RRC Archives

Ruff!
Thanks all.
In typical Beattyville fashion, after the doc (who is a great guy) was done with shots and meds, I asked "how much do I owe you?"
He thinks for a second or two and says $40!
It was amazing to me we found him open on a Sunday in the first place.

I am realy glad for this information bc my dog is about as stupid as it comes in regards to self-preservation. (Bless his heart) and seeing Solar get bit was really scar and don't know if I would be able to keep it together al the way to Winchester or Lex. I hope Banjo makes a full recovery....

Thanks, Jeff. Not that I'll ever see the Red again, but I'm putting the numbers in my phone too. Banjo has grown sooooo much!

Oh, and sweet milk is just milk as opposed to buttermilk. It's a KY thing.

Did you see the attack? What size was the 'head? Did you kill it so we can all safely enjoy that wonderful route?

I didn't see it actually strike.
I was getting ready to tie in and Banjo jumped up to the base of the climb. He was checking out a little piece of moss, which I thought was funny.
As I went back to tie in, my eye must've follow down his back towards his rear leg and I saw the snake.
i yelled at him to come, and he came right away.
I had enough time to say, "Damn, Theresa, I can't believe that snake didn't bite him."
About that time he literaly started screaming.
I calmed him down while Theresa packed up our stuff. Carried him to the car and off to the vet.

Snake was about 16"-18".
I tried to nudge him away with a stick 'cause we had to walk right past him.
Nudged him twice but it didn't budge, so I left it alone.

I know alot of people say leave them alone, but I may be changing my mind.
Every local I know kills a copperhead when they see them.
They no longer have natural preditors since there are no hogs/pigs running wild.

Just got back from our local vet. The toxin is starting to deteriorate Banjos flesh. It's about the size of a quarter and theres no guarentee how much flesh will rot away.

Poor little guy....

(edit) I did put a line in the online guide for that route that says to watch for copperheads.

Thanks for the all the gorry details Jeff.

As for the killing of snakes, I'm on the fence with you Jeff. Its not like they're an endangered species, they're everywhere, but at the same time we are sorta invading their home.
I look at it this way. If I tried to off a poisionous snake I'd either get myself bit or just make it grumpy from whacking at it with a stick clip from 17 feet away. Its not like I'm going to make a dent in the 'problem'. So I guess I'll continue to wander around the crags with my eyes wide open and scream like a little school girl at every leaf, twig, or root that I think is a snake.

Ha ha, now that's funny!

I usually just levitate right before stepping on them.

Just an idiot question from a dog owner here. Why take your dog to the crag? That is unless your dog can lead or belay. If there's a venomous reptile around your dog is much more likely to find it, and get bit, than you are. They can run off and get lost, crap where they want, occasionally get in a ruckus with other dogs, whine and bark, etc. Just seems like nothing good can come from it.

Jeff's dogs can belay! Seen it with me own eyes!

crap where they want

and how does that differ from your average climber?