Rattlesnake on the Appalachian Trail
By Hitman | June 22, 2010
I’m back….
I spent all last week in the woods. A few friends and I hiked the Appalachian Trail in North Carolina. We hiked 50 miles up and down mountains.
Being summer, we saw several snakes. On my blog I posted a video of a Diamondback Rattlesnake blocking the trail.
It’s funny how much fear a snake can provoke. And I’m not really afraid of snakes.
See how I wrangled the snake off the trail…
LESSON LEARNED: After seeing the snake sitting only two feet off the trail, hidden in the bushes, I thought about other rattlesnakes hiding off the trail. These things could bite me at any moment. I actually was afraid to walk down the the trail. Part of me wanted to just stay there and not walk any more. The fear of what may happen had me paralyzed.
What if there was another bigger snake hiding a couple feet off the trail? What if I stepped on its tail? What if I couldn’t get to a hospital in time? What if? What if?
These “what ifs” can keep you from moving forward in EVERY part of your life. What are you going to do with your fears?
I suggest you sum up your fear and get past it. And when (not if) the fear comes up in your mind again, devise a plan. Weight out your options. Get past your fear.
UPDATE: After searching through some Eastern Diamondback pics, I’m not 100% sure this snake was a Diamondback. He may have been a Timber or Canebrake Rattlesnake. Below is a still shot of the snake.
Topics: carpet cleaning business | 8 Comments »
Facebook comments:
8 Responses to “Rattlesnake on the Appalachian Trail”
Questions and Comments
« Top Ten Sites to Submit Your Cleaning Videos | Home | Why You Should NOT Try to Rank #1 in Google Adwords »
June 22nd, 2010 at 5:33 pm
John,
I think you are a great guy and consider you a friend.
But I have to tell you…I think your freaking NUTS!!!
All the best,
-Ev-
June 22nd, 2010 at 6:13 pm
Thanks Evan. Yes, all inhibitions go out the window when you’re in the woods.
June 22nd, 2010 at 6:50 pm
Ack! is that poison ivy! I’m never going there in the summer. Maybe in the winter.
June 22nd, 2010 at 6:57 pm
Yes you never know what is just out of site. I had a simular thing happen on the trail a number of years ago. A group of us where walking a much wider trail and there was a log that had been lying across the trail for some time. Well I stepped over the log and was continuing to walk while the girl behind me being tired stopped and sat on the log after stepping over it and called for me to wait. When I turned back I noticed that a huge rattle snake was coiled up under the edge of the log that was not touching the ground and the more she moved on the log the more the snake was moving. I told her to shut up and do what I said. I told her to stand up slowing without putting her hands on the log or moving her feet. Once she was up I told her to run straight toward me as fast as she could and not stop until she was to me. She did and the snake came up from under the log and off into the woods just as fast. Wish I had a camera like you back then.
June 22nd, 2010 at 7:18 pm
Yes, there was lots of poison ivy. I managed to avoid it. Linda, I’m always really careful about stepping over logs too. You never know what’s on the other side.
June 23rd, 2010 at 4:37 am
That was a big one. You said it was 5 feet long? Looks like a fun trip.
June 24th, 2010 at 5:13 pm
Nah, he was 4 feet at best, and probably closer to 3. It was fun to see him out there.
August 28th, 2010 at 2:18 am
Great stuff John! I look forward to other creative information.
Dennis Klager