RRC Archives

Amy ran into a snake at the top of Welcome to the Zoo a few years back. She was near the top, 2 bolt left I think, stuck her hand in a horizonal and smush. She jumped to the left a few feet, all four limbs off the rock, skipped the bolt and finished the route. I would pay a dollar to see it again.

all this talk of snake bites and i have to admit, i can't tell a copperhead from a cottonmouth. i know the cottonmouth has a, well, white mouth.. but i've never seen one myself. and i also realized i don't know exactly what to do other than stay as calm as possible and try to walk (not run ) out. then i found this and figured it might be helpful:

http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/995_snakes.html

no ice, tourniquets, or incisions. just thought it might help out sometime..

A few years back I was climbing at the toprope wall at Malibu Creek State Park, California. A friend was about half way up a climb called Planet of the Apes. I was on one of the routes to the right. As I was shaking out I looked toward my friend just in time to see a rattle snake fall from the top of the rock. Of course I could not tell it was a rattle snake as it was falling. It hit the soft dirt with a thump then layed there motionless. After about a minute it slowly started to move. Eventually it crawled under the rock we all belay from. The snake was a young one and I suspect it was checking out the action at the anchor when it fell.

I like this piece of advice:

Be cautious and alert when climbing rocks.

gaston, step up, undercling, relax, breathe, check for snakes, cross, crimp, bump, relax, breathe, clip, check for snakes, chalk, jug, throw, high step....

I like this tip: "don't try to catch it"

No shit.

"How NOT to Treat a Snakebite:

No electric shock. This method is under study and has yet to be proven effective. It could harm the victim. "

Was this ever a viable treatment options for snakebites....or mental disorders for that matter? Yikes.

They still use it for depression. Oddly enough, it works.

Biggest snake I ever saw in the wild was a copperhead in Western Kentucky. It was easily 8 feet long and bigger than my forearm now (I was little then so it was about as big around as my calf).

Yet another reason to walk with a stick.

You all have really seen garter snakes in the trees?!? I've seen green snakes, king snakes, and racers in trees but I've always seen garter snakes on the ground.

Diggles, if I catch a garter snake will you pet it?

Oh God, Oh God, Oh God. I think I might hide in the gym until the fall.

Last year I was removing a big loose block from "The Offering" and I reached my hand behind the block to pull it loose when I felt something brush against my arm and heard a hiss. It was a fat rat snake and he was pissed. I immediately removed my arm and he actually struck at me, but fortunately I was faster and he missed. I left the loose block and continued climbing. Another climber ended up removing the loose chunk of rock later.

Alright JRock...I get it...snakes...snakes EVERYWHERE!!

Kai...punch him in the arm for me.