Ran into some GDCKs on my AT hike.

So now that I’m off the trail, I can share these. We ran into a few danger noodles on the trail.

1st snake Eastern Diamondback that slithered between alajones3 and I on the trail. I would’ve stepped right on it except I saw movement. It was completely camouflaged. I surprised it also because it didn’t start to rattle until after I stepped back. He slithered off the trail, coiled up, and began to rattle.

ETA: Ok, y’all are all saying Timber Rattler, but I almost stepped on him and his bands were definitely copper, not dark. I’m not really a snake expert. I just googled images afterwards.



2nd snake
I think a Southern Black Racer that was chilling next to the trail and moved when we got close.



3rd snake
Solid black Timber Rattlesnake. He was chilling on the trail and didn’t move until I poked it with my hiking stick. I eventually had to remove it from the trail using my stick.

ETA: he might be a rat snake. He coiled up and started to rattle at us in the middle of the trail. But upon investigation, some rat snakes do that. My bad.



4th snake
DeKay’s Brown Snake. Once again, basking in the middle of the trail. It moved when poked.



5th snake
Big fella. Another Timber Rattlesnake. He was also stretched out across the trail. Must be a cold-blooded thing. I wasn’t trying be be a snake handler, so I yelled at him and threw a few rocks until he slithered away.