Boxley to Kyles

Hiking from Boxley to Kyles Landing this weekend. Going to do Indian Creek from Kyles and am going to bring my camera this time. Hopefully all the rain in the last couple of days will allow the falls to be running a little better. Going to be a long hot weekend with about twenty five miles traveled. Very excited to get back out on the trail. Gotta keep myself tuned for Colorado in September, will be here before I know it. Have fun at the tarp/hammock clinic.

Have fun out there Snow! I was just messing around with my pack yesterday, cleaning some stuff, etc..and I got the itch. I'm ready to get back out there too but I don't have the summertime fortitude! I just hate the hot weather.

Anyway, have a good time and be safe!

Had a great hike last weekend. It was hot but 95% of the hike was in the shade of the trees. Plenty of water to be found along the way. I only pulled six ticks of me throughout the hike, not a major inconveniance since they have not dug in yet. The only other bugs that were an issue were the many spiders that decide to build they're webs across the trail. I would say that was the worst part of the trip. I quickly learned to flick my trekking poles up high on every step to knock away any webs. I only got a couple of spiders in the face though. We camped on one of the gravel beaches just before Kyles Landing. The gravel made staking my shelter impossible so I just anchored it with rocks. We had a great lightning show before the heavens opened up and poured the whole night. Great test for my new Nighthaven. I was impressed even though it wasn't really set up like it should be. At the campsite we spotted a watermoccassin about to do some hunting and I figured it was one I have never caught before so why not. I went in the water to scare it back on sure and well, these pics will say the rest. DON"T try this at home I have been catching poisonous snakes for a long time boys and girls.

I practice catch and release and the snake was never harmed physically. After the quick lesson on how to tell a watersnake from a cottonmouth to my hiking buddy I let the little guy go. Cottonmouths can grow to twice this size and are very agressive. Once I showed him I meant no harm he quieted down and allowed me to handle him. It is all about respect for the power it packs in the venom glands it carries. If we were not so close to Kyles landing I would have never attempted to handle this snake. I don't suggest anybody try who does not have alot of experience handling snakes. An experienced handler knows when a snake is going to strike and be prepared to pull away before that happens. An inexperienced handler does not know ther signs and will get bit!

Here are a couple of pics from a bluff.

Good thing you know how to handle them. I'd have just stayed away and let it go about its business.

Most people would. I have had a fascination with snakes since I was a little boy. I have grown up studying and catching them. I only caught it to explain characteristics to my hiking pal that you really can't see by looking from afar. Normally I don't catch them for no reason since it scares the daylights out of them. Once you show you mean them no harm they calm right down though. I have handled certain rattlesnake species in a way they do not try to bite and are completely relaxed. It is a amazing experience, kind of being one with nature type thing. All part of my zen in the art critter handling I practice. It is complete mentally stimulating.

I've had pet snakes (no, not venomous ones!) for years and have handled snakes many times. Poisonous ones often have different personalities from non-venomous ones in that they are often more reluctant to strike. They don't like to waste their venom, I suppose. I decided a long time ago to stop handling the poisonous ones for any reason other than removing them from contact from humans..(aka..my sisters house!)

Snakes are awesome creatures; there's nothing like them in the world.

I always stated if I am reincarnated I either want to be a eagle or a pit viper.