Kevin - thanks for chiming in. I'm not especially worried about copperheads but have seen several big rattlesnakes. I'll dig up pics tomorrow but my wife almost stepped on the biggest one we've seen. Got with striking distance but it was docile. Didnt even rattle till I tried to move it off the trail. I find the lighter color rattlers absolutely beautiful. The darker ones seem to be pissed off most of the time we run into them.
Excellent conversation. I agree with whoever said "I'd probably just die". I've been a long ways from the truck in the Smokys. You can get cell reception on a clear day and on top of a ridge but I would bet my life on it. My wife keeps wanting me to get an InReach for my western hunts. Might be time to get one for our extended backcountry hiking. We have 4-5 long trails left in the Smokys that will involve 2-3 day backpacks.
