[pct-l] Rattlesnakes on the PCT

[Don Billings]

Interesting story. Thanks for the post.

Although I have yet to embrace hiking poles, I am planning to. And, it seemed to me just yesterday that a snake just 
might strike the poles before it struck my leg if the pole was in the right place. So, you confirmed it is possible. And
thus poles might play a part in lessening the odds of sustaining a bite injury.

I also liked your idea of a snake warning via squiggle in the dirt.



----- Original Message ----
From: Matthew Edwards <hetchhetchyman at aol.com>
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Sent: Wed, March 31, 2010 1:18:32 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Rattlesnakes on the PCT

Sure, I saw plenty of rattlesnakes on the PCT last year. Mostly in the first 400 miles. Every time except once I had ample warning from the snake. That one time was climbing Jenkins peak. The air had turned cooler as a gentle rain began to fall. I was distracted by the mesmerizing weather amid what to me seemed like Desert enviroment. I stepped right next to a slumbering juvenile rattler. I jumped back before it reacted. It was in the middle of the trail so I relocated it with my trekking pole due to a train of hikers I knew were no more than 1 hr behind me. As the tip of my trekking pole touched it's body the snake instantly struck the pole basket three times in rapis succesion!
Anyhow I relocated the snake down slope a bit and then did something we all began early in the hike.
I made a squiggly line in the trail dust for 10 feet in front and after the point I found the snake.
In my "tribe" it was our way of signaling a snake was nearby.
Definitely not LNT so go ahead and rip me for the suggestion if you like.
Other than that one encounter I really never worried to much about rattlers either on trail or cowboy camping at night.. Neither did anyone I met.
Just use common sense and try to stay alert especially during the warming times of the day and evenings.
Beautiful Animals!
-Iceaxe

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