SNAKE STANDING
On the Trail Blazers’ December 28, 1999 hike to Rocky Peak, Arlene Altshuler, our trusted hike leader, tried out a new skill – snake standing. The tale itself is interesting enough. As you read it, imagine that it is happening to you - you’re worst nightmare!
As we do every week, we start the hike by picking up some of the trash near the trailhead. I watched Arlene begin to bend over to pick up a piece of wrapped candy, but, to my alarm, I saw that stretched out about an inch in front of her boots was a rattlesnake! Not a large one - only about 11 or 12 inches long. I yelled at Arlene - STOP! - which, to my relief, she did. Then to my horror, you see, I am fond of Arlene, she turned, moved her feet, planting one foot squarely on the middle of the snake. The rattlesnake was not amused and, no doubt, in some distress. I lunged toward Arlene, grabbed her by her nearest upper arm and jerked her violently away.
Arlene had no idea what was going on. I am not usually a violent person. Indeed, I can remember consciously controlling the force of my effort, knowing that my adrenaline rush could result in an injury to Arlene. She was not traumatized by the presence of the snake, rather she was very concerned that she might have injured it. Fortunately, it was and remained very torpid from the cold weather. The snake had tried to twist around to strike at her lower leg while she was standing on it, however, with its belly being firmly pinned in place, it could not rotate far enough to strike. The snake could not easily be moved off the road because of the steep cuts on both sides. We warned everyone coming down the trail to watch out for the snake. After all, being stepped on twice in one day would be two time too many.
What this incident should teach us is that you may encounter rattlesnakes any time of the year - even in cold weather. And....before picking up anything off of the ground, you must not remain so focused that you fail to scan the area for any of nature’s striking creatures.
11-30-04