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.

@northwestwalking

3 күн бұрын

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!

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.

@northwestwalking

29 күн бұрын

Wow, that’s way too many snakes for my liking

@Gaveman1

2 күн бұрын

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.

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🎉

@northwestwalking

14 күн бұрын

Thanks for the great insight!

Simple, watch where you put your hands and feet. Then remember, CCI IS YOUR FRIEND!!!

@northwestwalking

23 күн бұрын

Don’t forget- watch where you put your backside too 😂

Tips 5 and 6, yep. I use a stick or hiking pole in areas that are thicker and known to have rattlesnakes.

@northwestwalking

8 ай бұрын

It’s amazing how those scary little nuggets can blend in!

@smetlogik

8 ай бұрын

@@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.

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!

@northwestwalking

28 күн бұрын

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!

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.

@northwestwalking

12 күн бұрын

One more reason why I should probably give hiking poles another try. Thanks for the great tip!

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.

@northwestwalking

11 күн бұрын

I’ll bet your dad had some amazing stories as a forester! Thanks for sharing and the great feedback 😄

very good friend

@northwestwalking

8 ай бұрын

Always looking for a new adventure! 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.❤

@northwestwalking

24 күн бұрын

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

You forgot your stick ! 😆

@northwestwalking

14 күн бұрын

Ha! I was wondering when someone would call me out for that. It was leaning on my tripod 🤣 Thanks for watching!

"Baby rattlesnakes are born in the fall"- yet in the coastal hills of California I encounter the babies in June.

@northwestwalking

14 күн бұрын

Interesting. I wonder why there is such a difference between regions?

Are Rattlers active on the wetter west side of the Cascades and is there an elevation above which they won't be?

@northwestwalking

14 күн бұрын

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!

🎉

@northwestwalking

Ай бұрын

It’s almost creepy crawly season in the PNW!!

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.

@northwestwalking

14 күн бұрын

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.

@northwestwalking

8 ай бұрын

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

@stinkeye460

8 ай бұрын

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