Get these snakes off this trail

The kids often ask what heaven will be like. I can understand their curiosity, it’s a topic that’s really harped upon, but also such little information is provided.

I told them when I was kid I thought heaven would be full of trampolines: on the floor, on the walls, even the ceiling. Then when I got older I went to a trampoline park and my mind was blown! My oldest asked, “did that bum you out? Like heaven isn’t all that great if what you thought already existed? Or did it make you happy?”

I told her it didn’t make me happy or sad. Rather, it filled me with wonder. Because the very best thing my human mind could imagine wasn’t actually all that amazing-someone had already thought of it and built it. It filled me with awe that my very best was so small, but God’s best was going to be amazing and something I couldn’t even imagine.

The last time they asked what I thought heaven will be like I said, “I think heaven will be a trail run through the mountains with zero cobwebs strung across and I’ll never have to wipe them off my face.”

Which brings me to my next segment, I’m doing another 50k race! This one is in September, way out on the West Coast. I’m going to visit my brother and I’m pretty sure I’ve roped him into doing it with me! As I kick off this next phase of training I’ve decided to start highlighting awesome things I see on the trails. This segment will be called Spotted on the Trail.

Spotted on the Trail

This sunrise

This view

And this one

These tadpoles

This snake skeleton

Which brings me to my next segment: Mis-snake-n Identity

You would not believe the amount of things I see during a run that I think are snakes and end up being sticks, rocks, ropes, vines, leaves, you name it. Every time I see something that tricks me I tell myself to stop and take a picture but I never do. This year that changes. Buckle up for some major gotcha moments.

Check that one, kind of looks like a coiled copperhead, doesn’t it?

I will say I saved the day at my kids’ Field Day last week by rescuing a snake from the basketball courts. The kindergarten class was over (I was in charge of the water balloon launching station which is very fun and pro tip requires very little supervision) when I heard a kerfuffle from the asphalt. A small black snake had gotten involved in a game of pick-up and the kids were trying to smash it with a ball. I ran over to scoop it up and deposit it in the field of long grass behind the school. I wish I had taken a minute to show them the snake and let them touch it. We love black snakes-they are friends! They eat mice, rats, and moles, the same things most venomous snakes eat. So if the black snake can take over the food source, then the venomous snakes have to look elsewhere. There is also a type of black snake (Eastern Kingsnake) that eats venomous snakes, but they’re not as common in our area.

There are three types of venomous snakes we have to watch for: Copperheads, Rattlers, and Water Moccasins (Cottonmouths). But the black snake we typically see (whose true name is Eastern Ratsnake) is tricky because when they’re small they look like copperheads with similar patterns on their backs, however they’re less brown than a Copper is. Pretty much every snake in VA has an “Eastern” in front of its name, apparently we ran out of creativity there.

Black snakes are the longest snakes in Virginia, growing up to 6′ or more. As long as they don’t go after my chickens or eggs, I’m happy to have them around.

Anyway. I don’t love snakes but I think they’re misunderstood and serve an important purpose in our wildlife community; so I’m happy to jump in and save one now and then. Plus Hubs is really not a fan of snakes, which has forced me to become the designated snake handler in our family. Since I spend so much time on the trails I don’t mind doing extra research and being the snake expert. My biggest fear while running is not strangers, bears, or even getting bit. It’s that one of the dogs will get bit and I don’t know how I’d carry him out of the woods when we’re miles up on a mountain. So I do my best to keep my eyes glued to the ground and be as proactive as I can.