While hiking the AT section between Neels Gap and Tesnatee Gap in Georgia, we spotted a half dozen rattlesnakes over the last couple of days. Are there other sections that these snakes are also prevalent?
Stick Chick
Rattlesnakes on AT
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#3
Yes, my wife spotted a nice big Rattler similar in size to that Copperhead in the picture above. I saw it after she spotted it. We were about 6 miles south of Dick’s Creek Gap - fall 2000. Also, two years ago I almost stepped on a small Copperhead in the trail near a brook below Chestnut Mt. in Virginia.
WoodBadge
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#4
We saw the largest number of rattlesnakes in the SNP in VA. The last rattlesnake we saw was in NJ. PA had several. In the summer you will see them in most states south of NH on the AT. At least that has been my experience.
Never heard of anyone getting bit while hiking the AT. Someone probably has but compared to the number of people out hiking it has to be a very small percentage. Have a good hike and don’t worry about snakes.
Papa Smurf
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#5
I’ve see quite a few Timber Rattlers around Black Horse Gap in Virginia and all along where the AT parallels the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Squint Eye
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#7
These types of encounters are what led me to stop listening to my mp3 player in the morning. It seems like I encountered snakes mostly in the morning hours, warming themselves up.
jalan
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#9
PA has a lot of rattlesnakes in some areas. I saw a big one in the Rausch Gap area last weekend. A thru-hiker I met at the shelter said she saw four. They are pretty shy. As long as you don’t step on one or do something stupid, you should be ok.
Early Bird