July 27, Port Clinton, PA. -- Had my left foot landed where I was about to plant it, someone else would have been telling this story and I probably would not be around to read it.
It was late yesterday, near the end of a 15-mile day that would get me to Eagle’s Nest Shelter, about 1200 miles along the Appalachian Trail. I moved across Pennsylvania in gorgeous weather, welcoming the cooler temperatures and the clean air that followed the rain-soaked 17 miles the day before, that hike a relief from the 18–miles the day before in the humid high 90s.
My knees and feet were feeling a long day on rocky trails when the path smoothed and the walk became easier. Had I planted my left foot where I saw it about to land, I would have been ankle deep in a fat rattlesnake coiled on the edge of the trail.
The snake would have surely struck while I struggled to free myself from the eight-foot tangle of angry snake fighting for its own life from a sudden attack from above. Had I been bitten and struggled along for help, I would have soon found still another rattler just off the trail to my right.
Happily, instincts kicked in because conscious thought was scared out of me. Years of tai chi trained me to stutter my step to get my left foot past the snake and push me ahead, to a short hop over a fallen log and onto my right foot, where I pivoted in fear to see what had almost happened.
The fat snake just stared at me and hissed. I just stared back and tried to breathe, assuming that I was safely out of range.
My breathing returned to normal as I pulled out my camera and gathered my wits while thinking through what might have just happened. As I walked on, I sorted through the memories from earlier that day, a routine one on my six-month journey from Springer Mountain, GA to Mount Katahdin, ME.
The snake will live on in my memory, but I have to go hiking now and do not have time to post the rest of this section of my amazing journey and the memories – the half-gallon of vanilla ice cream near the halfway point, the latest trail news, and many other wonderful tales and wonders. That will come soon, but this story had to come while fresh.
My anxiety about getting to New England in time to finish is fading, because something magical happens nearly every step of the way. My old buddies Chowhound and Chuck Wagon are now a couple of days behind and should be with us soon.
And I had a surprise letter at the Port Clinton post office – a wo0ndefrul letter from an old pal at DSS who, as I write, is taking her own time on the Appalachian Trail in Georgia -- walking from Springer Mountain to Neel’s Gap. Great Hike. You Go Girl!!
So on I walk, my days filled with amazing challenges and payoffs. The day before the snake, I had called the monastery looking for the Messsenger, but he was not at work and I spent some time talking with Father A.J. We caught up on news from there and here (the Messenger and wife are expecting) and he closed with a wonderful goodbye:
“God Bless You, Grasshopper.”
That conversation was fresh in my mind when I found the snake. And another message from earlier in the hike that sticks with me:
“Patience, Grasshopper. And Trust in the Lord Thy God.”
Happy Trails everyone.
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