@nprofile1q... On the other hand, one time I stopped for a large snake across the trail in Tasmania (all snakes in Tassie are venomous), and the snake left the trail into the bushes ... and while I was standing there trying to decide if it was safe to proceed, I heard a rustling and it was the snake coming back onto the trail right behind me. So sometimes diverting is the better option.

@nprofile1q... One hiker was wearing low gaiters that probably wouldn't have stopped a snake that size. The rest of us, shorts and low hiking shoes. On the other hand, this is the first time I've seen a rattler in over 5 years.

@nprofile1q... We backed off for maybe one minute, not much longer, during which the snake eventually lowered its head, but didn't leave. We went around, well off the trail on the side opposite the snake. When we got back maybe 40 min later, the snake was gone, but we followed our previous diversion path anyway, banging on things as we went in case the snake had gone that way, which apparently it hadn't.

@nprofile1q... I was first, or maybe second; D and I had been trading off, and we both saw the snake at the same time and froze when it rattled, then stepped back once we saw what the rattle was. If we'd kept going, I could readily believe someone might have been bitten, maybe me (on the side closest to the snake), maybe number 3.

I think we were just too close. The snake was only a foot or so off the trail, and we were maybe 4' away by the time it rattled and we stopped and backed off.

@nprofile1q... I'll keep that in mind next time. 😜

@nprofile1q... This was on the Ponderosa trail, upper Bandelier.

I see rattlers remarkably infrequently around here. It's been several years since I last saw one, and that was across the river in the Caja del Rio. Bullsnakes, garter snakes and coachwhips (especially love those!) are more common.

@nprofile1q... Thanks! It does feel other-worldly in person, too. (It's just east of Los Alamos, but it's not mapped or easy to get to.)

I don't think there is any fixed etiquette for SilentSunday. I've seen some people imply that they shouldn't have a caption/description, just the picture, but plenty of people do add descriptions so I don't think there's much agreement on what it means. And I don't think there's any discouragement of comments. Personally, I'm always happy to get comments.

@nprofile1q... I should mention that it was growing at about 12,000'. So I'm not too surprised that it might be hard to grow at normal elevations. And I agree, it's very pretty. I didn't take many flower photos on this hike but the forget-me-nots caught my eye.

@nprofile1q... Yes, Eritrichium nanum is what I think it is. Our hike leader was looking for it (she calls it blue skymat), but didn't mention it to anyone until after we'd passed this, but a couple of us had noticed and taken photos. It's apparently uncommon and she was happy to hear we'd seen it.