When I found my first Cal mtn king, I was shaking for about 15 minutes afterwards in disbelief. Dopamine levels soared.

I hope you get to have the experience. Have your phone or camera ready to snap a picture, then walk away and do the happy dance.

Many years ago long before smart phones a friend of mine who does not care about snakes but knows I do, was in Central California near the coast on a dirt road that passes through a sea of manzanita. He took a picture of a snake crossing the road, and it was a zonata. Of all the dumb luck. Try to find a Z in manzanita. I think field reports of them in that area are slim to none, not sure though. It was up Highway 1 north of Cambria in impossible terrain to hunt except for the dirt road.

He and I went surfing up in that area the next year, and we went to that dirt road. Just an absolutely beautiful area. I am glad that Z's inhabit it. No way anyone could deplete that population due to them being nearly impossible to find. The manzanita is just awesome there, very red and twisted and rather large. It would rip you to shreds trying to walk in it I am sure.

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