Rowena Plateau and Tom McCall Point — Friday, Apr. 19, 2019

It was about 70 degrees, with cloud cover and 22mph winds. I started at 2pm. The trail was in great condition and the balsam root was in bloom. I ran into not 1 but 2 RATTLE SNAKES. I was shocked, both times the snakes alerted me to their presence with their distinct rattle, they were camouflaged by the grass and soil, but once I heard them I saw they were extremely close (within 5 ft of  me, the first 1 ft off trail. The second was on the trail, further up in the first patch of trees.) I had to go off trail to avoid the first, the second I waited until it moved off trail. I have done this hike several times, in the hot hot heat of summer, and for the last 3 years of wildflower blooms. Never have a seen one or heard of them here. I had to alert other hikers. Other than that it was a lovely hike. Just use caution, this wasn’t a trail that I had considered an area to find them so it gave me quite the shock.