When things go wrong: Animals

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!)