Back to the hike & the story:
While walking along the trail, it's good that I noticed the snake. I was leading our group and it was fortunate that I saw the snake since we were chit-chatting.
We backed off and I gathered some small stones to throw at it, to see if it was still alive. It looked dead and its head was resting on a tree root. Even after 4 or 5 stones, it didn't move. I got a short stick/ branch to prod it and possibly hang it on the atick to throw it on the cliff. After I prodded it, the tail moved! We all retreated!
Still, I wanted to push through since my friends came from far away just for the hike. So I looked for a bigger/ longer stick. I found a longer stick, maybe 1.5 meters, and returned to prod the snake again. My friend and I prodded it once or twice, then ran away because we saw that it was awake and the head was in striking position! We were afraid that it would "jump" and attack us.
I don't know much about snakes but I know the general rule that if it's colorful, it's probably dangerous!