Friday, September 20, 2013

Copperheads

Copperheads

Old Rag has both Rattle Snakes and Copperheads.  I have often seen Timber Rattlesnakes during the day but I have almost never seen a Copperhead during the day.  I often see them at dusk, twilight and early evening.    They are very pretty and are nothing to worry about as long as you do not get too close to them.    Please do not hassle or hurt them as they eat rodents which are reservoirs for many  tick bourn diseases and tick bourn diseases are arguably the most dangerous things in the park.

Spot the Copperhead


Photo came from following link:

 http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.nativetreesociety.org/forestecology/photos/copperhead1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.nativetreesociety.org/forestecology/can_you_spot_the_copperhead.htm&h=476&w=613&sz=79&tbnid=k9KaPj_ISth9_M:&tbnh=111&tbnw=143&zoom=1&usg=__mZgpJWZ11zYo3VjwcV5rh-r3gtM=&docid=CHJ7cciv72dVyM&sa=X&ei=hps8UrjnFIiS9gSLl4DoCw&ved=0CC4Q9QEwAA



While generally not life threatening for an adult, Copperhead bites can be very serious.   Check out the following pictures of a Copperhead bite injury.





If the pain and tissue damage are not enough to get your attention Google for the cost of snake bite treatment.    The following is one such search result:

I was bit by a Copperhead on 8-8-13. The hospital (LNRMC in Mooresville, NC), kept me overnight, administered 4 units of anti-venim. Total cost of treatment= $89,226.86.The anti-venim alone was $81,159.16! That equates to $20,289.00 per vial- I think that there is a mark-up going on somewhere... Going to the news about this one; I hope that they like the "free advertising"!
Eric Ferguson of NC 2:22PM September 19, 2013

Thursday, September 19, 2013

LNT Trainers Course







 

Friday, September 13, 2013

RIDING IN THE BREEZE UMDER NATURES SKIES

START OF  FALL 2013 ON OLD RAG


IN THE MOUNTAINS RIDING IN THE BREEZE.......

         I AM HAPPY JUST TO BE ALIVE......
               
                   I AM SATISFIED!

I was listening to some music and this song seemed to have many meanings for lots of parts of my current life, including my times on Old Rag. 

Looking forward to seeing folks on Old Rag under nature's Fall skies!

Sorry about the ad at the beginning before the song please just wade through it until you can enjoy the song.  Click on the link for the song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwqhdRs4jyA.