Park at N35 29.079 W105 54.358 which is about 1/4 mile east of
the cache. Exit the trail at N35 29.087 W105 54.463 which is at the
2 mile marker. Only bikes, hikers and horses are allowed to use the
trail.
As we were preparing the micro cache, it was swallowed by a
large and friendly snake (latexius serpentius). Rather than let an
opportunity for a fun hide go to waste, we have placed the critter
near the trail. NOTE: Do not attempt to find this cache if you
dread snakes. Also, make sure you have found the artificial one and
not a real relative! You will know if you have found the cache as
it's wearing an unusual item. The log is still in it's throat.
Please do not move the snake from it's resting spot, as it is not
necessary. Thanks!
The Santa Fe Rail Trail was established in 1997 and runs along
the Santa Fe Southern railroad tracks for 11.5 miles between Santa
Fe and Lamy.
Snake Mythology
Cows, monkeys and dogs are revered by some cultures yet consumed
as food by others. So, too, snakes are respected in some parts of
the world and despised in others. The way that people feel about
snakes is heavily influenced by cultural beliefs and mythology.
Some cultures held snakes in high esteem as powerful religious
symbols. Quetzalcoatl, the mythical "plumed serpent," was
worshipped as the "Master of Life" by ancient Aztecs of Central
America. Some African cultures worshipped rock pythons and
considered the killing of one to be a serious crime. In Australia,
the Aborigines associated a giant rainbow serpent with the creation
of life.
Other cultures have associated snakes with medicinal powers or
rebirth. In India, cobras were regarded as reincarnations of
important people called Nagas. Our modern medical symbol of two
snakes wrapped around a staff, or 'caduceus,' comes from ancient
Greek mythology. According to the Greeks, the mythical figure
Aesculapius discovered medicine by watching as one snake used herbs
to bring another snake back to life.
Judeo-Christian culture has been less kind to snakes. Tales of
the Garden of Eden and the serpent's role in "man's fall from
grace" have contributed to a negative image of snakes in western
culture. In Appalachia, some Christians handle venomous snakes as
part of ritual ceremonies, relying on faith to protect them from
bites. Among Catholics, Saint Patrick is credited with ridding
Ireland of snakes, a feat celebrated by many as a good thing.
Deep rooted cultural biases may be responsible, in part, for
widespread fear and disdain for snakes. However, modern myths, from
folk tales to plain old misinformation, also contribute to their
negative image.
Modern Myths
Size: Snakes are almost always described as larger than they
really are. Stories about New England water snakes eight and ten
feet long are simply not true. Northern water snakes rarely exceed
three and a half feet in length, with the largest stretching only
four and a half feet. While the black rat snake, our largest native
snake, can reach lengths of just over eight feet, most New England
snakes are less than three feet long.
Poisonous Snakes: The regularity with which people kill a snake
first and ask questions later might lead you to believe that the
world is overrun with venomous snakes. In fact, venomous snakes
only make up about 10 percent of snake species worldwide, and in
Massachusetts only two of the state's fourteen species of snakes
are venomous (timber rattlesnake and northern copperhead). Both are
rare, reclusive and generally confined to isolated areas.
Folk Tales:
Folk tales about snakes are handed down from generation to
generation and include such things as snakes that charm prey,
swallow their young for protection, poison people with their
breath, roll like hoops, and suck milk from cows. These folk tales
could be just interesting and amusing stories except that many
people still believe them. As we learn more about the true nature
of snakes, we can begin to base our perceptions of them on fact
rather than fiction.
Hoop Snakes Myth: When frightened, hoop snakes will bite their
tails and roll downhill like a wagon wheel. Reality: Anatomically,
snakes are not well equipped for rolling and there are no reliable
accounts of this ever occurring. The hoop snake myth may have been
associated originally with mud snakes found in the southern United
States. Mud snakes will occasionally lie in a loose coil shaped
like a hoop, but they slither away from danger like other
snakes.
Swallowing Young Myth: When confronted with danger, mother
snakes swallow their young, spitting them out later once danger has
passed. Reality: Parental care is not very well developed in snakes
and there is no evidence that mother snakes protect their young in
this way. The myth may result from the fact that some snakes eat
young snakes of their own species or of other species, though
usually not their own brood.
Charming Snakes Myth: Snakes have the ability to charm prey,
especially birds, so they cannot flee. Reality: There is no
evidence that snakes charm their prey. Small animals may become
"frozen with fear" when confronted by snakes but they are not
charmed. Birds may flutter about in front of a snake in an attempt
to lure it away from their nests; occasionally a bird may actually
be captured by the snake, giving the impression that it was
charmed. The fact that snakes never blink may also have played a
role in this myth's origin.
Sucking Milk Myth: Milk snakes are so named because of their
ability to suck milk directly from the udders of cows. Reality:
Although milk snakes are common around barns that house cows, they
completely lack the anatomy necessary to suck milk (or anything
else for that matter). Barns are attractive to milk snakes because
they provide abundant food in the form of small rats and mice.
Poisonous Breath Myth: Puff adders (hognose snakes) mix poison
with their breath and can kill a person at a distance of
twenty-five feet. Reality: Although the bite of a hognose snake can
produce swelling and a burning sensation, these snakes rarely bite
people and are not considered venomous. When confronted, they do
puff themselves up and hiss, but their breath is harmless.