A harmless (?) snake at Buffalo Creek trail in Colorado.

The Capistrano Dispatch says San Juan Capistrano officials have alerted the public to recent rattlesnake sightings on area hiking trails and the article I read offers some tips for what to do if you encounter a snake on the trail. The best tip of all is also the simplest: if you see a snake on the trail, LEAVE IT ALONE. Seems simple enough…

The article also mentions it’s a good idea to carry a walking stick but doesn’t mention what the stick is for. I recommend NOT using the stick to poke the snake - this usually makes them more upset and more likely to strike.

I’ve encountered snakes many times hiking and mountain biking and I can tell you it’s always a startling experience but usually that’s about it. On a backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail my dad and I encountered a rattlesnake sunning right in the middle of the trail. We tossed rocks at the snake to get it to move (bad idea, I know) and obviously this upset the snake because it started rattling viciously. Clearly the snake wasn’t going to move so we took a wide berth off trail and around the snake and were on our way.

On a hike at West Monument Creek Trail in Colorado Springs my wife and I encountered a rattlesnake sunning on the pavement outside the Tesla power plant. It was easy enough for us to walk around the snake except this time we had our dog Jackson with us and he didn’t know what to make of the rattling, slithering thing. I yelled as loud as I could to get him away from the snake (he was off leash) and eventually Jackson got the picture. Good thing too - we were at least a mile or two from the car and I didn’t feel like carrying our 95 pound dog.

Yep, dealing with snakes on a hike is just part of the outdoor experience - leave them alone and they’ll do the same to you.