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Category Archives: Mountains

Mountain Region.

Venomous Snakes of our Mountains: Timber Rattlers, Diamondbacks and Copperheads

Posted on Tue - Apr 19th, 2016 by NC-Culture Posted in Mountains, Of Special Interest .

Every spring, we like to give folks some visual aids, as the snakes begin to wake.  Because snakes can be extremely difficult to identify, and so many can be mistaken for venomous (when it reality they may be a beneficial snake), we’ve added some pics and descriptions that we hope you will find helpful.  The following link is one we just love, as the pictures and descriptions are very clear, and we are grateful to this organization for keeping us informed!

Davidson Herpetology
From what all we have read, although there can be some regional crossover, the mountains of NC are actually home to only 3 poisonous snakes: the Timber Rattler, Diamondback Rattlers, and the copperhead (which is definitely a regional crossover, as we have many here in the Piedmont  too).  We have also included “canebrakes”, which is found more in the flatlands and coast, as it is also anther type of rattler, and there is an easy way to tell them apart..read on!

So..let’s learn a little, in case you are ever out hiking and cross paths with one of these..

First off, the best prevention is to avoid these snakes altogether..In fact, the timber rattler is actually a pretty shy snake, and will even do a fake bite sometimes if rattling does not warn away the intruder.  But they can  inject venom  so here are the recommended steps to take if you should sustain a bite:

DOs:

Move away from the snake to avoid possible further bites;

Remain calm (this is important..you do not want your blood racing and possibly spreading the venom further.).

Remove rings, watches, bracelets, etc…as swelling can be intense.

DON’Ts:

Do NOT cut the snakebite.

Do NOT apply ice.

Do NOT attempt to suck venom out with your mouth.

It is also recommended that, if possible, you circle the bite site with a marker, which helps medical personnel judge the severity of the bite, but this is not something to spend time on if you do not have a marker.

**You DO, however, want to keep the bitten person’s heart rate down, so try to stay as calm as possible, lower the bitten extremity lower than the heart, and also apply a light constriction bandage if possible, to help slow the spread of venom, just above the bite site. And with all possible speed, get the bitten person to a hospital or some type of relief station with anti-venom.

 

TIMBER RATTLER

Timber Rattler

Timber Rattler

Timber rattlers are big, in general, and frequently sports a black tail.  They also have dark crossbands, also called “chevrons” on a lighter colored overall background.  In this example, the background is a mottled grayish shade, but can also have a yellowish tint, or even be almost completely black.  Timber rattlers are also found in our coastal plain, but rarely in the Piedmont areas.  They can den up in large numbers, and well I remember a young man when I was attending school in Cullowhee who’s father ran a timber business.  He had many a story of scaling a cliff, only to poke his head up over the edge of the summit and be face to face with a number of these snakes!  Timber rattlers have long held a place in NC, as they are a popular snake for religions that encourage snake handling.  Although they will rattle when disturbed, according to various websites, generally they depend on their camouflage to stay out of sight.

 

CANEBRAKE RATTLER

Canebrake Rattler: Wikepedia..note the differently colored stripe down the back

Canebrake Rattler: Wikepedia..note the differently colored stripe down the back

In the above example of a “canebrake” rattler, please note the orangish stripe down the back.  More commonly found in the coastal and Piedmont areas, we’ve included them because they are actually a type of timber rattler.  Often, they sport a pink hue for their base background color.

 

EASTERN DIAMONDBACK RATTLER

Eastern Diamondback Rattler

Eastern Diamondback Rattler

The title of largest rattlesnake belongs to the Eastern Diamondback Rattler, and this is also the most dangerous of the rattlers.  Diamondbacks can be distinguished by two lighter colored lines on the sides of their heads, and have a diamond pattern outlined with black running the length of their bodies, which is usually a grey or yellowish shade.  At the tail, the diamonds form into bands.  See picture above, and note the two lines on the head that are easily visible.

 

COPPERHEAD

Copperhead in NC

Copperhead in NC

Although we tend to think of the copperhead as a Piedmont or lower elevation snake, they are also found in our mountains.  In adulthood, these tend to be heavy, thick snakes, and have hourglass crossbands on brown or grey backgrounds.  On the stomach,  you may find a combination of white and black markings.  The babies, which are common in my area of the Piedmont  look just like the adults, but have yellow or green tails that are used to entice prey.

A word of warning here.

#1:  One of our common watersnakes is often mistaken for being a copperhead.  I have heard many friends describe flipping a canoe or diving out of a boat when a common watersnake dropped in, as, at first glance, it can be confusing, and few are going to wait around to determine which one it is!

#2:  Although none of the sites I visited to collect this info mentions this, believe me when I say copperheads do play possum!  You may think that snake is dead, but do not take chances.  I cannot tell you how many times I have seen this for myself, but the most notable was when I was walking my horse home and came across one on the dirt road, still as all get out.  As I stood there, casual in my flip-flops and my horse waiting patiently, I decided the snake had been hit by a car, and out of concern for the kids due to dismount from the bus, I quickly put the horse up, and returned to remove the snake ..gee whiz..guess what?  It was gone…how close I came to being struck that day, I will never know..but please approach all snakes with respect..you just never know.

Be sure to be prepared for any possible emergency, as there is rarely any warning for this type of situation.  There is a very good reason why seasoned hikers wear sturdy boots, and this is one of them.

