[pct-l] Rattlesnake

[dyoung at relaypoint.net (Dave Young)]

Hello All,

My first post to the list...

My wife and I have been doing a lot of day hikes in the Angeles Crest (Gould
Mesa, Switzer, Chantry Flats, - along the Gabrielino Trail etc.).  The last
two weekends, we have come across rattlesnakes on the trail.  The first one,
I came very, very close to stepping on (and screamed like a 12 year old
girl, I might add).

Anywho, what would the more experienced hikers on this list recommend in a
situation where you are say, 5-9 miles out and then a 30-45 min drive away
from a hospital?  I was under the impression that you should place a light
compression ring above the bite (not a tourniquet but light compression) and
calmly walked out to seek medical assistance.  It doesn't sound like this
approach worked for the poor guy who was the subject of the start of this
thread.  My wife and I are 30 years old and in decent shape if that
matters...

I look forward to your responses.

- Dave


----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Gosnell" <michaelgosnell@hotmail.com>
To: <Lonetrail@aol.com>; <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2003 5:43 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Rattlesnake


> Lonetrail wrote:
>   'If he would have gone to a fire house one mile away they could have
saved
> him.'
>
>    Or dialed 911 and the fire/paramedics would have come to him.
>
> Michael G.
>
>
> The love of wilderness is more than a hunger for what is always beyond
> reach; its is also an expression of loyalty to the earth...the only home
we
> shall ever know, the only paradise we ever need--if only we had the eyes
to
> see it.
>
> Edward Abbey
>
>
>
>
>
> >From: Lonetrail@aol.com
> >To: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
> >Subject: [pct-l] Rattlesnake Date: Thu, 22 May 2003 14:38:43 EDT
> >
> >First fatality from rattlesnake bit this year in SoCal. 51 year ood male
on
> >a
> >day hike walked of trail, called his wife his work drove hemself to the
> >hospital later died.
> >
> >If he would have gone to a fire house one mile away they could have saved
> >him.
> >
> >lonetrail
> >_______________________________________________
> >pct-l mailing list
> >pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
> >http://mailman.hack.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
>
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