We were two days
out from Amicalola State Park, nearing the top of Springer Mountain
and the official start of The Appalachian Trail, deep in the whispery
shadows of the Chattahootchee National Forest, when the iodine water
purification tablets we had brought along began to wreak havoc on our
stomachs. It was a long hike back to the car and safe drinking water,
two days if by leisurely, well hydrated stroll. The water bubbling
from the fabled mountain springs was as clear as tap water but every
water source we'd encountered had a sign posted nearby that warned
against untreated water. We only had enough fuel for our meals so
boiling water was out of the question. We were paranoid, low on
water, delirious and dehydrated with iodine poisoning and we were in
the middle of nowhere. In other words, we were fucked.
A common theme
that comes up when talking about the Appalachian Trail, and spending
time in the back-country in general, concerns the risks and dangers
associated with the enterprise. The woods are, after all, a scary
place. There is a reason that all of our folklore and fables cast
them as foreboding domains of evil spirits and monsters. In those old
stories, when people wandered into the woods, they were seldom likely
to come back out again. People are afraid of the wilderness because
it's primitive and it lacks all of the conveniences and safeties of
civilization—in fact presents the very antithesis to the concept of
society and civilization.
Nature calls
It's easy to get
wrapped up in the paranoia of the wild, especially when considering
spending an extended period of time there. After having encountered
my own fair share of crises on the trail, I can safely say that a
little preparation goes a long way towards peace of mind.
But you will
still encounter people asking you about bears and snakes and making
you all paranoid again.
So, what's a
novice hiker to do?
For your
conveniences and reading pleasure, I present to you some of the
common dangers and misconceptions of the back-country. This will be a
multi-part series, where I will focus on animal encounters, common
preparatory mistakes and weather related dangers, as well as a few
other little nuggets of paranoia to chew on next time you find
yourself out in the woods.
So let's get to
it.
In
our first installment, we will talk about When Things Go
Wrong with: Animals.
It is a mistake to go into the back-country thinking that you are
going to be stalked by a bear. The thing to remember about all
animals is that we usually frighten or intimidate them. More often
than not, this makes them run away. Occasionally, this makes them
aggressive. That is when you want to be prepared.
People are equal parts fascinated and terrified by wild animals. We
scream over spiders and try to lure bears into camp for a photo
opportunity. In reality, the risk of running into trouble with
animals is, like all other back-country dangers, directly related to
you level of preparation.
But let's be
honest here for a second, who wouldn't want to stumble upon a bear
(from a safe distance, of course—preferably from the other side of
an electrified fence or plexiglass view-port) and observe him
plumping himself on spring berries in his bucolic meadow abode long
enough to snap a picture for the folks back home? Isn't seeing wild
animals one of the reasons people like to venture into the woods?
Granted, there is a difference between snapping a few photos of a
dew-covered fawn and using your camera as a last-line-of-defense
projectile weapon against a ravenous, charging grizzly. There is a
fine line between luck and fate and sometimes even the greatest
amount of preparation cannot prevent tragedy.
That being said,
there are ways to protect yourself from these situations. Hiking in
the eastern US, bears and snakes are the most commonly feared
back-woods assailants. In reality, ticks and mosquitoes are probably
to be more feared because of their growing abundance and tendency to
carry nasty little maladies. DEET is sadly the most effective weapon
we have against West Nile, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Lyme
disease, and a host of other extremely unpleasant and downright
dangerous ailments. While I think it is fool hardy for any hiker to
leave without a can of DEET product in his emergency rations, I don't
recommend using DEET unless the bugs are a serious problem. The
dangerous chemical can have a negative impact on the environment and
you. In tick season, stay on the trail and wear long sleeves and
pants tucked into your socks. Avoid hiking after the rain to cut down
on mosquitoes. Common sense goes a long way.
But what about
the animals that aren't dissuaded by a sticky layer of insect
repellant?
Black
Bears are common on the AT, especially in the National Parks
where they know they can get food. For the most part, the bears are a
nuisance and nothing more, providing a hint of danger for
backpackers—nothing like the paranoid terror that would be
associated with hiking through Grizzly territory out west. Black
bears are generally shy towards humans. Attacks are rare and usually
revolve around the bear trying to get the hiker to relinquish his
food stores.
Serious black
bear attacks usually only occur out west where the species grows
larger and generally more aggressive. Much research has been done on
what drives a bear to attack and how to avoid the situation. In the
case of black bears, a great deal of conflicting information exists
concerning what you should and should not do if a black bear does
decide to rage on you.
Some research
has suggested that playing dead only works with grizzlies, who are
known to lose interest in prey that doesn't fight back (which is, I
think, rather sporting). Black bears, on the other hand, like to keep
chewing whether you're pretending to care or not. However, cases of
black bear attacks where the victim did in fact play dead and survive
provide evidence to the contrary. There is enough contradiction to
keep you indoors for the rest of your life.
Wish you were here
Two things are
for certain with black bears: never climb a tree and never, ever run.
