Chuck, that rattler knows how fast you hike so he figured it wasn't worth the effort to try and strike you but miss.
Chuck..faster than a timber rattler
Chuck, that rattler knows how fast you hike so he figured it wasn't worth the effort to try and strike you but miss.
Chuck..faster than a timber rattler
'Classic.' A book which people praise and don't read.” ― Mark Twain
Who cares about showers, gourmet food, using flush toilets. Just keep on walking and being away from it all.
There are times that the only way you can do something is to do it alone.
If you had seen me jump mid step you might be calling me antelope chuckOriginally Posted by Ewker
real good seeing you in 3 different states in the last month.
Forgiving enhances living. Whatever you are doing could be the last thing you do, so make it count. FKA chuck
As others have said, rattlesnakes are known by experts to be fairly docile critters, and even when they do bite, a majority of human bites are "dry" (no venom).
It's illegal to kill them in many jurisdictions.
Rain Man
.
"You can stand tall without standing on someone. You can be a victor without having victims." --Harriet Woods
http://www.MeetUp.com/NashvilleBackpacker
.
What was the temperature? I've found that if its cool they get sluggish and lazy. That might be why it was hanging around on the trail and didn't move till you were almost on it. Typically they stay in better protected areas unless they are looking for direct sun on a cooler day.
I was unaware rattlers hang in trees. I've never seen it before. I'm thinking I don't like AR anymore............... but I suppose the risk of stepping on one is reduced.
Around my neck of the woods it is not uncommon to find several in close proximity. Having several buzzing at you is pretty freaky.
Mind over matter,
if you don't mind, it don't matter
Chuck! Glad you came away from your encounter unscathed! Pretty snake. I guess it wanted to sunbathe more than it wanted to mess with you!
It was midday with temps around 60 degrees (overnight temp approx 50). It laid there even after I put my hiking pole down to get some prospective of size. I had to use the other pole to drag the one on the ground back to me and the noise or vibration startled it. I didn't want to bother it.
Forgiving enhances living. Whatever you are doing could be the last thing you do, so make it count. FKA chuck
Hey richtofla, hope to see you again in January. Truthfully the event has cause me to study all about them and you are right they want to be left alone, due to there cameo they think they are hidden and won't be seen and remaining still won't give there location away. Also they are slow to strike. It never rattled only a hiss. Beautiful, even if i"m still jumpy from our meeting.
Forgiving enhances living. Whatever you are doing could be the last thing you do, so make it count. FKA chuck
You want to get some scale for a rattler?This one also was docile, just enjoying a little sun on the trail, when two heavy-footed backpackers came along. (me and my partner) Looked a little skinny from the winter's hibernation.
On the Cumberland Trail near Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee April 2012.
Rain Man
.
"You can stand tall without standing on someone. You can be a victor without having victims." --Harriet Woods
http://www.MeetUp.com/NashvilleBackpacker
.
what a difference 6 months of food can make.You want to get some scale for a rattler?
On the Cumberland Trail near Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee April 2012.
Rain Man
.
Forgiving enhances living. Whatever you are doing could be the last thing you do, so make it count. FKA chuck
Here's an encounter back in June at the Gorge. Kicked grit at this one for a while to get him out of the road and it still didn't get agitated until it started back for the road and I tried to turn him again.
Last edited by Ken; 10-31-2013 at 10:36.
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