5 Tips For Hiking In Rattlesnake Season | Trail Safety
Ever wonder how to hike in snake season? Rattlesnakes are scary but they don't have to be. Some of the most beautiful scenic hikes throughout the deserts and high plateaus will inevitably leave you face to face with a Rattlesnake at some point, so you better be prepared.
Here are my top 5 tips how to safely hike in Rattlesnake country. In this video I'm specifically referencing the Western Rattlesnake that is most commonly in the Western United States. Full disclosure, snakes scare the hell out of me so I'll do everything in my power to stay far far far away. I hope these 5 Tips on how to safely hike in Rattlesnake country serve you well. Above all else, if you remember to respect all of natures critters, even the scary ones, you'll find that they will more often than not reciprocate that respect and keep their distance.
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Me and my friends always hiked out in the desert in California. We used to like to kick rocks or gravel every so many feet. More than once that has served us and alerted us to the presence of rattlesnakes. We also had to walk through a lot of brush in the places we hiked. So we will always pick up rocks and throw them in the brush first to make sure we weren't walking into a den of rattlesnakes. Which happened a bunch of times. Thank God we threw the Rocks instead of just went trudging in there😢 well that's my two cents I hope it helps everybody stay safe out there I think we should all pass along as much knowledge to each other as We Know have a great day🎉
Thanks for the great insight!
I live in Arizona and run into rattlesnakes all the time, so much so that I started wearing hunting boots that are snake bite proof.
Wow, that’s way too many snakes for my liking
I'm in AZ as well and I might just start doing that too, I've encountered a rattlesnake every single time I've gone hiking since the temperatures went up, thankfully they always warn me before I get too close.
Good info. You covered everything important. I try to remember the Rattlesnake was here B4 lil ole MEeee, that I'm invading it's home, to be respectful & give it a chance to move away from MEeee. If that doesn't happen, I give the Rattlesnake a wide birth as I walk around it. I've lived in Arizona & Nevada for the past 35+ years; I've seen/heard rattlesnakes but never have I caused one to curl into a raised "strike" position.
That’s a great lesson for us all to remember. If we respect nature and the amazing creatures that are all around us, we have a much better chance of staying safe and happy. Thanks for the great reminder!
April marks the end of my desert hiking with my dogs. No more desert hikes until November. When the temps are below 55 degrees, the snakes usually stay in their lairs. Still on the extremes of my hiking trips I use snake-proof gaiters. Thanks for the tips. I always have at least one trekking pole. Stay safe!
The gaiters are a great recommendation. With spring hiking in full swing I hope you find an opportunity to get into the forests for some snake free adventures. Cheers!
excellent video. sound advice. exactly the same as my dad a career forester taught us kids in the 50s and 60s. the advice works in southern pine forests too. dad’s stick was always well made and about shoulder height. he always said better than a pistol for shooing rattlers etc out of the way.
I’ll bet your dad had some amazing stories as a forester! Thanks for sharing and the great feedback 😄
Simple, watch where you put your hands and feet. Then remember, CCI IS YOUR FRIEND!!!
Don’t forget- watch where you put your backside too 😂
I have been real lucky, but lots of people get bitten by rattlesnakes every year. I think hiking poles help. It lets them know you are coming, and if they strike they might only strike at the pole instead of your leg.
One more reason why I should probably give hiking poles another try. Thanks for the great tip!
Tips 5 and 6, yep. I use a stick or hiking pole in areas that are thicker and known to have rattlesnakes.
It’s amazing how those scary little nuggets can blend in!
@@northwestwalking Boy, no kidding. We've had enough unexpected "encounters" on our snake adventures that we go with the snake boots off trail most of the time.
You forgot your stick ! 😆
Ha! I was wondering when someone would call me out for that. It was leaning on my tripod 🤣 Thanks for watching!
You don't always " hear" a rattlers warning. I live in CA Mohave Desert. I sometimes hear rattlers in the distance. But I haven't for a long time. I've got Red Racers and Coachwips and I even encountered a Rosy Boa one year. Something did strike my leg one morning. I never felt it because I have diabetic neuropathy. I noticed a small bite and some bleeding. It never swelled up. Thank God. Scared hell out of ne because I never saw what kind of snake it was. I must have almost stepped on it. Im more catious now.❤
Glad to hear the bite ended up not being catastrophic. You’ve got some great examples of just how sneaky the little buggers can be
"Baby rattlesnakes are born in the fall"- yet in the coastal hills of California I encounter the babies in June.
Interesting. I wonder why there is such a difference between regions?
very good friend
Always looking for a new adventure! Thanks for watching 😃
🎉
It’s almost creepy crawly season in the PNW!!
Are Rattlers active on the wetter west side of the Cascades and is there an elevation above which they won't be?
Great questions! Western Rattlesnakes are typically found at 7,000 feet or below. There are very rare occasions when they can be found above 7,000 feet but it’s extremely rare. As for locations, we are very fortunate on the Westside of the Cascade Mountains to not have rattlesnakes. It is far too wet and cool for them to thrive. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has a great article if you’re interested. WDFW.WA.GOV Cheers!
this is good stuff, BUT you totally failed to cover any sort of advice for if you actually get bitten! that right there is just as important and possibly even more important than these tips were.
Great feedback! Sounds like I need to put together an updated video. I’ll get to work on it! Thank you!!
I thought Washington State was the land of two foot slugs.
Ha! That’s in western Washington where I normally hike. You haven’t lived until you accidentally step on a Banana Slug! 🫣 Washington’s geography is very diverse. Once you cross east over the mountains you find yourself in the high desert plains and our vast agricultural region
I was being a smart ass ha ha. I have friends that live on both sides of the mountains. I once asked an Auzzie how any of them can survive with all of the venomous snakes, crocs and poisonous spiders. He said most of us live in cities. We have a saying here in Virginia that there is no life north of Richmond or west of the Blue Ridge ha ha.@@northwestwalking