readiness for Cactus to Tram

[AlanK]

We've run into snakes in the dark on Skyline. At least they tend to be more sluggish then. But face it, if you are oging to hike along desert trails, you are going to encounter snakes.

[FIGHT ON]

But face it, if you are oging to hike along desert trails, you are going to encounter snakes.

I've never been oging to hike anywhere let alone along a desert trail. Does this mean that I won't encounter snakes? JUST JOKING AROUND ALLANK!
They don't sleep in holes? They just find any old spot and curl up and sleep? I hate snakes.

[Rick M]

Beware Fight On: I've encountered rattlers as high as 8,500' during the summer and their habitat is over 9,000' in places.

One reason I love the winter snows

[Hikin_Jim]

No hiking = no snakes, but if you go hiking, you're going to see them. I usually wear long pants with loose pant legs. Supposedly that makes it a little harder for them to bite. I also usually wear high tops when on XC hikes and also on backpack trips.

Snakes are typically reticent to strike -- they need that venom for things to eat and don't want to waste it on you. When I was stationed by the Army in AZ, I frequently saw multiple rattlers per hike!

I even had my face right in front of one when I was pulling my self up to a small ledge. LOL, that was a tense moment. That was a really quick downclimb!!

I also stepped one time over what I thought was a stick. It coiled up and rattled. Yoiks!

Still, despite all my close encounters with snakes, I've never been bitten. Be careful out there, but don't be too paranoid about snakes.

If you were really worried about it, you could get some snake chaps. Most snake chaps are so stiff that you don't want to hike in them. Usually just keeping your eyes open and being aware of your surroundings is enough.

Hey Zip!, didn't you one time post that you had found some snake chaps that actually could be hiked in? What brand were those and where did you get them?

[pdforeme]

thanks on the snake stuff. I'm debating whether to start in jeans or in shorts w "rain pants" (loose, shed them later).. hmmm.

I can recall in younger, less enlightened days using a large rock several times up on Santa Rosa...but that was in the 60's when it was still "ok"

[James]

Hikin_Jim - Are the long pants really necessary on Skyline? Is this a common thing? I've got the zip off pant legs too but would rather keep them in the pack if possible. The rattlers I've seen in daylight have been docile and usually move off the trails...eventually. I'm not one to rush a snake though. Not sure what they are like at night although I would guess about the same.

[Perry]

There's less risk of snake bites Monday through Friday because there's less probability that someone ahead of you pissed off the snake.

[Hikin_Jim]

Hikin_Jim - Are the long pants really necessary on Skyline? Is this a common thing? I've got the zip off pant legs too but would rather keep them in the pack if possible. The rattlers I've seen in daylight have been docile and usually move off the trails...eventually. I'm not one to rush a snake though. Not sure what they are like at night although I would guess about the same.

Hey, James,

I think most people hike in shorts when it's hot. I wasn't making a blanket recommendation that you wear long pants, but if you're worried about snakes, long pants might be helpful.

HJ

[Hikin_Jim]

Also, you could try these: https://www.turtleskin.com/store/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=SAGAITERS. I haven't tried them, but they sound good.

TurtleSkin has several other options as well, although the gaiters seem to be the best one for a hiker. https://www.turtleskin.com/store/category.aspx?categoryID=1

The "catch" is that they're kinda on the pricey side. Still, if you hike a lot and the snake worry factor is keeping you from doing things you want to do, maybe it's worth it.

HJ

[James]

HJ: Thanks for the info. I don't worry about snakes too much so shorts should be fine with a dose of patience.

Perry says the snakes are cool M-F (didn't know they had a schedule).

Seriously, thanks for all the great advice, should be hot out there the next few days.