Watch your step
2007-02-03 12:51 PM | Posted by sahayak | Permanent Link | Miscellaneous
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There are certain hazards you face when you work alone in the Australian bush. I spent a few years cutting timber for property owners in the Maleny range area, supplying posts and rails and firewood for their potbelly stoves.
Courtesy Australian Museum
I only cut standing trees ones that had been marked by the forestry rangers, those deemed to be sick or stunted, I could however freely cut all dead trees. I was chainsawing blocks off a large fallen tree when I heard the sound of an approaching 4WD vehicle. This deep into the forestry reserve it could have only been the rangers. I looked up to see them stop ahead of the log I was cutting.
The rangers would often come to have a chat and we would sit and 'boil the billy' (make a cup of tea). As I was finishing cutting one of the rangers came very close and yelled above the sound of the chainsaw, "Don't take another step to your right!"
I looked down to see amongst the fresh shavings from the chainsaw RIGHT next to my boot a venomous coiled Death Adder! The Death Adder is a common snake found in most parts of Australia. It is related overseas to the Cobra's and Mamba's. They rely on their camouflage not to be seen, that is why this particular snake lay motionless and unseen while I was working right next to it. However if I had taken that next step, he would have struck my leg!
So I was very grateful to the rangers for wanting to stop and have a cup of tea that day!
