Best Time to Hike to Avoid Snakes & Their Venomous Bites!

Last weekend, I along with my three friends decided to hike a mountain in Florida, a state in the southern side of the United States of America. Literally, we were overwhelmed with multiple confusions because none of us had a sufficient knowledge of hiking.

The first and the foremost confusion was to decide the best time to hike to avoid snakes as the area mentioned above is famous for having deadly snakes in abundance . Rest of them included the selection of mountain, trekking path and meals( which I like the most 🙂 )

We consulted with our comrades and found Mr. Fedrick, an authentic hiker. Although Mr. Fedrick is a professional hiker has sufficient knowledge to chalk out a hiking plan. He crafted a plan, whatever he had knowledge in his personal capacity.

Mr. Fedrick told us that the following areas of the United States of America have deadly snakes in numbers that include rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, copperheads, and coral snakes;

1. Texas
2. Florida
3. North Carolina
4. Georgia
5. Oklahoma
6. Colorado
7. California
8. Louisiana
9. West Virginia

He shared with us the stats of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and told us that well-nigh 7000 to 8000 persons are bitten by the snakes in the United States. CDC is working under the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (for more information, you can visit:  https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/snakes/)

Best Time to Hike to Avoid Snakes

Thank God! We met with Mr. Fedrick before our journey. During our course of interrogation, he told us the best time to hike to avoid snakes.

• Do not start Hiking in Summer

Snakes usually come from their living place after winter naps; therefore, the period of winter is the best time to hike to avoid the bites of deadly dangerous snakes. People who love hiking start their journey to climb up the mountain in winter, November to February, but the ideal time to avoid the snakes is December and january.

 

• Winter is the Best Time to Hike to Avoid Snake

Normally, Snakes take long naps in thundering winter and they come out from holes in March and the outside living of snakes continues up to October; so, it is the best time to avoid snakes during hiking. Although hiking in winter is a cumbersome task. You have strong physical and mental abilities to hike in winter.

 

• Safety Measures for Hiking and to Avoid Snakes

Winter is the best time to hike to avoid snakes because snakes go to sleep during this period; therefore, I have listed some safety measures that every hiker should follow to start his journey.

 

• Snake Bite Proof Boots

The first and most important thing is to put on snake bite proof boots. The prime purpose of wearing these types of shoes is to protect yourself from the deadly fang of snakes. These boots had very hard and durable soles that show tremendous resistance against the bite of snakes.

Snake bite proof boots are long in length and cover the ankle in a well manner. These are available in different colors and designs. For safety, you should wear these bite proof shoes.

• Check the weather

The second important point is to consider the weather condition. You should have in-depth knowledge before starting your hiking journey. For this purpose, you should pay visits to the National Weather Service (NWS) (https://www.weather.gov/).

NWS provides comprehensive weather forecasting areas falling under the jurisdiction of the USA. Having an eye on the weather is also important to avoid snakes.  Snakes are on holidays in cold weather; therefore, keep visiting the National Weather Service.

 

• Hiking in group

The third important thing is to start hiking in a group. You should have at least one friend with you on your hiking journey. Having one colleague in a journey provides peerless courage.

Hikers usually prefer to hike in groups because hiking individually requires immense knowledge and experience; so, having a friend gives you an extra edge.

 

• First Aid Kit

The fourth most important component of hiking is to have a kit of first aid. A kit is a medical bag that has the prerequisite material for aiding. Unfortunately, if either you or any member of your group receive poison from the fang of a snake, you will diagnose the heel with a first aid kit.

Hiking in the quagmire of snakes is utterly dangerous and having a first aid kit gives you tremendous treatment in case of snake bites.

 

• Other Essentials

After consultation with Mr. Fedrick, I have listed down other essentials that are equally important for all types of journeys. The list of other essentials is given below;

• Fire Material

1. 1. Matches
   2. Lighter
   3. Fire starters

• Navigation Accessories

1. 1. Map
   2. Compass
   3. GPS

• Insulation Commodities

1. 1. Jacket/raincoat
   2. Extra layers

• Sun Protection Materials

1. 1. Sunscreen
   2. Sunglasses
   3. Hat

• Repair Kit

1. 1. Duct tape
   2. Multifunctional tool

• Illumination Components

1. 1. Flashlight
   2. Lantern
   3. Headlamp

• Hydration Items

1. 1. Water
   2. Means of water purification

• Food

1. 1. No-Cook food
   2. Nutritious food

Note: You should have at least one day’s extra food.

• Emergency Shelter Materials

1. 1. Tent
   2. Space blanket
   3. Tarp,
   4. bivy (An emergency bed for sleeping)

•  Poison oak

1. 1. You should have poison oak with you when hiking. Poison oak shows repellent behavior towards the poison of snakes.

 

Sum Up!

Keeping in view of the aforementioned guidelines given by Mr. Fedrick, On Saturday, around 6:00 am, we started climbing up the mountain in the middle of December. We have all essionals materials as listed above. The weather was as harsh as December has at the end of the year. We completed our journey in three days.

As far as the presence of snakes is concerned, it is evident to inform all of you that we saw three snakes in their holes. They were resting there as the winter season was at its highest peak. They don’t bother to come out from their holes. I thought snakes had enough food in their belly and they didn’t need bites from us :); therefore, winter is the best time to hike to avoid snakes.