High Sierra Topix

That's really something. I'm sure I've seen more rattlesnakes than black widows and I live is Los Angeles.

We get plenty of widows in Bakersfield, but have to head to the hills to see snakes; haven't been to Tephite, but from what I have heard and read, it is full of bugs, no matter what time of year you go

I used to paint houses in the Sacramento area when I was in college, and I encountered Black Widows everyday. Once up in the foothills I found one that was living between the screen and window. This specimen was--I swear--with it legs spread out, as big as a CD. It was huge. I left it alone, since I wasn't being paid to kill mutant spiders.

Tehipite Valley is worth any discomfort. The bugs aren't that bad at all. You want to see bugs spend some time hiking out here in the eastern woods and swamps! That's why I love hiking in the Sierra, except for a small window of mosquitoes, there are no bugs. When I hear people bitching about the Sierra mosquitoes, I have a hard time feeling sorry for them. Just slather some DEET on and enjoy the solitude, and the perfectly dry weather!

You have a point vandman! I was raised near the woods in Massachusetts, and I have forgotten how buggy the east coast is. I have to get to Tehphite- but I want to go in the fall when the water level is down, so I can fish the river.

Tehipite is loaded with trout! You will catch your limit in one hour. I have never eaten so much trout.

Wow! Rattlesnake bites to black widows and trout. I just love it.

When I get back from Tehipite Valley toward the end of May, I'll let ya'll know what I found.

Plenty of trout to go around.

This was taken in the Monarch Wilderness, below little tehipite in a side canyon. It's an aquatic garter snake, and that's a native rainbow.

Amazing photo!

Totally amazing photo.

I do have a similar experience. A group of us were in the 60 Lakes Basin. Most of the guys were out fishing, but three of us were sitting around, cooking trout. After some time of inattention, we looked over and saw a garter snake actually taking a fish out of the frying pan!!! We were so stunned, no one thought to take a picture - we just watched the action...

That IS amazing! It must have smelled pretty good :-)