Seems I am making up for lost time in the snake viewing category. We hiked out through a dry wash to “Willow Hole”. Indeed, there were willow trees back in a canyon among huge boulders. Nice walk except for all the sharp little stones that kick up when one hikes a wash around here. We both had to stop and empty boots a couple times. Then there was the snake. It was just a couple feet long and I still am not sure what kind it was. Kent so kindly identified it as the spotted rattler found here. I am going for a plain ole rat snake or the like. They have a great many little desert rodents around here.
The Ranger sort of sided with me. He said it was a gopher or garter or some non-venomous snake. He didn’t seem too confident to me but I liked his answer!