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Does anyone have a group from this local? I was out in Az. this past summer and found a nice male on the Graham Mnts but I have not found anyone else who has this local.
I will post a pic soon.
Plaes post any info on breeders or pics of animals you may have out of this local.
Thanks Jason

Here Is a pic while he was sitting still

This is one as he took off by a pen for size

Nice high band count on that one.

Thanks I love him
Later Jason

I don't know anyone with a breeding group from the Pinaleno Mtns. (Mt. Graham is the tallest mountain in this range, they are sometimes called the Grahams). You might have to make another trip out to find a mate.

Greg

Funny thing is I don't know if I could find the area again. I was with a buddy who looking for someother snakes for pics when I almost stepped on this little guy. We stopped for a quick look around and then I found this guy under foot. That led to a quick stop turning into a 2 hour quest for another that failed. I didn't bring any water cuz it was so cool out and I had never been in this habitat hicking before. Quick lesson always bring water anywhere you go in AZ. Even if you walk to a store from a car a few feet away. It is unreal how dry it was. Anyway I hicked up the mountain about 1.500ft back down and back up and was completly dehydrated. I drank 3/4 of a gallon of water at the first store we stopped at. My buddy had to help me down the Mtn. That really sucked but this little guy was worth it. We found 2 other further south but neither was as nice and I gave them to my buddy. The rest of the trip kicked butt and we found a ton of snakes (almost 30 in 1 night) but despite 2 more trips back to the same Mtn I cound not find another Pyro in the Grahams

Thanks for reading
Jason

I just reread this post and I have no idea what HICKING is but I was hiking
Thanks Jason

Jason, I have a friend who lives near there. He's been on the mtn. several times and never seen a pyro. It's one of the places I plan to spend time at eventually, but the Santa Ritas are closer and the majority of my time is spent there. I have yet to visit Mt. Graham.

I'm curious as to where you were at on the mtn? As far as I know there's only one main road that goes up the mtn. Were you near the bottom when you spotted the pyro, or were you partway up? I'm curious because I want to know how they utilize the habitat, whether or not they come all the way down the mtn? In the Chiricahuas we've seen pyros all the way down the road in Portal, near the country store. But I guess that's still some elevation there.

The climate and habitat in AZ can be unforgiving. I learned my lesson the first time I climbed Mt. Wrightson, and that is mostly forest and much cooler. I didn't take any water and it almost killed me. I came down over four hrs. later, dehydrated, feet blistered, and spent the next days recovering. I never go anywhere w/o water anymore and drink frequently. Also, I never hike w/o proper footwear anymore. Trying to climb a mtn. in tennis shoes is asking for big trouble. I was made aware of how different it is in the West from more Eastern states that year. Since then I've taken it as a personal challenge to learn how to survive on a mtn and look forward to my first overnighter someday, only I won't take it lightly.

Thanks...TC

Terry, I don't think I was near death but the was because the person I was with knew I would need water when we got seperated and brought a pint with him when he looked for me. I had to stop every 50-100 feet to rest on the way down. We are not talking a rope and spike climbing situation but more of a hike up hill. It was steep but not dangerous.
As far as where on the mountain I am not going to be alot of help. I know there was a area below where there was a parking "lot" for about 3 cars with a stream on the left and a rock face on the right. There was also a bathroom up the cliff face trail. We found a pyro shed there on a return trip. I know, big help but I realy don't know anything else to tell you. The guy I was with was a Az experienced herper and he was leading me around by the nose and telling me what to do. I normally hate that but we did so well in our time there that I couldn't complain.
We had a Az snake hunting book from the 1940's or 50's and that thing was killer. We found a pyro in about the exact spot described that someone else found one in 1947 I think. It was on the base of the Gardner Mine trail way up in the Mtns. the name of which I can not spell. In the book there is a quote from I believe Kauffeld about finding a pyro in a area of tin and shade tht was described so well that when we got to it we knew we were there and there was the pyro right where he should be according to the book. I guess they left him there for us and no one else ever saw him in the 50+ years since they where there.LOL If you know the book check out the account and you will know what I am talking about. It is described very well and in rereading some of Kauffeld's books on places I have been I find I know the spot he describes.
Thanks Jason

Thanks, Jason. That's a cool story. I've got the book and will check out the spot someday. Thanks for the info...helps me understand the habitat. Later...

TC

I have been talking to a guy by the name of Greg Huston who lives in Ariz. and knows alot about pyro locales. His email is kingsnakes@cox.net give him a shout and see what he thinks.

Matt Woodhall
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www.pyromelana.com

kingsnake@cox.net
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www.pyromelana.com