HikeArizona.COM

please post where you've seen a gila monster this year
i want to see one this spring (and so does hansenaz)
consider it a public service posting
thanks, y'all

@TooOld2HikeQ
"I have never been called to attend a case of Gila monster bite, and I don't want to be. I think a man who is fool enough to get bitten by a Gila monster ought to die. The creature is so sluggish and slow of movement that the victim of its bite is compelled to help largely in order to get bitten." - Dr. Ward, Arizona Graphic, Sept. 23, 1899.

xsproutx wrote: ↑Feb 21 2024 3:36 pm Well a lot of people never see one, so as you die at least you can take joy in seeing such an amazing creature? Positive thoughts!

They sure are. This was my first and only sighting. It was in Sabino Canyon on a blistering hot day in 2012.

I've seen about a dozen in roughly three decades of hiking/outdoor activity. The chances of getting bitten by one are extremely low. This one made the news exactly because of how rare it is, and the media loves a good story about a moron who gets himself killed in a dumb manner. Sounds like an anaphylactic reaction to the venom.

LindaAnn wrote:the media loves a good story about a moron

So far I seem to have dodged that bullet.

@Alston_Neal
Which part have you dodged? The media or the moron part?

@The_Eagle

Which part have you dodged?

I believe “the good story” part.

chumley wrote: ↑Feb 21 2024 9:56 pm @The_Eagle

Which part have you dodged?

I believe “the good story” part.

I have a mental image of Alston totally festooned with gila monsters, each dangling by its firmly clenched jaw. It's somehow connected to a deal he's working on, and he smiles while explaining how it's really not as bad as it looks.

big_load wrote:Alston totally festooned with gila monsters

Don't forget BOGO and free shipping.

Alston_Neal wrote: ↑Feb 22 2024 10:24 am

big_load wrote:Alston totally festooned with gila monsters

Don't forget BOGO and free shipping.

They make lovely coin purses.

In Verrado, (a masterplanned community in Buckeye) there are the Skyline Trails on the White Tank Mountains. These a short easy trails and I often see Gila monsters when trail running up there. The secret is "running" as I only see they them when I sneak up on them quickly and they always dash away before I can snap a pic. They like it hot too. So if you want to go run around in the heat you can find them!

I saw a gila monster a few months ago on the Blue Wash trail in Carefree.

NitroTheWolf wrote: ↑May 27 2024 1:49 pm I saw a gila monster a few months ago on the Blue Wash trail in Carefree.

I wonder what the northernmost sighting is among HAZ members.

big_load wrote:I wonder what the northernmost sighting is among HAZ members.

The farthest North I've encountered one is 33.81141° N

@FOTG saw one on Petes Cabin Mesa towards the northern end of Mazatzal Wilderness!

mazatzal wrote: ↑May 27 2024 5:35 pm @FOTG saw one on Petes Cabin Mesa towards the northern end of Mazatzal Wilderness!

Wow! That must be near the Gila Monster Arctic Circle.

As far north as Flagstaff... [ photo ]

@LosDosSloFolks
I was wondering how long that would take to appear.

@LosDosSloFolks
Heloderma suspectum plasticus

Hi,

I saw two different ones on Pontatoc Ridge trail 411 on May 22nd 2024. Kindly see pic of the Monsta Strut