Its rattlesnake season. I ran into 3 rattlesnakes on the trail of my last hike (one almost bit me). The hike was 13.7 miles with no reception on my phone. If I'm ever bitten on a long hike, what should I do? Anyone?

One almost got me yesterday too!

I'm certainly no expert, but I would suggest you carry around one of those snake bite kits that you can get at any local sporting goods stores. Luckily, I've never had to use one, but it seems like a good idea. (Make sure to read the directions BEFORE you need them! Nothing worse than trying to figure out directions while poison is coursing through your veins.

Great question.

I once asked this to the sage Hikin Jim. His response:

Keep the victim calm and call SAR. Antivenom is the only effective treatment for a rattlesnake bite. The victim needs to be evacuated immediately and taken to a hospital that has antivenom. The best way to reach SAR is typically 911, ask for the sheriff's dept, and ask for the SAR coordinator once you get ahold of the sheriff's dept. Always have someone stay with the victim keeping the victim as calm as possible. If safe and practical to do so, have the victim lie down, keeping the wound below the level of the heart. Don't allow everyone to cluster around (talk about the opposite of calm); just have one person stay with the victim. If you can't reach SAR via a conventional phone call, remember that a text message will often get out where a voice call cannot. Text sends very rapidly and only needs a few seconds of connection to a cell tower whereas voice needs a continuous connection. You could text multiple friends saying "snake bite, need help, UTM = XXX XXX, pls text reply" or something like that.

If you can't reach SAR by cell (due to lack of coverage), then things get a bit more complicated. You have to be the best judge of the situation, factoring in things like terrain, wx, remoteness, etc. Some options:
-Obviously if you have a PLB or a SPOT, now would be the time to use it.
-Send two fast hikers to a nearby high spot to make the call. Make sure they have GPS coords of the victim's location. Have one stay at the high spot to be your contact and the second comes back to let you know they've contacted SAR.
-Send someone fast back to the trailhead and have them drive to somewhere that they can call SAR. Make sure they have GPS coords of the victim's location. You'd really want to think about this one if you have only one car at the trailhead. It's usually best to send people in two's if you have the manpower.
-Evacuate the victim yourself. The victim generally shouldn't walk except as a last resort. A poncho or clothing can be used to build a stretcher or you can use two people, one person carring the victim at his legs and one carrying the victim at his shoulders. Rotate your carriers if possible. Not a very fun option to evacuate a victim yourself.

You can probably think up other creative otions or combinations of options, but basically it's a judgement call based on the situation.

The good news is that rattlesnake bites are not common. Most people who get bit were messing with the snake. Still, always be careful where you put your hands and feet, especially if stepping over logs or onto brush piles. Not a bad idea to get a set of high tops if you do a lot of cross country. A pair of leather gloves isn't such a bad idea either if you're using your hands to pull yourself up, part brush, etc.

If you are alone, or with one other person. First thing to remember is to move slow. The more active the faster the venom will move through your blood stream. If the cellphone works great if not someone will have to go for help. If you are alone you will have to get your self out. Dying from snake bit is rare, however it hurts like hell and will make you feel like crap. You will need the ante-venom, and if you can bring the snake along for proper ID.
Best thing is to be aware of your surroundings and always be on guard.

Seriously, bring the snake along?

The statistics of being bit are very low. The statistics of venom being injected is very low. A very high survival rate, if venom is injected. Most bites occur on the hands/lower arms. This is because most bites occur when the person tried to grab the snake. A snake biting a human is a defense mechanism...they inject venom to kill food.

Being involved with SAR, and an EMT...a snake bite should be treated as a fracture...immobilize the area. With a pen, mark the bite area, circle the swelling, and label with the time. If you are on your own, with no means of getting communications out, you have 2 options.

1) Stay put, stay calm, and wait for help (you did leave a hiking plan with a responsible person, right!?) Treat as stated above. If venom was not injected, you should know within the first 15 minutes. No venom, then hike out and see your doctor and/or watch for signs of infection. If venom was injected, staying calm is your best bet. You will have several hours of severe burning pain and fever. The venom is eating your tissue. :) This will be followed by days/weeks/months/years of reconstruction if necessary.

2) Hike out. Treat as stated above. Stay calm. You might be 15 miles in, but there might be a major trail intersection 2 miles further in. Do a little thinking. Hike slow, keep your heart rate down, especially if venom has been injected.

Do everyone a favor...every hike you go on. Leave a little note on the fridge, with a friend, spouse, etc. I'll be on this trail, parked at this trailhead, and should be home by XX time.

Seriously, bring the snake along?

No need.

What is SAR, PLB, SPOT and UTM?

SAR = Search And Rescue
PLB = Personal Locator Beacon
UTM = Universal Traverse Mercator coordinates - basically the latitude / longitude of your location
SPOT = Stop Pet Overpopulation Together....just kidding. From what I gather SPOT and PLB are similar, they both communicate with satellites, sending your GPS (location coordinates) for emergency response.

Thank you everyone for great advice. To be on the safe side, I will try and always find at least one other person to hike with, especially on a long hike.