A harmless Garter snake resting near the river (Thamnophis sp.).

Looks like a Mountain gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans elegans), a subspecies of Western Terrestrial Garter Snake (Thamnophis elegans).

If you can confirm the identification of Garter snake, please post a comment or email me.

For more information about this species, read en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garter_snake and en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thamnophis_elegans

Photo taken during a 3-day trek on the Pine Ridge trail to the Sykes Hot Springs in the Vantana Wilderness, near Big Sur (California)