RATTLESNAKE ENCOUNTER!

In nearly 30 years of handling venomous snakes, I still have my no-bites record :) Just barely this time. I was wearing a brand new set of boots that aren't broken in yet, with a thick heavy tread on them, and they are making more noise when I walk than my old set did, which I'm sure enabled the snake to pick up my footsteps JUST in time to start rattling. I think he was initially facing away from me until I was right on top of him.