We got quite the scare, Julie especially, while hiking on Mt. Tam on Friday. We were on the last leg of our Cataract Trail waterfall hike, debating whether or not turn around, when hike-leader Julie suddenly let out a scream and ran behind us. Nate, not knowing what to think, also screamed and started running back up the trail. I then saw the large rattlesnake that sat well-blended in the grass only a foot off the trail and at about Julie's head height, its tail rattling loudly and tongue flickering continuously. Julie might have been only two feet from the snake...too close for our comfort.
