[pct-l] Rattlesnake Bites

[David Ellzey]

During our section hiking last year we ran across a handful of rattlers in the 420 miles between Campo and Mill Creek Summit:

Section A - 1 (about Mile 93)
Section B - 2
Section C - 2
Section D - 4 (exited PCT at Mile 420)

All of them were either right in the trail or just next to it. None of them seem to pose any danger to us but we were pretty good at keeping an eye out for them.

BigToe

-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net] On Behalf Of Nathan Miller
Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2010 7:54 PM
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Rattlesnake Bites

>They basically just want you to go away, they don't want to bite you.

I concur.  I've only had a few encounters with snakes.  The first was a rather large timber rattler in the not-so-high Sierra that had just eaten something.  It was slowly slithering across the trail and seemed to be oblivious of our presence.  Another was two years ago just north of Burney Falls.  I stepped across a branch and right next to another smaller branch...only the smaller branch was a rattlesnake!  I yelped, jumped back, and watched as it slithered up onto a log next to the trail, coiled up, and then just looked at me.  The most recent was last June near Middle Devil's Pk. north of Seiad Valley.  A snake rattled at me from under a rock.  I stopped and as I backed up slowly, the rattling slowed.  I maneuvered around the rock and as I retreated down the trail, the rattling slowed and then stopped.

It's probably like that with most wildlife...bears, cougars, etc.  They just want to be allowed to go about their business and move along, because we aren't the droids they seek.

-Nate the Trail Zombie
Newberg, OR



      
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