Sweat dripped from my face as I crested the rocky ridge. We had been hiking in the 100-degree weather for hours, and I was exhausted, exhilarated, and thrilled with the wide spread of nature I was privileged to experience. When we finally labored to the top of the steepest incline, what a sight to behold! In the background, stunning, soaring mountain peaks, and straight ahead, a refreshing oasis, the deepest green color for miles in a mostly dry landscape. With cries of joy, we raced down toward the water, dodging large rocks and sliding on matted earth, intending to plunge our dusty hands and feet into the cool, rejuvenating pool or maybe just dive right in. But, at the water’s edge, we skidded to a sudden stop. The beautiful, evergreen water was roiling with snakes! It wasn’t obvious at first but there were snakes undulating through the depths, writhing on …