Black bears are excellent climbers and should you decide to escape by
climbing a tree, the bear will happily climb up and retrieve you. And
of course, you should never run from any charging animal. Which is
bland advice for me to be writing from the safety of my bedroom. As
Bill Bryson notes in A Walk in the Woods, “Take
it from me, if you are in an open space with no weapons and a [bear]
comes for you, run. If nothing else, it will give you something to do
with the last seven seconds of your life.” The obvious lesson here
is—run if you must but know that you have just signed your life
over.
The
whole topic of bears is very interesting and raises a lot of
questions and concerns. I have yet to spend a single night in a tent
without thinking, at least once, that a growling bear was just
outside with dripping maw and claws. The reality of the situation is
that bears are wild animals and as such, they are unpredictable.
To
avoid bears, it is best to make a lot of noise to announce your
presence and avoid startling any nearby critters. Out west, in places
like Yosemite and Grand Canyon, back packers are required to carry
their food in bear canisters, which are metal or hard plastic
cylinders with smooth surfaces that are virtually impenetrable for
bears. It is considered standard practice almost everywhere for back
packers to hang their food bags at night from a tree at least twenty
feet above the ground and ten feet from the tree trunk to dissuade
bears and racoons. Food and strong smelling items should always be
kept down wind from camp at least twenty yards (or further if
possible)
Cougar:
In Florida, we call the smaller subspecies Panther. They are also
known as Mountain Lion and archaically as Catamount. If you see one
of these majestic creatures, consider yourself lucky. Sightings are
exceedingly rare, as all wild cats are commonly reclusive. There have
been reports of attacks out west by the beefy northwest mountain
lions, but these are rare and are usually against children, pets, or
small or elderly people hiking alone. In the Eastern US, the animal
is officially declared extinct, though reports of sightings persist.
The
chances of being struck by lightening are probably significantly
higher than being mauled (much less eaten) by an Eastern Mountain
Lion.
Snakes:
I always walk with a stick not just because it makes me look like a
bad-ass wizard but also because my stick is my primary defense
against snakes. In this day in age, where most hospitals carry
anti-venom, death by snake bite is rare.
Still,
snakes are a real danger in the back-country. I use my stick to reach
into dark places or turn over logs or rocks. If a snake is in the
trail, I either give it a wide berth or use the stick to gently guide
it in the other direction.
In
general, it is always a good idea to shake out shoes, clothes, and
sleeping bags before use to avoid getting surprised by snakes or bugs
looking for shelter.
The
most poisonous snakes in the Eastern US are the Cottonmouth Water
Moccasin, The Coral Snake, and the Diamondback Rattlesnake.
Cottonmouths
are known to be aggressive and will stand their ground. It is best to
give them plenty of space as their venom is particularly damaging to
flesh (amputations are not uncommon in bite victims).
Cottonmouth
Coral
Snakes are uniquely colored, timid and small snakes that pack an
extremely potent neurotoxic venom. Always remember some
variation of the saying: Red to yellow—kill a fellow, red to
black—put it back. Bites are extremely rare, only a few per year on average. The problem is that the bites are so rare, anti venom for is no longer going to be produced because of the cost for synthesis. So--in particular avoid these guys.
Rattlesnakes,
and Diamondback Rattlesnakes in particularly, are magnificent to
behold in their natural environment. They are aggressive but not
particularly fond of people. They announce their presence by shaking
their tail which is
made of keratin, the same stuff as your finger nails.
The smaller Pygmy Rattlesnake is common in Florida but it's
diminutive rattle is so quiet, it is often mistaken for rustling
leaves. I've almost stepped on them while they are sunning themselves
in the trail. The Pygmy's venom is not
produced in large quantities so it is not particularly dangerous,
although the bite is necessarily unpleasant.
Smaller Eastern Diamondback
Pygmy Rattlesnake
Other Concerns:
Coyotes are increasingly becoming a presence in the Eastern US.
Personally, I have seen and/or heard several in the central Florida
area within the last few years and I also encountered their haunting
call one pitch-black night in the Southern Appalachians. However,
encounters are rare and they are not known to attack humans.
Another
frequent presence in the back-country is the feral hog. Especially in
the south, these invasive, destructive, often ill-tempered animals
are known to display aggression when cornered. The most dangerous
situation involving a hog would likely be related to the height of
his tusks in relation to your femoral artery. Hog attacks are rare
though outside of the hunting world and deaths are almost unheard of.
The animals are surprisingly smart and seem to know enough to avoid
humans.
Speaking
of which, since we are talking about When Things
Go Wrong
with: Animals,
let's consider a very commonly encountered animal: humans. It is best
to rely on your instincts when it comes to encountering other people
on the trail. If a situation makes you uncomfortable, move on. Don't
tell strangers where you are going or how many people are in your
party. I personally have never encountered any trouble from other
people on the trail but it would be foolish to not consider the
dangers associated with human attacks on the trail. More often then
not, trail heads or trail parking areas are the most unsafe. I'm
always a little leery when returning to the car of muggers or
something of that nature, particularly when hiking near highly
developed areas.
That about does it for now. Tune in to the next post for When Things Go Wrong with: Common Preparatory Mistakes (like bringing iodine as water treatment for an extended period of time when one or more members of your party are allergic to iodine...fun!)
