Snakes on Trail!

Today was not one of our best. After driving fifty minutes up and down a mountain (a very beautiful mountain with waterfalls and big boulders) we finally arrived at the spot where we were going to hike. It was supposed to be a 1.2 mile hike to the summit of Mt. Mansfield. However, the road that led to the trail head was CLOSED!!!! I was disappointed. We then headed up the road a bit to a spot where there was supposed to be waterfalls that we could swim in. As we were getting out and getting ready for the hike we saw a family come up with two young kids. Since I read that the hike down could be slippery, Cesar decided to ask the family how it went. The mom said that since there has been so much rain the waterfall pool was four to five feet higher than normal and "raging" so they didn't go in. Then the little four year old boy said to Cesar, "Did you waste your time coming here?" Yes, yes, son, we did. At this point the family pretty much mutinied and just wanted to head to Cold Cider Orchards to get their world famous cider donuts, but, since it was finally nice out and hot enough to swim in a waterfall I forced the troops to forge ahead to waterfall number #2, which was about a twenty minute drive away. When we got there we checked out the trail and thought it looked pretty easy so we did not change into our sneakers. This was the first time we had been so casual. We realized pretty early on that we might have needed our sneakers since it was muddy and a little slippery.


As Che barreled ahead, I kept saying "Wait for me! You might slip!", to no avail. Then I noticed the wet wood and other forest debris around and thought to myself that this is exactly the spot snakes like to hang out. So, I ran in front of Che and said stay behind me. Ten seconds later we looked Death in the eye. His name was Thamnophis Sauritus. Immediately images of the Little Prince's last moments flashed before my eyes as I saw the snake, our nemesis, slither across the path in front of me and Che and then off into the fallen logs and bush next to the trail. It was blackish/brown with beige/yellow stripes down it and was about a foot and a half long. I certainly did not enjoy seeing it so close to my kid's feet, especially sneakerless ones! We forged on, carefully, but once we arrived at the raging river and realized we would have to hike up a hill in the mud with debris all around and no shoes on we decided to head back.

So, yes folks, the Guerras went 0 for 3: we lost the trail head, were flooded out of a waterfall, and were run off by a garter snake's cousin. The donuts on the way home were good though.


After recovering from my defeat, we headed downtown and ate outside while listening to street musicians and then watched a street performer walk on a tightrope that 12 audience members held for him while juggling sharp knives and standing over another audience member who lied down below him protecting his important parts. I am sure none of them would have been scared of the snake.