This year seems to be a very active year for snakes. Last year we hiked all around southern Utah and saw zero snake activity. A ranger in the northern extension of Zion National Park confirmed that he had hiked hundreds of miles without a single sighting. This particular snake was in the middle of the trail to Suicide Rock and slithered off the trail, remaining coiled about 3 feet off the side in full sunlight; a rare photographic opportunity. I took many captures with my telephoto lens and was able to bring out the eyes using quasi HDR. Any snake experts out there care to identify this species of rattlesnake?