Kyoshi spotted the little green spider. I captured it on "film." (or should that be digits?)
This view is north, up the canyon.
This is looking back towards the city, south.
I think this tiger swallowtail may have just emerged from its chrysalis. I don't have any other explanation for why it was tucked in under the straw and sticks.
Dean and Gail had gone on ahead of us at a faster pace, so I was surprised to round a bend and find them headed back to the parking lot. The cause of their retreat was a two foot long rattle snake that had coiled itself on the trail for some sun. We convinced them to follow us on. It is the first time I have seen a rattle snake in the wild since moving to California. By the time we got to it, it was stretched out along the down side of the trail. I was so concerned about getting it to move on and allow us to pass safely by that I failed to get a picture. I regret that now.