Snakes in the Niagara Gorge
Who would have thought that the largest snake I ever saw in New York would be in the Niagara Gorge. Yesterday I went hiking with a friend from the SAR team down into the Gorge. Yes, we hiked under the guise of "physical conditioning" and getting ready for the work-capacity test, but in a place that is wild and unique as the Gorge - it is the best design I've even seen for a gym. After descending the ailing Whirlpool stairs and making the rounds by the Flats we headed down the trail toward the old Great Gorge Railway stop in the rapids. As an old hand in the area, I was leading the way and then something large moved on the ground just ahead of my feet. I stopped dead, then turned to Jamie, saying "look, it's a snake!" We both stared at the slithering snake sunning itself on a patch of open ground. Its unblinking reptilian eyes stared back at the two hikers, probably wondering if they were going to hurt it. It curled itself in...