Scary post Halloween

This sign was posted at the start of the trail. I assumed it was to inform hikers but mainly to cover their ass against lawsuits (like the famous one of the hot coffee at Mc Donald's).....




Well, this is what I encountered....



I have no idea if this was a rattle snake or not. I was assuming so and FREAKED OUT! My mind was racing a hundred miles an hour... Bite... Get down the trail somehow,... gangrenous tissue and all.... It was as if the toxins (of the bite that I didn't have) already infiltrated my brain....I wasn't thinking about 'last wishes', leaving family and loved ones behind,..... instead I was contemplating the fact I wouldn't know who won the elections if I died on the trail...


It wasn't just a few miles further I saw this tarantula in the middle of the trail, moving slowly but steadily. I swear the thing was about the size of Paris Hilton's dog.... (and just as un-appealing).



I got off the trail healthy and well but a little more weary about the dangers. I consider myself quite a rational human being but despite that, I went with "If I don't see it, it's not there" - attitude. Guess I'm not really that smart....