[pct-l] rattlesnakes

[calliger@xxxxxxxxxxxx (RJC)]

Ditto...all the rattlers I have seen have been peacefully sunning themselves
in the trail when I came even with them...I  either:
 1- tread lighlty around,
 2- jumped over them,
 3- ran around or
 4- pee'd my pants.

hahahhah <smile>


just kidding,

Richard



At 4:47 AM -0000 4/16/03, David Davis wrote:
>I really don't think it pays to think about or worry about snakes on the
>trail.  Just wear your walkman (if you are so inclined) and walk.  I've
>walked at least 1500 trail miles per year (every year but 2 since 1978) in
>the San Diego chaparral country and Mojave Desert.  In that time I've seen
>maybe 20 rattlers.  One was at about 9000 ft on Sugarloaf by Big Bear.
>Several were on the PCT.
>
>Never once have I seen a rattler before I was even with it or passing it.
>Invariably I see motion by my foot just as I am stepping away from it in the
>normal course of walking.  The normal forward momentum of walking has so far
>always carried me to safety even before my brain could register DANGER.  I
>have never even heard one rattle unless I went back for a closer look.
>
>This past summer on Sierra Buttes I was huffing and puffing taking in the
>view and catching my breath when a little one (maybe a foot long) slithered
>out from between my feet and went on down the mountainside.  He didn't buzz
>or rattle or even say "hi."  I'm sure a lot of others have passed within
>striking distance of me but never announced their presence.
>
>The snakes are out there.  I see their tracks in the dirt.  Other people
>more attentive than me see them often.  My stupid dogs go out hunting for
>them.  They stick their heads in every bush.  As a result we've had to pay
>for 2 anti-venom shots in 30 years.  Still I don't think that slavishly
>watching every step and listening for every buzz would make me any safer.  I
>rather suspect that if I were more aware, saw the snake and slammed on the
>brakes I would just have more snake encounters.  As it is, I almost never
>see them.  I rather like it that way.  They kind of scare me when they coil
>up and buzz.
>
>By the way, I live in Joshua Tree (Mojave Desert) and hike mostly in
>sandals.  I even did the PCT Campo to Walker Pass in sandals.
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "yogi hicker" <yogilists@hotmail.com>
>To: <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
>Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2003 2:29 PM
>Subject: [pct-l] rattlesnakes
>
>
>> I've seen rattlesnakes as far up as about 50 miles north of Kennedy
>Meadows.
>>   They disappear in the High Sierra, then you'll see them again north of
>> Echo Lake all the way to Oregon.
>>
>> I, too, walk with a walkman.  Just use one speaker, leave the other ear
>> free.  I've heard lots of snakes while listening to my walkman with one
>> speaker.  There probably were many I didn't hear, too.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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