Have you ever been concerned about being surprised by snakes? Particularly poisonous snakes?
I'll admit that I have a snake phobia. I just don't like em! I do not like any snake, whether poisonous or not, and not knowing where they can be at is a continuous concern. It's one of the three things that concern me most about being out on the trails. The other, I can't do much about, bears and boars.
But stepping over a black snake on Monday burrowed into the grass, next to a wall above a creek in the Smokies, my phobia was heightened. I say he was black, he was likely black, no markings, just a black body. I did not see the snake until I was a straddle him, looked down and saw 6-8 inches of black body. I started high stepping it carrying my D2X mounted to a tri-pod!
I began thinking about leather chaps maybe, as protection against snakes, and wearing boots any time I am in the wild. Am I being to cautious here, or am I thinking smart?
I came across this site for starters, and they seem to be the snake bite prevention authorities for lower leg and even full leg protection.
http://www.snakeboots.com/
I'm seriously considering some chaps or lower leg wraps for when I venture off the pavement for any length of time at all, want to go down to water's edge, or walk through ditchlines, or even fields.
I read that something like 90+% of all snake bites occur around the ankles. With boot's and calf protection, I think we narrow our chances of getting snake bit by a GREAT amount as long as the protection is able to stop the snake's fangs.
Anybody else take protective measures? I think I know of at least one that seems to have some snake boots... How about you? Have I struck a nerve?
Doug
I'll admit that I have a snake phobia. I just don't like em! I do not like any snake, whether poisonous or not, and not knowing where they can be at is a continuous concern. It's one of the three things that concern me most about being out on the trails. The other, I can't do much about, bears and boars.
But stepping over a black snake on Monday burrowed into the grass, next to a wall above a creek in the Smokies, my phobia was heightened. I say he was black, he was likely black, no markings, just a black body. I did not see the snake until I was a straddle him, looked down and saw 6-8 inches of black body. I started high stepping it carrying my D2X mounted to a tri-pod!
I began thinking about leather chaps maybe, as protection against snakes, and wearing boots any time I am in the wild. Am I being to cautious here, or am I thinking smart?
I came across this site for starters, and they seem to be the snake bite prevention authorities for lower leg and even full leg protection.
http://www.snakeboots.com/
I'm seriously considering some chaps or lower leg wraps for when I venture off the pavement for any length of time at all, want to go down to water's edge, or walk through ditchlines, or even fields.
I read that something like 90+% of all snake bites occur around the ankles. With boot's and calf protection, I think we narrow our chances of getting snake bit by a GREAT amount as long as the protection is able to stop the snake's fangs.
Anybody else take protective measures? I think I know of at least one that seems to have some snake boots... How about you? Have I struck a nerve?
Doug