Jackie & Steve 2025 Roadtrip
- Thread starter Jackiemac
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Jackiemac
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We are home for 6 months and here for 6. We are liking it but know it won't be for a lot longer. It gets tougher as we get older.
JudyJB
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I was in Rifle Gap SP last week and really enjoyed it. It is in western Colorado and high enough to be cool, but not freezing. Lots of barn swallows flitting about at dusk. Several campgrounds, but I was at full service one and it was great, with paved spots and newer hookups.
DonTom
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Have you ever been to Dinosaur National Monument? Rifle Gap is about two hours from there.
It was a long time ago, but the place gave me a weird feeling where I almost expected to see a dinosaur coming over the hill.
I was there on a motorcycle a good 30 years ago.
-Don- Reno, NV
JudyJB
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Been there several times, and first time was about 40 years ago.
DonTom
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I kinda assumed so.
And I assume @Jackiemac has seen more places in the USA than most RV'ers who live here.
-Don- Reno, NV
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Jackiemac
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Yesterday (Thursday 22nd), we did 2 local spots - one called the Clamshell, basically a rock cave with a few Petroglyphs. Then Hidden Lake, a cave with a pool which, according to a local, is used for diver training. We couldn't see any obvious deep section but who knows. We met a Finnish family and they told us they'd seen a rattlesnake so of course we had to go find it. It was moving pretty slowly and we got a few photos then left it alone.
We popped to see the Belly of the Dragon, a water culvert.
From there we drove into Springdale to see the beautiful rocks around Zion. We had an ice cream at a Subway before heading back to base.
We popped to see the Belly of the Dragon, a water culvert.
From there we drove into Springdale to see the beautiful rocks around Zion. We had an ice cream at a Subway before heading back to base.
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DonTom
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I am patiently waiting to see those rattlesnake photos!
There are 19 species of rattlesnakes in the USA and even more subspecies.
AZ has most of them at 14 different species of rattlesnake.
-Don- Reno, NV
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Jackiemac
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Looking forward to the ID!
DonTom
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Which US state did you see it in? What type of habitat? What time? Temp? I want to see if I can guess it right before seeing the photo.
Edit: Too late, I see you already posted it.
It looks like a Black Tailed Rattlesnake, if black just above the rattle, that will prove it.
-Don- Reno, NV
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Jackiemac
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Today, Friday 23rd we drove out Johnson Canyon Road to see more Petroglyphs then drove Skutumpah Road and hiked a part of Willis Creek, probably around 3 miles. We saw what I think was a garter snake there but it was too fast for me to get a photo. Black with yellow vertical stripe.
We then drove to Grosvenor Arch and the drive back via Cottonwood Canyon where we hiked part of the narrows. We've done these before. Didn't go into Kodachrome as we might go back.
We then drove to Grosvenor Arch and the drive back via Cottonwood Canyon where we hiked part of the narrows. We've done these before. Didn't go into Kodachrome as we might go back.
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Jackiemac
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Close to the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah. It was around 3pm AZ time and I think in the 80s. Small canyon type environment with trees and sagebrush.
DonTom
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There is a Watchman Camp in AZ and Utah. I was thinking AZ.
But the Black-tailed is not in Utah at all.
So it has to be the Great Basin Rattlesnake, but that one sure looks different than the ones I have seen here in the Reno area.
The Great Basin Rattlesnake above the tail is white and black alternate bands. But so are most rattlesnakes.
BTW, that is the same type of rattlesnake I accidently steeped on in the Zion Natl Park High country, during a night hike around 30 years ago. Vary dark, no moon. Nothing happened, Snake ok. It never tried to strike or even rattled.
This rattlesnake is protected by law, everywhere in Utah, where it is somewhat less common. But is fairly common out here and no laws to protect it are necessary in NV.
-Don- Reno, NV
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DonTom
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Jackiemac
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I
It was very dark with a vivid yellow stripe. I thought a Wandering Garter snake.
DonTom
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Yes, it is. The wandering garter snake is the same species, but a different subspecies of the terrestrial garter snake. The Wandering is found in Utah.
The Wandering subspecies is usually more checkered; the "black" and the "stipe" isn't so clear as the "black with yellow stripe".
See here for the subspecies.
Wandering garter snake:
Does above look like what you saw?
-Don- Reno, NV
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Jackiemac
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No more of a definite stripe.
DonTom
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Now that I checked, I am not sure where I was confused with, I cannot find a Watchman in AZ.
-Don- Reno, NV
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