How to avoid the horror of walking through a spiderweb, according to the National Park Service
It’s a downright scary feeling. You move forward confidently on what seems like a clear and open path, and then you feel it. Stretchy filaments trail across your skin, clothes and, worst of all, your face. The more you try to turn back and escape, the more you feel like Frodo wrapped in Shelob the Spider’s deadly web, your luckier friends sneering like orcs ready to take you back to Mordor.
Long story short, walking on a spider web is horrible. However, according to the National Park Service (NPS), there are ways to avoid this frustrating encounter. The first tip they list is to stick to the road most traveled. Since spiders are more likely to build their sticky, intricate homes near greenery, walking along the center of the trail can reduce your chances of becoming an arachnid wrecker.
Tip number two: “Sweep a hiking pole or trekking pole in front of you as you walk to catch the webs before you encounter them,” the agency writes. “No need to go full Jedi on your first day with a new lightsaber: use it only when necessary. And don’t forget to apologize. Good manners count, even for spiders.”
Along the same lines, a brimmed hat can intercept cobwebs and also protects your face from the sun’s harmful rays. The NPS also suggests, quite sensibly, walking slowly and carefully along a trail and taking your adventures during the middle of the day. Spiders are most active at dawn and dusk, so avoiding these times reduces the chance of an unfortunate encounter.
Plus, one cheeky Facebook user had another nifty tip that’s bad news for tall friends, but a great strategy for all the little kings and queens venturing into national parks. “Let the tallest member of your group lead the way. He will clear the way! Also, never be the tallest member of the group.”
But if, despite all this advice, you’re still walking into a spider’s web, rest assured that there’s another glimmer of hope from the NPS Lord of the Rings theme: “You don’t just become a karate master. First of all, you have to accidentally walk into a spider’s web.”
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