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iltripp
Nov 20, 2004, 4:41 AM
Post #26 of 31
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Registered: Oct 6, 2003
Posts: 1607
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There are two important issues here:
1) The behaviour of the climbers who refused to help was completely unacceptable. Any climber (or decent human being) worth his stuff should help another, especially since it posed no risk to them to help you. Shame on them.
2) You are a relatively inexperienced climber who was miles away from help, alone, and without a sufficient first aid kit or first aid experience. I really hope this taught you your lesson because next time you might not be so lucky as to only injure your shoulder and get a non-venemous bite. Seriously, even experienced climbers/outdoorsmen can get in serious trouble when they go solo (Aaron Ralstein for example). Until you have more experience and knowledge, you shouldn't be out alone like that.
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timstich
Nov 20, 2004, 4:06 PM
Post #27 of 31
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Registered: Feb 3, 2003
Posts: 6267
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I was hiking back to the truck from Wire Wall in the Continental Ranch down in Texas right at nightfall with two female friends. We climbed right until it got too dark and got a little discombobulated on the walk back. This crag is down in the Pecos River canyon, which is about a 150ft. drop below the lip. I'm bounding along and then all of the sudden I hear a very loud rattle. I have no headlamp of course, but I can hear it like it's in my ear. I just froze and pinpointed the sound. After that, it was easy to back directly away from the sound and go around. Took three seconds tops.
A rattler bit an Arab kayaker in the ass whist he was taking a dump in the reeds sometime after that further upstream. Poor guy had the misfortune to need medical attention on Sept. 11. He spent a good five to six hours getting out of there I think.
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justthemaid
Nov 24, 2004, 1:03 AM
Post #28 of 31
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Registered: Sep 11, 2004
Posts: 777
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I agree. Those climbers were jerks. If I find out who they are I'll piss in thier beers when they aren't looking for you. Glad you are OK. Get a small first aid kit with some alcohol swabs included. I have been hospitalized TWICE for NON-VENOMOUS spider bites that got severely infected. I have come to know that any puncture from a living animal has a lot of bacteria involved.
I am not a snake expert, but for 3 years, I lived with a herpetologist who specialized in rattlesnakes. His advice about RATTLESNAKE bites was this: Do not ever use a tourniquet. The venom destroys the tissue and tying it off makes it worse. Snake bite kits which use suction need to be used within the first few seconds . Stay calm. Get to the hospital as quickly as possible. If you have to hike a distance, don't run. Keep your heart rate down, and walk back to you car. You will get sick, but death is rare unless there is a severe allergic reaction. Don't cut the wound. Infections from people trying to treat themselves cause more problems than the bite. This advice does not neccessarily apply to other types of snakes with different venoms ( example- coral snakes are neurotoxic and require different treatment).
I don't think you have a lot of poisonous animals in your area, but you could probably pick up a book about the local fauna from your local book store. Climb safe!
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crimpandgo
Nov 24, 2004, 7:16 PM
Post #29 of 31
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Registered: Apr 15, 2004
Posts: 1005
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In reply to: -Leave them snakes alone.- It's not like I was out looking to bother the snake, nor was the snake looking to bother me. We just had an unfortunate encounter, probably not pleasant for either one of us. I don't really understand the two snake rants. I wasn't scared of snakes before, and I'm not now. Nor does anybody who posted anything impress me as being scared of snakes, or hating snakes, or out to kill snakes. But, if you're out somewhere and get bit by one, you'd be a fool not to be concerned (unless you know it wasn't venomous), and you'd also be a fool to have it happen to you once, and not learn anything from it. So, I want to learn what I can, so I'll know what to do next it happens to me or anybody else, and if any of you out there don't know what to do in that situation, hopefully you'll learn before you need to know it too. Nobody's raggin' on snakes,man. Chill out.
I think a lot of outdoors type people have lots of respect for the outdoor critters. Unfortunately, the general population doesn't feel the same way. there is a huge irrational fear of them. When people see snakes they kill them instead of dealing with them. I love snakes and my kids feel the same. We have saves a few snakes from roadways before they could become road pizza. We were so dissapointed when our next door neighbor found two baby rattlers in there yard. Well, we wer excited until we found out they had taken a shovel to them! I was so mad. I would have taken them to a safe place if I had been given the chance.
Anyway, I am glad to see our most of our climbing community appreciates the other inhabitants of our climbing areas. I have almost stepped on three rattlers and I have come the same comclusion as some stated above. THey are not gonna bite ya enless they have a REAL good reason. Generally in our hobby that includes long hikes in remote areas we have to be prepared for the possible encounter that brings us too close to the snake. A hand placed on a rock to step up, etc. :D
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dood
Nov 24, 2004, 7:33 PM
Post #30 of 31
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Registered: Jan 3, 2004
Posts: 93
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In reply to: So more people die choking on popcorn every year in the US than they do from snake bites.
Uh, do you have a reference for that?
:-)
In reply to: Snakes, poisonous or not, are simply not a big danger. Period. But still people kill them for no good reason. Just like they used to kill wolves. It makes me sad... Leave them snakes alone. DMT
Right on. Back in the '70s they had a rattlesnake extermination program in the San Gorgonio Pass area. Rattlesnakes that didn't rattle seemed to survive this program. Thanks a lot!
Rattlers are no problems. Like Garbo, they just want to left alone. It's those friggin' gila monsters. They'll come after you. Especially the pink ones.
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theothermeat
Nov 24, 2004, 7:39 PM
Post #31 of 31
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Registered: Dec 21, 2003
Posts: 20
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In reply to: Snakes are people too you know. ps told you I felt a snake rant coming on!
*giggle* Yes, many people are indeed snakes.
I enjoyed your snake rant. Bring 'em on!
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