Hiking Kenter 7/10

To get to the top of Kenter trail head:
Go to Bundy.
Head North
Bundy turns in to Kenter after Sunset.
Follow Kenter up a long and winding road till it dead ends.
That's it.

When you get there you can follow the trail all the way over to a housing tract that is accessible from the valley. Halfway up this hike their is also an oak tree that shades a bench that over looks really, the whole LA Basin and has a great coastal view. That's usually what I do.

This time of year staying on the main road is a good idea but even there keep your eyes out for these guys.
I walked past this little guy (and so did Bella) and he was maybe 2 feet off of the trail. He was really lethargic as it was pretty chilly out. Notice the camouflage and the fact that he's sleeping in an almost strike position (in strike position his head would be raised and cocked back).
Western rattlesnakes are equipped with a venom that dissolves soft cell walls in whatever it bites. When the cell wall dissolved it creates serious pain and swelling. The swelling can block blood flow to areas distal from the bite and cause a serious issue. The venom can make its way to vital organs and that is also a problem. If you want to see a picture of Ms. Bella's ear after she was bit last year email me. It's pretty ugly.

From Mayoclinic.com

If you've experienced a snakebite:

• Remain calm
• Don't try to capture the snake
• Immobilize the bitten arm or leg and try to stay as quiet as possible
• Remove jewelry, because swelling tends to progress rapidly
• Apply a loose splint to reduce movement of the affected area, but make sure it is loose enough that it won't restrict blood flow
• Don't use a tourniquet or apply ice
• Don't cut the wound or attempt to remove the venom

Seek medical attention as soon as possible, especially if the bitten area changes color, begins to swell or is painful.

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I'll add. Go straight for the medical attention. Don't wait for the symptoms. Time is important on this one. Also keep the bitten area lower than your heart. I don't know how much this helps but it makes sense to me to use gravity to your advantage here. For example, if your hand is bitten keep it down by your side, not up in the air. Just a thought.

Don't let snakes keep you off the trail. Rattlers keep the rodent population down and are a part of the Wests ecosystem like 'em or not. They don't want to mess with you and would rather be left alone.

That being said the next time I go out I will be taking my hiking polls so if I see one of these little natural wonders I can fling it off into the bushes.