Went for an early morning run just as the sun was rising. It was a pleasent 63 derees out with the sun shining bright. Winter will be tough here in the Old Pueblo! : )
Don’t you worry about snakes and spiders and little critters like that?
Okay I sort of have pics? Anyone know how I can fix that…they are suppose to be thumbnails???
MM…Nope after seeing a few thousand rattlesnakes they don’t bug me to much. Also on these trails I’ve seen Gila Monsters (North Americas only venumous lizard), Big Horn Sheep, Mountain Lions, Bobcats, White tail and Mule Deer, Javelina, Jack Rabbits, Cottontail Rabbits, Desert Tortises, lots of Lizards and tarantulas (sp?)…
…and on special occasions Desert Dude! : )
Perfect habitat for Gila monsters ; )
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You’ve never startled a rattler and had one strike at you? Any guidelines when running in snake territory? Just wondering b/c my sister lives on the outskirts of Scottsdale and I’ve been too nervous about rattlers to run anywhere but on the street when I’m there.
Beautiful pics! I am seething with envy.
When I lived in Cali and ran in the back country I saw plenty of rattlesnakes, but they are shy retiring creatures and would rather slither away from you than make a strike. I preferred the rattlesnakes to what we have here; Bears and cougars. Of course we DID have cougars in Cali, what am I thinking! We even used to bike in Whiting Ranch where one biker was killed and partially eaten and another woman attacked.
If I think to long and hard about all the dangers of excercise I might just crawl into bed and pull the covers over my head. 
nice pics but damn your 63 degrees! it was 37 when i started my run here in HOTlanta.
jason - don’t worry about the snales in scottsdale, they are as scared of you if not more so. I’ve run up on quite a few snakes while in tucson, even stepping on one and no bites.
Billy - is that Yetman? It looks too green for Yetman? Rain anytime in the last 3 weeks? Who were you running with?
Only 63 tssk… it’s over 90 here in Australia! Did have to give up seeing family for five months including Christmas and my birthday though. Oh, and I have to work 5.5 hours a day on a farm to pay for food and a room, but it’s hot 
Don’t you worry about snakes and spiders and little critters like that?
I think they just make you do speed work!
I do all my running off road in the Cocnino National Forest in Sedona, AZ. I hardly ever see anyone…I see more wildlife then people. Snakes, tarantulas, coyotes, javelinas, rabbits…and on and on. The only time I semi worry about rattlers is when darkness is approaching. They come out mostly in the evenings. I plan my runs so I don’t get stuck out after dark…besides…after dark I’ll never be able to see the trail anyway.
We have thousands of guests each year that do lots of hiking. Only 2 guests in the past 9 months have reported seeing rattlesnakes. They don’t hang out on trails very often since they are afraid of people.
Rattlers are pretty lathargic in the early morning (still trying to warm up) and hibernate in the winter (all 2 months of it). If they are in the tail you just learn to jump real good!
Brian…yep thats Yetman…no rain…still green from the monsoonal flooding we had. Ran by myself…cam has timer! : )