Rattlesnake danger?

[TBBucs]

So I'm planning a 3-day solo backpacking trip in Oregon (La Pine area), and I was wondering about rattlesnakes. I will be at around 9000 feet; do rattlesnakes live that high up? And what will their activity be like in September?

Here's where I'm going:

http://www.nwhiker.com/tamRIDGE.html

I plan on making camp up at Broken Top. I can't imagine rattlesnakes being up that high...but I'm no expert, so I thought I'd ask. What's the rattlesnake risk here?

[ArmySurvivalist]

I dont see much of a threat. Even here in Texas if your decently good about looking around and listening to the enviroment you are usually fine.

Just watch out for loose rocks and areas that look prime for snakes.

[Gray Wolf]

The Northern and Western Pacific rattlesnakes has been found in mountains at elevations of more than 10,000 feet. Most bites occur between the months of April and October when snakes and humans are most active outdoors. About 25 percent of the bites are “dry”, meaning no venom was injected, but the bites still require medical treatment.

[erunkiswldrnssurvival]

The only kind of snake bite that i like are the ones that come off of the BBQ

[tsitenha]

I have not personally seen this work but elders tell me that they used a smear bacon grease around their moccasins as the belief that pigs eat snakes and snakes are wary of pigs. Worked for them no snake bite if their memory.

PS bacon grease along the edge of your boot will attract bears, cougars, wolves, coyotes, and ner'do wells:rolleyes:

[erunkiswldrnssurvival]

I would love to lean some more from your Elders.

[ArmySurvivalist]

Yeah that would be excellent. I need to remember bacon grease if I am hunting predators.

'Not all food needs come from prey'
" Someone important "

[erunkiswldrnssurvival]

Native americans were(are) masters of life, their methods are proven by 10,000 years
of experimentation. perfection like that is enough for me, even "obscure" advice is of huge importance. yea tell me more indian Elders!

[tsitenha]

Too many elders died off before being able to pass on information that they took for granted, as they used some part of their knowledge every day but other parts only once every season or even every 50+ years. Elders talk it seems to an end, it's up to us to listen that why you have 2 ears but only 1 mouth.

[erunkiswldrnssurvival]

The Elders left behind the rocks , the trees and the lands that they lay upon. The rocks tell us the histories of life. the trees that they stung with sea enenimies still grow the
burls, there not here to tell us but the things they did are still here. there is much that i have missed. they unraveled the fabric of life. I would like to unravel what they learned

[Gray Wolf]

What have you been smoking?

[erunkiswldrnssurvival]

[QUOTE=Gray Wolf;70900]What have you been smoking?[/Q
cigatettes (I lost my peace Pipe)

[erunkiswldrnssurvival]

Wood lore relies heavily upon what someone else said or did, i say what i know to be true
and I listen with both of my ears,offer me truth that i havent heard and I wil tell it how you said it

[crashdive123]

TBBucs - Awesome pics. Enjoy your trip.

The Western Pacific Rattlesnake can be found in the area you will be hiking.

Knowing that you are in an area that is populated with snakes is the first step. Let them know you are around by walking heavily. Vibrations will alert them to your presence.

Be careful before you step in tall grass or place your hand on the next rock while climbing a cliff in the warm morning sun.

[erunkiswldrnssurvival]

Rattlesnakes are a serious threat to the hiker they like to lay on the edges of the roads
and trails in wait for prey. August and september (the mateing season) is snakebite season, we all know well, Is there some other reason that they are so aggressive?

[Gray Wolf]

This young snake demonstrated both its climbing and its clinging skills in a tree just a few feet from the main trail up to Bear Creek Reservoir

[erunkiswldrnssurvival]

wow , a climbing biter!

[Rick]

One thing I always do when hiking is place my stick in front of a fallen log and behind it before I step over. If there is a snake there he should strike the stick and not your ankle. Hopefully.

[erunkiswldrnssurvival]

Thats great advice, ive been fortunate, to not have an encounter with a rattler,i avoid em.

[Rick]

Some time back I read an interesting article on rattlesnakes. According to the article, so many rattlers had been collected during the rattle snake roundups that the rattlers that did not rattle became the predominant rattlesnake. By not rattling they were not found so they began producing offspring that did not rattle. That's all we need is a rattlesnake with a gimmick.

[erunkiswldrnssurvival]

Im leery of any thing that moves with no feet. with Rick having said that, its time for me to learn snake identification

[crashdive123]

Just remember...snakes that bite you and cause you to die....BAD.

[Rick]

(writing Crash's note down) This is good stuff. It's all going in my book.

[Gray Wolf]

crash, what about snakes that bite you, and you get really, really, really, really, really, really sick, bUt dOn'T dIE? :confused:

[nell67]

crash, what about snakes that bite you, and you get really, really, really, really, really, really sick, bUt dOn'T dIE? :confused:

Still BAD GW!

[Gray Wolf]

....... :D ...... thanks nell.

[erunkiswldrnssurvival]

I almost stepped on a cottonmouth several years ago that kind i know,good thing that i saw it in time to get out of the way. I have an aquaintance that was snake bit, the dang thing fractured his leg and his whole calf was black and blue. he nearly Died from it

[crashdive123]

Oh yeah. That first one was just chapter one. You have very wisely identified chapter two. While there have been many other chapters written, the one that I find particularly insightful.....Any snake near me - Bad.

[Gray Wolf]

I knew I could count on you for enlightenment. :D

[nell67]

Rattlesnakes have rattles,copperheads emit a scent theat smells like fresh cut cucumbers,any other snake have a destinctive "warning" signal that you guys know of??

[erunkiswldrnssurvival]

With Crashes book in hand i wont need a sequal

[crashdive123]

Yep. Water Moccasins. You can hear me screaming like a little school girl as I run the other way.

[nell67]

Yep. Water Moccasins. You can hear me screaming like a little school girl as I run the other way.
LMAO! whatever you do,if you see a water moccasin,don't try hitting the surface of the water with a stick to scare it off,they take the splashing sound as prey in distress and will move towards the sound rather than away from it,my brother learned that one the hard way,luckily,he didn't get bitten.Once my grandfather got him to stop hitting the water,the snake moved on.

[erunkiswldrnssurvival]

I agree! when I said to myself that im a tough guy, I forgot to say Im not stupid enough to that tough

[erunkiswldrnssurvival]

LMAO! whatever you do,if you see a water moccasin,don't try hitting the surface of the water with a stick to scare it off,they take the splashing sound as prey in distress and will move towards the sound rather than away from it,my brother learned that one the hard way,luckily,he didn't get bitten.Once my grandfather got him to stop hitting the water,the snake moved on.

Wisdom, thank you for that note , never tried that, I sure wont now.

[snakeman]

Rattlesnakes will only go up to around 8000 feet at the most in the oregon mtns. The Western rattler is the only venomous snake you will find up there.

[Rick]

If you do find one above that height, they'll be on oxygen so they will be easy to identify. They have tiny lungs, you know. :rolleyes:

[ArmySurvivalist]

Rick, have you eaten rattlesnake before? Has anyone? I heard its good. Even with tiny lungs.

Anything useful other then meat?

[crashdive123]

Here's a discussion on how it does or does not taste like chicken. http://www.wilderness-survival.net/forums/showthread.php?t=3179&highlight=snakes

[erunkiswldrnssurvival]

I ate some rattle snake abuot 15 years ago, i forgot what it tasts like

[Rick]

I just read an article in Backpacker Magazine that rattlesnakes account for 95% of all snake related deaths in the U.S.

I'll be looking and listening a bit closer from now on......