Re: [at-l] Short day hike along the AT

["W F Thorneloe, MD" <thornel@ibm.net>]

I suspect that the rattler was curled up, grabbing some sun, and digesting 
a mouse or related critter, Your hiker babes ahead had been walking and 
chatting, but not making a big fuss or noise and heavy foot and trekking 
pole pounding, to alert the poor guy (actually, probably a snaker-babe by 
the size) of your intrusion into the after dinner parlor.

The snake wanted to do nothing except alert you that he/she wanted nothing 
to do with you, hence a defensive position and noise. The snake was 
particularly worried about the dog, and could have easily sent the dog to 
doggy heaven if needed. Giving the snake a wide berth was a good idea. 
Another good idea would have been to simply back up the trail, wait 5 
minutes, then walk back through with a great deal more hubbub.

Throwing a rock at a rattler is not a nice thing to do. If the rattler 
figures out that you are attacking, you then have changed a frightened and 
defensive rattler into an angry and p*ssed off weapon with two hypodermics 
loaded for action. PMS is nothing in comparison to a rattler with attitude. 
A divorce lawyer has more tact. Plus, the rattler was only their doing its 
job of dispatching mice to another job description other than shelter ticklers.

BTW, the fact that you've never seen a rattler or a bear simply attests to 
the fact that you have  been courteous and noisy as you walk through the 
woods. They appreciate that you visit, make food available, and leave 
without a fuss. Us hikers are a lot like pizza delivery persons. We want to 
know when they get here, grab our food, and then leave us to our business 
of consuming the pizza. I know, they never give us a decent tip, but when 
was the last time you tipped the Dominos guy more that a dollar?

OrangeBug
Atlanta, GA


At 03:32 PM 7/23/1999 -0400, Alice Kauzlarich wrote:
>Now, I've been hiking since the 1980's and this was the first poisonous
>snake I have ever seen.  I have yet to come across a bear even.  That old
>rattler was all coiled up and looking us in the legs.  I was not
>particularly in the mood to continue in that direction.  As luck would have
>it there was a climbable bank above the trail and that became our route.
>Now my companion at the time, who had a dog with her, wanted to throw a
>rock at it. "Ha! not at a rattler", says I.  I'm all for chasing other
>nonpoisonous snakes off the trail, but not this big fella.  He was as round
>as my wrist and his coil took up a good square foot plus a few inches.  No
>way Jose!

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