All I was doing was holding the end of a tree branch that another trail maintainer was sawing off low to the ground when it happened.
I was stung. By something. Probably a bee. No swelling. Just a small welt. I was lucky. I had ice cubes with me in a thermos. But it happened so quickly. And like most injuries on the trail, it happened without warning.
It could have been a rock. Or a falling branch.
Or the copperhead our group of clippers disturbed.
Really. We took no pictures. Just had a discussion about the snake’s size and coloring. We backed away from the spot on the trail where it slithered away from us, without anyone looking for its eyes or tail to identify it further. We left the master-naturalist-in-training among us saying she needed to forget learning about ALL the snakes and just concentrate on the three venomous ones found in Virginia: cottonmouths or water moccasins, rattlesnakes and yes, copperheads. We think we saw a young one. Not so young that Mama was nearby, but still small.
But enough about snakes. Let’s talk about trail maintenance safety in general.
The Charlottesville-area volunteers numbered nine on July 2. PATC trail maintenance event leaders Marit Anderson and Mark Perschel brought more than enough adjustable hard hats and safety goggles for all. We knew to wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts. And to have an emergency contact. Just in case. We signed a national park libility form. Just in case. Our sign-up on MeetUp encouraged us to bring work gloves. We were doing vegetation cutback so some of us brought garden gloves. Some brought leather ones that covered both hands and wrists. And others used some of the provided ones.
Anderson and Perschel brought tools, too. Tools should be carried sharp edges down when walking or hiking. Just in case. Anderson had a medical kit as well. It contained iodine, bandages, aspirin and more. Just in case.
Rocks are tripping hazards. All the time. Covered-toe shoes are important. In other words, no flip-flops or sandals. On hot days, lightweight pants and shirts are called for to keep ticks away. (July 1 was in the 90s down below, near Charlottesville. We enjoyed temperatures some 10 degrees cooler, a breeze and shade.) Very little works against gnats, but bug spray in general is a good idea.
Public Lands store Community and Education Lead, Mike Meintzschel (and one of our volunteer water bar men), brought drinks and snacks. We all brought water. Hydration is important in July and year-round. Trail maintenance is hard work, but so are workouts at the gym. And volunteering on the trails can be fun, educational and rewarding. It goes faster the more folks who are working. We had three men and six women, so all genders may sign up for the laughs and the training.
We like to be safe out there.
Today we cut back vegetation, made water bars and drainage areas, and hiked 3.5+miles out and back. We will return to this section of the Appalachian Trail to continue this work next month. Join us!
Thanks to all the volunteers today including the two trail maintainers of this Appalachian Trail section, Linda Beights and Lisa Swales, and Mike Meintzschel, Cheri Acker, Tony Alimenti, Anna Castle, Jeanne Siler, Mark Perschel, and Marit Anderson.
written by Jeanne Siler, photos by Marit Anderson and Jeanne Siler
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