For what it’s worth, The Lovin’ Spoonful

*Carpe Diem Experience – Rick Deutsch–www.HikeHalfDome.com*