Snakes, blood and bites: OMG!

Blog 8

Ok, maybe that title was click bait. Yes, there were rattlesnakes and yes, there was blood; just not both at the same time.

Please be patient while I explain:

The first rattlesnake I saw was fairly close to the Mexican border. I think it was the second day. I could still see the wall, so it had to have been within the first three days. I have now seen double digit numbers of rattlesnakes and several other snake species (maybe 20?).

Garter snakes and gophers and WTF?

Then I met a PCT guy who knew all about snakes, that’s his job actually, and he said yeah, the snakes I thought were garters are actually garters, like in Canada. It says that the largest snake den in the world is in Narcisse, Manitoba. I said it’s where I live and I’ve been there many times. How do you know that? He says it’s world famous and wants to go there one day. I know the sign as you enter the park says “world famous,” but I didn’t think it was actually WORLD FAMOUS!

A cheeky advertisement for a local attraction: The daffodil snake dens They are SO GREAT. I have spent many Mother’s Days there. That usually happens just as the rocks that make up their lairs heat up and tens of thousands of red-sided garter snakes slither to the surface and emerge into another Manitoba summer spent mating and resting.

California gopher snakes are large constrictors, but as safe as garter for hikers; That’s what the expert said.

The meter long, incredibly fast, dark colored snake that passed me faster than a running man, I have no idea what it was. I’m glad you had the same idea as me: STOP UP!!

I’m not sure what the big snake was that had its tail in one of the thousands of holes in the trail, but when it backed up toward the hole, it gave me a whole new respect for what was in all those holes that I step on or over every hour.

retreating into his hole

rattlesnakes

My first encounter with a rattlesnake was when a friend was walking a few feet in front of me. I heard a rattle and saw that his foot had almost stepped on the rattle, and my momentum carried my foot about five inches away as the snake darted toward the bushes. It was a large and thick snake measuring more than one meter.

They seem to sunbathe on the roads and walk away when we arrive. This is good unless you get to the corner too quickly or they are young.

Young rattlesnakes as adolescent humans -Cocky

The hiker ahead stopped 3 inches from this young rattlesnake and remained silent, but I saw him and stopped completely. So this little rattlesnake just sat on the road and said

“cooome clossssser, I bite youuuuu (rattle rattle), and no, you can’t walk around there ssssssI have tactically prepared my ambush with a sssssssteeeeeep slope on one sssssside, and a cliff on the other. (rattle rattle).”

I’m told that young rattlesnakes inject more venom than they should and make other aggressive mistakes that older ones don’t, attacking things they shouldn’t. There I was, with the road blocked and this guy not moving. Then I threw a rock nearby. Nothing. Don’t hit anything. Part of his body was on a log, and I remember that vibration is very important, so I hit the log with my hiking stick, which rattled his rattle and made him look very angry. What does that look like, you ask? Deadly angry. These snakes have already killed two people in California this year.

angry eyes

My snake photo with a pinch of Ai dramatization.

I continued tapping and every time he/she looked at me, he/she gave me angry eyesthen climb a couple of inches up the steep slope. Enough hits and he went uphill. Progress; even if it’s a little.

I read official instructions that said the first thing you should do if you get bitten is press the panic button and then lie down somewhere safe. The vast majority of hikers carry satellite panic buttons. If you don’t have one, walk, don’t run, to the nearest opportunity where someone can call 911. This is a life-threatening emergency. The helicopter comes and picks you up. I’m not sure why exactly, but I’ve seen or heard of three roadside helicopter extractions in three weeks. I have no idea why, I’m just saying it happened.

stupid people

That’s why they say they won’t bite you unless you’re harassing them. I’m not convinced that’s always the case, but the first three-foot-plus rattlesnake that crossed my path ducked into some low bushes, so I warned some local hikers behind us. The couple ran and said, «Where is he?» I said he went in there, pointing to a very thick bush about a foot high. She crashed right into the exact spot I pointed out 20 seconds after the snake entered. He continued walking forward, spreading the branches. Well, folks, FAFO seems to apply and I didn’t want to stay and watch the show.

Hero or stupid person?

At the PCT’s natural hot springs, a popular spot enjoyed by many locals, I heard a rattle as I crossed the rocks to reach the river. I froze to focus on the sound, but only saw a local walking on the rocks too. Then I realized I had a large rattlesnake trapped behind my head and its tail was waving as I walked with it. He took him out of the crowded area. I told him you’re crazy. He said it’s not that difficult. Just use a Y-shaped stick, fix them, and then pick them up. I said yes, but how about we let them go? He said, “Yeah, that’s the hard part”!! Balls.

Get lost

After about seven or eight rattles, I’m a pro at spotting them; They sound like they want to tell you to get lost. I’m very good at getting lost. So I was used to it. The young people sunbathe and do not move. I had to walk around two of them. The big ones take off making noise when they notice you. So I’m thinking I’m a pro until…

Does the second person in line get the bite?

Another hiker ahead of me pisses off a medium-sized rattlesnake who doesn’t move but curls up and shakes his rattle. Now, friends, when you are in hiking mode, you simply stare at the feet of the hiker in front of you as if in a trance. You’re not on guard all day, every moment, so don’t judge, but I watch the sound and my momentum again has me right next to the snake as it uncoils and lunges toward me. Full extension.

Jeremy Clarkson appointment – “I think some poop came out.”

Now, for the record, I’ve been in combat, and I’ve certainly been close in my police and military careers, but the Top Gear host’s quote above also applies to uncoiling rattlesnakes.

Anyway, the good news is that the snake was about two feet long, I’d say, and I was about 32 inches away. So it rolled back up and I passed it as I pulled out my phone and took a video and the photo, which you see at the top of this page.

I didn’t enjoy it. I’m not sure it was a bluff charge like Grizzly Bears do, but whatever it is, I’ll take the lead now because it seems like the second person always gets the snake drama.

The end.

Oh WAIT!! – If I forgot the blood part, I have to justify the clickbait.

Every time I go above 7,000 feet in this dry desert air, I get a nosebleed. Then blood.

AND …

During part of the Mission Creek slide (many hikers are herded around it), I was walking on a very narrow, barely visible part of the trail, and it gave way, and I slid down the mountain about eight feet and was only stopped from continuing down the gorge to my own helicopter ride because I grabbed an old, dead tree root. So I slowly climbed back up to a little level ground and now I only have the scars of a cool story.

Take care, friends, and thank you for taking the time to read about my walk from Mexico to Canada to raise awareness about the plight of Ukrainians who die every day for the right to live as we do here. Check out the link in my bio for the backstory and below for links to donate to my partner charities. One for Canadians and one for the international community. Tax receipts will be issued for donations over $20.

Canadian donors (tax receipts issued): http://weblink.donorperfect.com/HikeForUkraine

International charity based in Ukraine: (US tax receipts issued here)
https://link.u24.gov.ua/r/pd/donate

Note

After the initial draft of this blog, something tickled me. I have no idea what it was. There’s only one hole, so that’s good, it’s not a spider or a snake. The photo above, with the blood running down my leg, I don’t know what stung me, but something stung me along the way. It doesn’t look like I’m dying, but there is a swollen lump there.