Thanks!
~NC Culture

Tags: canebrake, copperheads, eastern diamondback rattlesnake, mountains, NC, North Carolina, snake strike, snakebites, timber rattlesnake, venomous snakes, what to do .

Ray Hicks, Storyteller of Beech Mountain

Posted on Wed - Jan 13th, 2016 by NC-Culture Posted in Mountains, Of Special Interest .

Are you familar with Jack Tales? If so, then you may be familiar with Ray Hicks, who was well known for his charismatic storytelling abilities.

Ray Hicks, storyteller Wikipedia

Ray Hicks, storyteller
Wikipedia

Born Aug 29, 1922, Ray lived with his wife Rosa in Beech Mountain, NC for over 80 years in the family home built by his grandfather. His dialect added to his storytelling ability as he reflected both the Scottish-Irish immigrants and a form of old English in his speech. This combination led to his being featured on PBS’s “The Story of English”.  The Jack Tales for which he was best known had a basis in both Celtic and European folklore and was thought to be a type of alter ego for himself, called Jack.

Numerous recognitions have been given to Ray Hicks.  He was a much loved contributor at the National Storytelling Festival held annually in Jonesborough, TN. Ray was also the recipient of the 1983 National Heritage Fellowship and the 1991 NC Folk Heritage Award.  He has also been mentioned in the New Yorker and recognized by both the Smithsonian and the Presidency.

One thing many may not know is that Ray was also a respected harmonica player and a singer of traditional ballads.

Ray passed away April 20, 2003

We have included some video clips of Ray’s appearances so that you, too, can enjoy his unique storytelling style.

“Hunting with Jack”

 

“Reuben”

 

“Roving Gambler” with Ray Hicks and Stanley Hicks

 

Sources for this post include the following:

NCpedia

Ray Hicks.com

Blue Ridge Heritage

David Holt.com

Wikipedia

 

 

Tags: Beech Mountain, folklore, Jack Tales, mountains, NC, North Carolina, Ray Hicks, storytelling .

The Bells of Fine’s Creek by Dean Rathbone, with photos by John Kimball

Posted on Tue - Dec 29th, 2015 by NC-Culture Posted in Mountains .
Fine's Creek, NC John Kimball, photographer

Fine’s Creek, NC John Kimball, photographer

When NC Culture first heard the “Story of the Bells”, we were fascinated with this insight into our NC history.  Dean Rathbone had this to add:
“I grew up listening to these stories, passed down from generation to generation. I want to keep our mountain heritage alive by sharing them with those that want to hear. Hopefully, people can learn from them.”
At the time that Dean was writing this history, a favorite photographer of ours, John Kimball, began sharing photos of Fine’s Creek.  John kindly allowed us the use of his photos to help show the remoteness of Fine’s Creek,  which is located far back in the mountains in Haywood County, NC.  A little more about John follows:
“Welcome, I am John Kimball, a Photographer from Balsam, North Carolina and Ridgeway, Ontario Canada. My main loves are Landscapes and Abandoned farm buildings but you never know where I may end up.”
More of John’s work can be found on Facebook and on Artists Websites.

“The Story of the Bells”

The warm sunshine and the serene view beckoned me to my mothers’s front porch this afternoon. As I rocked gently in a rocker, she slowly made her way, shuffling behind her walker, to join me. We sat there silently, enjoying the warmth and the peaceful view across the Fines Creek Valley. We hadn’t been sitting there long when we thought that we heard the soft sound of the church bells ringing. Hard of hearing, my 88 year old mother listened intently. “Can you make out what they are saying?” she softly asked me. Someone not from the valley would have thought the she was suffering from dementia, but I knew the story behind her words.

Fine's Creek, NC John Kimball, photographer

Fine’s Creek, NC John Kimball, photographer

Before the Civil War, there was only one Methodist church in the Fines Creek Valley. The congregation was divided. Some families supported the North, and others supported the South, brother against brother. The congregation met and decided to split peacefully. They agreed never to harm each other, and to my knowledge they never did. The two churches developed a code by ringing the bell a certain way to warn of danger. If soldiers or bushwhackers entered the lower end of the valley, someone would ring out the message. The message would then be passed on to the upper end of the valley. The church located at the upper end of the valley would do the same if danger entered from that direction. All the able bodied men were fighting on one side or the other, so the women, children and the old looked out for one another regardless of political views.

Fine's Creek, NC John Kimball, photographer

Fine’s Creek, NC John Kimball, photographer

Over the years, the code of the bells has been lost. My mother is one of the few that still remembers parts of it. She has taught me what she remembers. Thankfully, I didn’t have to decipher a message this afternoon. My cousin appeared from the shadows: he had been repairing the metal entrance gate to his farm. The peace of the valley was not disturbed.

Old store in Fine's Creek, NC John Kimball, photographer

Old store in Fine’s Creek, NC John Kimball, photographer

 

My family has attended The Lower Fines Creek United Methodist Church since the Civil War. This church was sympathetic to the South. There is a large field to the right of the church called the southern mustering ground. Men from the valley trained there before they went away to fight in the bloody war. The northern mustering grounds is located about 3 miles up the valley. I had ancestors training in both fields. Every Sunday, as I sit in this little church, it seems I can hear them whisper, “Tell our story so that it will not happen again.”.

Tags: bells, church bells, churches, civil war, Dean Rathbone, Fine's Creek, Fine's Creek United Methodist Church, Haywood County, history, John Kimball, NC, North Carolina, signals .
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