Snakes On a Hike

Just recently (yesterday) I switched from your run of the mill, store bought deodorant to an all natural brand called Schmidt's. I did this for two reasons. The first is that while there haven't been any conclusive studies linking the aluminum commonly used in antiperspirants to breast cancer and Alzheimer's, there's enough "coincidence" in the studies I've read to make me want steer clear of them. The second is to thanks to a blog post by the "armpit queen" touting Schmidt's performance.

As I spend most of my time outdoors during the warmer months, I decided to put it to the test today to see if it would hold up to my own standards. A few towns over from where I live there's this phenomenal eight mile loop around a lake. In the colder months, I run the four miles that compose its western shore because the trails are harder and that section boasts a higher elevation than the eastern shore, which houses a marsh...and water moccasins. There are still risks to the western shore, namely copper heads, but snakes all hibernate during the winter*, so I feel safe enough to run it.

The same is NOT true for the rest of the year, for obvious reasons. Those reasons being snakes. 

*shudder*

Plus, if you run the entire trail, you miss out on the beauty and birdsong that surrounds you. One of the reasons that I brave this trail regardless of the slithering ones that I share it with is because of how much diversity is contained within such a small area. You pass from a conifer filled forest to broad leaf and back again several times, cross over numerous bridges that span the rivers that feed the lake, and even end up in the swamp at one point. 

Trees

Rivers 

Swamps

And of course, the lake

There's also a lot of neat side trails that take you to god knows where because they're unmarked and I haven't felt adventurous enough to explore them yet. I'm looking forward too though (while accompanied by a responsible adult (who also doubles as my fiance)), as I discover something new each and every time I visit. For example, check out this primitive (ha, couldn't even bring myself to lie) rock painting I found: 

As I'm not an archaeologist, I have no idea what's going on there. It could either be a replica of some sort of ancient native american design...or a quad-boob. Judging by the other people that inhabit the peninsula I live on, I'm leaning towards quad-boob. 

The only downside about my hikes is that I spend A LOT OF TIME fully focused on the trail in front of me. Because snakes. No really though, there are so many exposed roots here that you have to pay close attention to determine whether or not something just in front of you is an inanimate piece of wood, or a viperous reptile with dagger teeth hoping to shank you in the ankle. 

Don't believe me? 

What doesn't help is that we have these little lizards called skinks that like to sun themselves on the edges of the trail. They wait until you're directly on top of them before they slither off through the underbrush at top speed, making enough noise to jump you. The fact that they move and look just like a snake when viewed out of the corner of your eye is an added bonus. 

There's one hiding in the leaves of this next picture. He scared the shit out of me. I hate him. 

Later on, one was brave enough to show himself (unlike the wuss in the above). Kinda cute, huh? 

At the very end of the trail, there's a grassy area that you have to pass through. When I first started hiking it, they didn't keep the grass cut back and the trail was only wide enough to fit a small child through. Therefore, you couldn't see ANYTHING to either side of you. Now they keep a large swath of it trimmed, so I don't have to sprint through it like a maniac anymore, which is awesome because it used to be a harrowing experience. Also, I think my screaming frightened the other hikers. 

Just in case you're wondering if this is all in my head, it isn't. The very first time my fiance and I went for a hike, we saw what he claims was a water moccasin on the shoreline in the distance of this picture:

I didn't get any closer, 

BECAUSE WHAT IF IT'S STILL THERE?

I can neither confirm nor deny what he saw, as my immediate reaction was to flee in the other direction and leave him to his fate. He swears it started towards him before changing it's mind and disappearing into the water, and that sort of aggressive behavior is typical of the species. 

ANYWAY, the point of this whole post was to test out Schmidt's, and I am both pleased, and more than a little surprised to say that....

IT WORKED!!!

Schmidt's, able to tackle both tough sweat brought on by vigorous exercise and the even stinkier sweat brought on by panicking hikers thinking that every single twig they step over is actually a murderer. 

*If this is not an actual fact, DO NOT CORRECT ME. Let me remain blissfully ignorant.