Edible Wild Plants For Backpackers

Knowing a few edible wild plants can make your next backpacking trip, or any trip into the wilderness, a lot more enjoyable.

You can pack lighter if you eat wild berries every morning for breakfast, for example, and leave your oatmeal behind. So push the bears out of the way and gorge yourself on blueberries. Less weight on your back always feels better.

You'll also enjoy your backpacking more when you know that you won't be completely helpless the moment you lose your pack, or a raccoon empties it for you. You don't have to be a survivalist to see the value of knowing which of the wild plants around you can be eaten.

I eat dandelions, wild courants, pine nuts and other edible wild plants regularly. I ate hundreds of calories in wild rasberries during a break, while hiking in the Colorado Rockies. During a kayak trip on Lake Superior, a friend and I spent half a day stopping at every litle island, to fill our stomachs with wild blueberries. We were almost out of food, so our foraging helped us get through the rest of the trip. Edible Berries

Here are just some of the wild berries my wife and I ate while hiking to Grinnel Glacier in Glacier National Park: Blueberries, Service Berries, Rose Hips, Blackberries, High Bush Cranberries, Strawberries, Rasberries, Thimbleberries, and Currants. Berries are the most convenient, calorie rich and nutritious of the edible wild plants out there. They are also the easiest to learn to identify

Edible Wild Plants And Survival

If you travel in isolated wilderness areas, learning to identify a few edible wild plants can keep you safe also. Someday you may be lost or injured, or a bear will push you out of the way to gorge himself your freeze-dried meals. In a survival situation, food isn't usually a priority (warmth and water are), but a pile of roasted cattail hearts sure will cheer you up and warm you up, and they even taste good.

Stay away from protected plants, of course, unless you are in a true life-or-death situation. Also, don't eat all the beautiful flowers, or kill off the lilies by eating all the bulbs. Use common sense. If you aren't sure if you're doing harm, stick to eating wild berries.

Check out a few books on harvesting wild food. You don't need to become a wilderness survival fanatic. You really only need to learn to recognise a dozen high-calorie, abundant wild edible plants to be a lot safer in the wilderness, and to enjoy it more.

Steve Gillman is a long-time backpacker, and advocate ultralight backpacking. His advice and stories can be found at http://www.TheUltralightBackpackingSite.com

---

Whitewater Rafting Trip

For the dedicated water sport enthusiast there can be no... Read More

Solo Backpacking

Have you ever gone solo backpacking? If you have, you'll... Read More

How To Buy a Used RV - Part 1

If you are on a tight budget and can't afford... Read More

Trekking in Jordan

1st day : Airport / Amman, O/N Our representative will... Read More

Bird Watching Life Lists ? Keeping A Record

If you're a birder, you want to keep a list... Read More

Solo Backpacking Tips

Solo backpacking means peace and quiet. No one to talk... Read More

The Benefits of One Day Hiking Trips

Do you like to take one day hiking trips? Do... Read More

Bicycling Down The River

My river-rafting adventure started on a bicycle. The small daypack... Read More

On Safari in Northern Tanzania ? Back to The Sixth Day of the Creation

Tanzania's natural endowment as a wildlife safari destination is unrivalled.... Read More

Greek Food

A meal in Greece is highlighted with a selection of... Read More

How To Buy a Used RV - Part 2

The key to getting a good bargin, instead of a... Read More

Wildebeest Migration - How To Get The Best Seats In The House

To get the most out of a wildebeest migration safari... Read More

Amazing Trek Across TIbet!

Today Bookpleasures and Sketchandtravel are pleased to have as our... Read More

Planning Your Own Gorilla Safari Will Save You Money - Heres How

Going on a gorilla safari must rank as one of... Read More

Botswana Safari Top Five National Parks and Game Reserves

A Botswana safari is an excellent trip to undertake because... Read More

Plymouth Plantation and Mayflower ? Links to Our Past Guide, Part 1

Plimoth Plantation and the Mayflower II ship are major attractions... Read More

River Rafting in the Grand Canyon

Rafting through the Grand Canyon is the experience of a... Read More

Tips for Mountain Bikers in Spain

As any keen mountain biker will know, there are some... Read More

Inflatable Pontoon Boats

Bryce Whitmore designed the modern whitewater inflatable pontoon boat, and... Read More

Stay Out of That Old Mine!

It seems like the most adventurous thing in the world.... Read More

Disneyland for Hikers: A Walk to Mt. Whitney

Base camp sits at 12,000 feet - stark, windy, unshaded... Read More

Top Five Honeymoon Safari Destinations In Africa

An African honeymoon safari is the perfect way to celebrate... Read More

Trekking Poles And Walking Sticks

Are walking sticks longer than trekking poles? What about hiking... Read More

A Review of Popular River Rafting Trips and Services

Organized river rafting trips are a good idea for novices... Read More

Crossing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel with an RV

New experiences make me nervous, and I assume that holds... Read More

Adventure Travel on Horseback

When you think of "adventure travel," what crosses your mind?... Read More

Driving in Greece - How Bad is it?

Generally speaking, Greek drivers are not the best in Europe,... Read More

Ten Skills - A Backpacking List

Have you ever had a backpacking trip that was a... Read More

Great Family Camping Trips Make Excellent Traditions

A wonderful way to invest in your families' treasure trove... Read More

The Lumemo Trail - An African Wilderness Experience for the Practiced Hiker

The Udzungwa Mountains National park was created primarily for the... Read More

Backpacking Journals ? Preserve Your Backpacking Experiences

Backpacking is a great way to escape the rat race... Read More

4 Steps to an Enjoyable Hike

Some people have fought many years of their lives to... Read More

Lake Jipe straddling Tanzania and Kenya

So unknown is this treasure of Lake Jipe not many... Read More