[pct-l] snakes

[Scott Williams]

It was a really long fat snake who simply wouldn't move and people were
pummeling it with dirt clods and sticks and it just looked at us all and
lay in the sun.  The cyclist rode up to the edge of the crowd that had
gathered on both sides of the snake, as there was no way around it on
either side of the trail, and handed me his water bottle.  One squirt of
water and that snake jumped into the air like I'd hit it with acid or
something, and was gone in a flash.  Rocks and sticks had no effect on that
big old snake, but a few drops of water were amazingly effective, and the
best thing is there was no harm to the snake at all.

Shroomer

On Tue, Apr 10, 2012 at 5:18 AM, Jim & Jane Moody <moodyjj at comcast.net>wrote:

>
>
> Shroomer posted a great story a couple of years ago about encountering a
> stubborn, large buzzworm on a run in the hills.  A cyclist came by with a
> water pistol and sprayed the snake, causing it move away rapidly.
>
>
>
> So, always a carry a fully-loaded water pistol in snake country.  No
> "carry permit" required.
>
> Mango
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
>
> From: "David Thibault" <dthibaul07 at gmail.com>
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Sent: Monday, April 9, 2012 11:21:51 PM
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] snakes
>
> Generally throwing stones at a snake doesn't work very well.  I suspect
> they don't really understand where the threat is coming from so they just
> stay where they are.  If they move they might actually go toward the threat
> -- so their best option is to stay where they are.
>
>
> The best way I've found to get a snake to move from the trail is to use a
> big brushy stick with lots of leaves (or needles).  The snake will always
> head the other way.  Of course there are some spots on the PCT where your
> chances of finding a big brushy stick is much less then your chance of
> finding a stubborn snake.
>
> A hiking pole will also work but you tend to get a bit closer
> (uncomfortably closer for most folks) to the snake than using the branch
> method.
>
> Day-Late (the mover of many a snake)
>
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