North of Lynx Lake Wednesday, 07/21/2010
Hello from the Trail Pooch Team, Wicket and Noel, posting from Prescott, Arizona
Wicket and I had another fabulous outing in the Lynx Lake area. We try to get out there on a Wednesday to take advantage of the free parking day. It wasn't that long ago that access to public lands was free 24/7. I am lucky that I have a job that allows me to take advantage of "free Wednesdays". Those of you who work on Wednesdays, I feel your pain. Someday we should take it back America.
I decided to post the last photo of the hike first this time, just to emphasize how important it is to be careful while hiking in the Forest. Here you go, check out this Timber Rattler!
My Veterinarian calls these "Black" Rattlesnakes Mountain Rattlers. I've always referred to them as "Timber" Rattlers. But I can assure you that no matter what you end up calling these "Villains of the wild", they're almost impossible to see in the forest. As you can see, this Timber Rattler looks exactly like a branch off a Ponderosa Pine or Pinon Pine. We came across this ominous creature while exiting the Lynx Creek Ruin Trail Head area just north of Lynx Lake by about a mile and a half. It was lying in the road which is why I was able to see it. If it had been lying along a trail, or among the many piles of fallen tree limbs that scatter the forest floor, I'll bet I would have probably missed picking it out, even though I scour the trail ahead and to both sides of me and Wicket at all times, trying to see anything that might look like a black rattler. By the way, it wasn't there when Wicket and I drove into the area.
I can freely admit, while I am a friend of animals and believe that they should be allowed to live, unless hunted lawfully for food, the very sight of this Black Rattlesnake gave me a huge case of the Heebie Geebies! Actually it is the first rattlesnake I've seen in about 4 years. But there have been those times that I have almost walked up and stepped on one, even though I am very aware that they're out there. Their camouflage is definitely working over time for them. They are almost invisible when they're lying motionless on the forest floor. Please be careful out there Trail Pooch teams.... NOTE: If you're not aware of this you might want to take time out to have your Vet give your Trail Pooch a Rattlesnake Vaccine. It won't stop the poison completely, but it will give your pup extra time to get the anti-venom from your vet. Also, I am told that it doesn't have ANY affect on the venom injected by the dreaded Mojave Green Rattlesnake. These Rattlers have extra strong venom which also affects the respiratory system. So be extra careful around stream beds and water as they are as their name indicates, green and the few times that I've seen them has been when I was near water, like in the Verde River Canyon northeast of Chino Valley, AZ. Talk about heebie geebies! It makes me shudder just to keyboard this.
Wicket is patiently waiting on me to decide which trail we're going to take. What a pooch!
Ah yes the Shadow Cameraman is alive!
Wicket taking a dip in Lynx Creek in the early stages of this hike. Just last week the Forest Service was letting water out of Lynx Lake and this spot was about two feet deeper with water running over the rock ledge creating a waterfall. If you're a placer miner enthusiast you might want to give this area a try.
It's time to shut it down for today, even though I am running a full day or two behind... Stay tuned to this site and I promise you more great shots of the back country in the Prescott Area. Oh yes, I almost forgot; yesterday Wicket and I saw a beautiful coyote, a timber rattler, a ring tail cat, a few head of mule deer, and two raccoons, not to mention an assortment of chipmunks, squirrels and a rabbit or two, before the day was over.
From the Trail Pooch Team, "Happy Trails" and remember to "Live Free, Live Wild"
Noel and Wicket email: noel@trailpooch.com
Affiliate Website: www.RealtyWebNet.Com
Wicket and I had another fabulous outing in the Lynx Lake area. We try to get out there on a Wednesday to take advantage of the free parking day. It wasn't that long ago that access to public lands was free 24/7. I am lucky that I have a job that allows me to take advantage of "free Wednesdays". Those of you who work on Wednesdays, I feel your pain. Someday we should take it back America.
I decided to post the last photo of the hike first this time, just to emphasize how important it is to be careful while hiking in the Forest. Here you go, check out this Timber Rattler!
My Veterinarian calls these "Black" Rattlesnakes Mountain Rattlers. I've always referred to them as "Timber" Rattlers. But I can assure you that no matter what you end up calling these "Villains of the wild", they're almost impossible to see in the forest. As you can see, this Timber Rattler looks exactly like a branch off a Ponderosa Pine or Pinon Pine. We came across this ominous creature while exiting the Lynx Creek Ruin Trail Head area just north of Lynx Lake by about a mile and a half. It was lying in the road which is why I was able to see it. If it had been lying along a trail, or among the many piles of fallen tree limbs that scatter the forest floor, I'll bet I would have probably missed picking it out, even though I scour the trail ahead and to both sides of me and Wicket at all times, trying to see anything that might look like a black rattler. By the way, it wasn't there when Wicket and I drove into the area.
I can freely admit, while I am a friend of animals and believe that they should be allowed to live, unless hunted lawfully for food, the very sight of this Black Rattlesnake gave me a huge case of the Heebie Geebies! Actually it is the first rattlesnake I've seen in about 4 years. But there have been those times that I have almost walked up and stepped on one, even though I am very aware that they're out there. Their camouflage is definitely working over time for them. They are almost invisible when they're lying motionless on the forest floor. Please be careful out there Trail Pooch teams.... NOTE: If you're not aware of this you might want to take time out to have your Vet give your Trail Pooch a Rattlesnake Vaccine. It won't stop the poison completely, but it will give your pup extra time to get the anti-venom from your vet. Also, I am told that it doesn't have ANY affect on the venom injected by the dreaded Mojave Green Rattlesnake. These Rattlers have extra strong venom which also affects the respiratory system. So be extra careful around stream beds and water as they are as their name indicates, green and the few times that I've seen them has been when I was near water, like in the Verde River Canyon northeast of Chino Valley, AZ. Talk about heebie geebies! It makes me shudder just to keyboard this.
Wicket is patiently waiting on me to decide which trail we're going to take. What a pooch!
Ah yes the Shadow Cameraman is alive!Wicket taking a dip in Lynx Creek in the early stages of this hike. Just last week the Forest Service was letting water out of Lynx Lake and this spot was about two feet deeper with water running over the rock ledge creating a waterfall. If you're a placer miner enthusiast you might want to give this area a try.It's time to shut it down for today, even though I am running a full day or two behind... Stay tuned to this site and I promise you more great shots of the back country in the Prescott Area. Oh yes, I almost forgot; yesterday Wicket and I saw a beautiful coyote, a timber rattler, a ring tail cat, a few head of mule deer, and two raccoons, not to mention an assortment of chipmunks, squirrels and a rabbit or two, before the day was over.
From the Trail Pooch Team, "Happy Trails" and remember to "Live Free, Live Wild"
Noel and Wicket email: noel@trailpooch.com
Affiliate Website: www.RealtyWebNet.Com
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