HikeArizona.COM

Anyone wear snake gaiters, I am looking for suggestions as to type (knee, hip) and brand. I have had several close calls and thought a little prevention may help, though I could perhaps wear my glasses full time.

Curious. Has anyone heard of a documented case of a hiker being bitten by a rattlesnake? Personally I have not. Obviously I'm sure its happened, but how, when, where? What were the medical implications?

I've heard the stories. I haven't witnessed such or seen any scars.

I nugged this bad boy on Whiskey Springs Trail
http://www.hikearizona.com/trails/phoen ... p/wr12.jpg

& actually stepped on this ol' boy on the Dutchman Trail
http://www.hikearizona.com/trails/dated ... 00011B.jpg

I've hiked by at least 20-30 rattlesnakes in the last 20 years but never even had one strike. They seem to be just as interested in creating space between us as I am.

flechenbones

I havent heard of hikers being bitten either. When we used to keep them, my roommate got it with one fang on the index finger. Not something you would want to have to drive into town with I can assure you. His arm swelled up to a size larger than his leg. As far as a gaiter goes, anything other than a kevlar or metal material is useless as far as I understand. Leather and cloth can both be bitten through. I would recommend a Sawyer Extractor snake bite kit for any good first aid kit to be taken on any forays into snake country, which includes most of AZ.

( dead link removed )
Go here and do a search on 'snake'.( dead link removed )

My $.02
GTG

I saw a show on Channel 8 about snakes produced by the State Fish and Game and some other organization. It said like 95% of snake bites are the result of the victim trying to 'play' with the snake. I've seen a bunch hiking, but never felt threatened. Plus, considering the temperature in the Phoenix area, I don't think I'd be wearing gaiters tough enough to protect me from a strike..another 2cents

I'm interested in knowing what the snake gaiters are made of...Kevlar?
I've been lucking - no rattlesnake sightings since being in AZ and will hopefully leave the state with the same luck!

I have yet to see a snake in AZ and from what I've read and heard the most common bites are on the hand and arm from folks sticking them into places where snakes might be without looking first.

The reason I asked the question in my earlier post was that I figured I'd get exactly those responses. Bsides the fact that I am a wildlife lover (snakes included!), I think the whole snake thing is a bit overblown.

Evenstar has it right on when he points out that the majority of bites occur to the hands and fingers and not the legs. I have come across plenty and never felt the slightest bit threatened, but felt like the snake was scared to death!

I do carry a Sawer kit in the warm months, and now that I've opened my big mouth I'll probably end up being the first victim! 8O

[quote='Fritzski'] and now that I've opened my big mouth I'll probably end up being the first victim! 8O [/quote]

LOL! And it wouldn't surprise me if the snakes had internet access and have already spread the word on this!

Actually my experiences are not much different that anyone elses here. I've seen and heard 'em but never been bit. I also be careful, don't provoke 'em if I see 'em and carry a snake bite kit.

I've seen 'snakeproof' gaiters and leggings for sale in some of the hunting gear oriented catalogs, like Cabelas, and they seem to be made from heavy, thick leather. They don't sound real hiker friendly.

-Nealz

Some ground surveyors use a plastic type guard that would not work when hiking. It would be too hot and clumsy.

Bushwacking is a little spooky sometimes but the hiking poles help there. I have only come across one aggressive rattlesnake in my years out here. If you accidently stepped on one I'm sure you would get struck and the same goes with putting your hand where you can't see what might be there. Most of them want to get away or just ignore me while they hunt cracks and holes.

I have a friend who was struck when gardening but it was a dry bit and no venom was injected.

I'll tell you who I worry about the most is my little dog. He always has his nose into everything. Keeping my fingers crossed - so far no problems.

There is a presentation on Thur. about 'Poisonous Creatures of the Desert' at the SMHS outdoor amphitheater at 2PM. I'm planning on going.

I wasn't there to see it, but my husband's dog Buddy, a big black lab actually walked over a rattlesnake, stopped on top of it and stood there while everyone freaked out. The snake didn't do anything but slither away. Buddy just stood there unaware with that big dog smile on his face. He also walked up to a skunk on a trail once, they both sniffed each other in the nose and then trotted off in their own separate directions!!

I watched three people walk right over a diamondback buried in the sand in the middle of the trail one night. We 'woke it up' with a stick. It probably wouldnt have moved if the rest of us had passed over it as well. I have seen them play possum without one shake of a rattle until provoked and I have seen them rattle a warning from twenty yards away. I have friends that have told me of aggresive diamondbacks that seemed like hollywood killer mutant snakes. It is true that most people get bit because they were stupid and provoking the snake. The most memorable one was the guy here in town that was drunk and tried to kiss his friends diamondback at a party. Drinking boy got it on the tongue, well that poisoned tongue swelled up and almost choked him. Dont put your hands in an unsafe place, use a light and keep your eyes open and you should be safe. High brush and grasses which are common can be a different story though. A stick is always good to have in these situations.

Oh and just for kicks, who remembers this?
( dead link removed )

GTG

Oh and just for kicks, who remembers this?

Guilty!

I've heard that a rattler has two basic outlooks on other animals (including humans):

#1 - If you're smaller than me, I can eat you.
#2 - If you're bigger than me, you can eat me!!

The bottomline is, that our friend the Buzzworm isn't interested in doing anything but getting away from something larger than itself. It will only bite as a last resort, if it's cornered and cant crawl away from you, or if you get close enough that it feels you're trying to cause it harm.

All of the information in the other posts is on the nose, use common sense! Watch where you put your hands & feet, be extra careful when bushwhacking, and never attempt to handle them (leave that for the Crocodile Hunter).

Marlin Perkins Now there was a guy who could really didn't quite get this TV show thing very well but was determined to continue droning on while Jim stood by and watched. The things we used to watch!

( dead link removed )

I loved that show! Marlin had a nipple bit off by an aligator...as the rumor goes....my memory tells me that he always sent his assistant to deal with the tough stuff!

Marlin and Marty Stouffer made for great TV

I have encountered a few rattlers while hiking and have had to make a major detour on Pine Creek to avoid a nasty one. I hate anecdotal information as much as the next person, but I have read that the chances of getting biten on the leg are remote but if you stick your arm into a clump of bushes you are liable to get hit. I also read that only about 30% of rattler hits actually inject venom. Most hits are dry hits. When a snake injects venom, it's a major stresser on his body and it takes him time to recouperate.

Now when my 'kids' or 'starter wife' begin talking about moving to Arizona I have a whole different view. I tell them that the snakes travel in gangs, crusing the trails looking for unspecting hikers to harrass. I also tell them that the Scorpians are in cahoots with the snakes and attack the snake bite victims as they wither in pain on the ground.

Snick33, those aren't rattlesnakes, from what I'm told they are known as 'mother-in-law snakes'. When they bite, you supposedly do something I've heard referred to as the 'ex-wife two-step' just before you go off into the other place. As far as kids go, we used to scare the neighborhood kids and the village idiot with tales of 'Mogollon Monkeys'. They flew, and ate the flesh of mammals of course. They were particularly fond of Boy Scouts and first-time campers.

Note –
No mother in laws, ex-wives, snakes, campers, monkeys, Boy Scouts, neighborhood kids, or village idiots was harmed during this post. If I have offended you, then sorry, click on another thread.

GTG

H'mmmm Maybe that's where 'Binky' is hiding . . . .