Eek! Yikes! Interesting Finds Climbing
and Bouldering at Devil’s Lake.
One of the best things about hanging out at Devil’s Lake State Park is the interesting array of insects, frogs, toads, and snakes we come across while guiding. Not only are these “finds” on the trails, but often on the actual climbs themselves! Climbers can be walking to their destination or reach up for that bomber hold, only to be surprised by any number of things including timber rattlers, toads, and spiders.
Not to worry, these encounters are rare and mostly harmless!
The following is a list of the few my favorite things found while guiding:
- Timber Rattler – See where we have found these at the lake. Last year we had several sightings along the hiking trails to climbing locations! With their loud rattler, though shy (thanks goodness!), you’ll hear them.
- Frogs and Toads – The perimeter of the lake, the nearing ponds, and sometimes, in the cracks of climbs!
- Walking Stick – Check the trees around the park. Keep your eyes peeled, they can be tricky to spot since they look, well, like a stick.
- Millipedes and Centipedes – These guys are all over Devil’s Lake State Park! Freaky at first, but not harmful. If seen on the trails, their favorite past-time is being saved and not stepped on.
Wolf Spider – We see these guys on the side of the rocks. Not often, luckily. They never fail to be a freaky sighting.
The Nature Center, located off the Devil’s Lake’s North Entrance offers a wealth of information and examples of wildlife at the lake, as well as a history of the lake and area. It’s well worth a visit. For information about hours visit their website.
We often see climbers at Devil’s Lake State Park from out of town. We love visiting with them and finding out more about where they are from, their local crag, and what brings them to our home crag.We also commonly exchange information on the area, including rock climbing etiquette.
Bright and early last Thursday morning, four seasoned Apex guides were hiking up the CCC trail to set up a climbing site for a group of enthusiastic seventh graders from Roscoe Middle School. Low and behold… a three and a half foot timber rattler on the trail! The first guide and I stepped right over the snake without noticing it. Our group was split – with the two of us on one side and the others on the other side.