Solo Camping...Post 1

As spring was coming to and end, I knew I had one last chance to get out and herp the Sierras before the real summer heat kicked in. So headed out for a weekend alone to find a snake that has been eluding me for nearly 10 years.

The 4Runner.

The first find was a skink, which was a good sign. Where there be skinks, there also be snakes.

Finally, SUCCESS. Charina bottae, the Northern Rubber Boa!

Rubber boa selfie.

A small specimen, likely a juvenile.

I searched under probably fifty or so rocks before I found this snake.

Rubber boas are docile and harmless, and while not all that vibrantly colored, they are still cool little snakes.

Old straight 6.

Here you can tell how small this snake was, maybe 8" overall.

A bit later, after another 50 or so rocks, I found a second example. I was surprised with how active these snakes were.

I figured these snakes would be more of the slow moving type...

Close-up

Very close-up...

Another skink.

And this was a nice surprise! A mating pair of Sierra Alligator Lizards. Just bite her in the head and hold on, and she will do what you want.

It was in this crack I saw the lizards. I let them be. Don't want to interrupt lizard baby making.

Another gator.

After I thoroughly exhausted myself in the morning, I decided to go back up Sonora Pass Road and herp some more.

As far as herping is concerned, this was a mistake. I soon found myself at an altitude too high for good snake frequency.

But the scenery did not disappoint.