Peak 2580 - Goldfield Mountains

It was about 90 degrees when I started this hike at 8:09 AM. I followed a jeep trail to the base of the peak. Along the way someone had stacked rocks about 50 feet apart. This was the second time I have knocked them. However, as I raised my foot to kick another rock pile over, I saw a juvenile Western Diamondback Rattlesnake comfortably coiled and using the little spot of shade from the stack of rocks. So I let this rock cairn stand. The rattlesnake never rattled and didn't act defensively. I then photographed the rattlesnake from only a few feet away. After that I began my hike up the peak. At 8:50 AM I was on the summit. It had taken me 40 minutes. At 9:02 AM, I headed back down. Then I was back at my car at 9:35 AM. My hike was 1.6 miles round-trip, and had taken me 1 hour and 24 minutes.