May the Best Rattlesnake Win

photo by Michael Schwartz

For the second day in a row I'm posting a photo taken by someone else. Call me a slacker, I don't care. When the photos are this remarkable, you can call me whatever you want to.

Many thanks to Michael Schwartz for this one. You know Michael--he and his family are the famous hosts of Pie Night. They were hiking in Big Santa Anita Canyon the other day when they came across two rattlesnakes deeply involved in a twisted, passionate drama in the middle of the trail. The family was unable to pass for a solid twenty minutes. Knowing it's better to be inconvenienced by a rattlesnake than to inconvenience one (nevermind two), they passed the time taking pictures and being fascinated.

Later, Michael did some research and learned that despite appearances, the snakes were not mating. From Aquarium of the Pacific's page about the Southern Pacific Rattlesnake: "If two males compete for the same female, they may perform a combat dance. In this display the two males coil around each other and push up to a third of their bodies over the ground. Since the snakes have no limbs to maintain their balance, both snakes promptly topple over. This encounter can be repeated for over 30 minutes. Eventually, one snake, usually the smaller of the two, retreats."

Or, in Michael's words, "two males doing some kind of boy-thing - ritualistic competition for the favors of a female."

Thanks for not being a slacker under the circumstances, Michael. I don't think I would have been able to hold the camera steady.

Roberts Camp

Since we're coming up on the weekend, maybe you're thinking of a hike in Big Santa Anita Canyon. And since I had a very long day and am so tired I can't think, I'm putting up another picture I took there last week.

Bellis and I wondered if these steps were once part of Roberts Camp (1912-1931) because the commemorative sign for the camp was close by. If so, the steps seem to be all that's left. The sign says the Camp was a lodge for hikers and could accommodate as many as 200 people. The lodge finally closed in 1931 because the popularity of hiking declined in the 1920s.

Can anybody think of a reason why?
click to enlarge

Bombadil's

I promised the Altadena Hiker I'd post a photo of one of the cabins in Big Santa Anita Canyon. (Knowing her, I'll bet she's seen them all.) Here's Bombadil's Castle, one of the fancier ones. Look at that stone wall, will ya? I may be wrong but I'll bet they put it up because this one's right on the Gabrielino Trail and they wanted to discourage nosy dogs.

The Hermit Falls Trail, also in Big Santa Anita Canyon, is more remote--or, I should say, not as popular. The cabins along there might be a little quieter for the residents.

This, however, would be one drawback of living in the otherwise gorgeous canyon: you have to share your idyll with hikers.

Canyon Depths

I think you should click to enlarge this picture.

The other day, Bellis (who often comments here) and I walked from Chantry Flat to Sturtevant Falls and back. (The road up from Sierra Madre is open during the day.) Our trusty pooches came along, too. The water is flowing clear and clean in Big Santa Anita Canyon alongside the Gabrielino Trail.

Bellis also showed me the trail that goes above the falls. High! Steep! Narrow! Wonderful. There's everything to love about a hike like this one--tall trees, a flowing stream and a waterfall, forceful now after the rain.

This place is extra special, perhaps because of 81 historic, privately-owned cabins, some of which you'll stroll by as you walk along the canyon floor. The cabins are what remain of the original 350 that were built from the 1890's to the 1920's.

I found myself envying the cabin residents but I have to be realistic. It takes a special kind of person to live there. Few of the cabins have central heat, plumbing or electricity (though we did notice some solar panels), and phone service is limited. Not only that, but unless you're a mountain biker with the thighs (and knees) of an Olympic athlete, your home is accessible only by hiking into and out of the canyon.

It's so beautiful there, for a minute I thought I could get used to it if I could heat with solar panels. Later in the summer this stream will be dry, or close to it. But right now it's heaven.

Then I thought about carrying the groceries.