By Karie Lee Knoke 

Winter transforms the landscape into a blank canvas. Fresh snow covers the ground, softening every edge and silencing the world. But for those who know where to look, this quiet season reveals a secret language. Tracks, trails and signs left by animals going on about their lives. Tracking in winter isn’t just about identifying footprints; it’s about reading the story of survival written across the snow. 

The Art of Seeing While Wildlife Tracking 

The first rule of tracking is to slow down. Walk quietly, notice patterns and let your eyes adjust to the subtleties of snow. A crisp, clean snowfall is a tracker’s dream, capturing every step, slide and wingbeat in fine detail. But even days after a storm, melted and refrozen impressions can tell as much about time and behavior as they do about species. 

Early morning is the best time to head out. The light is low and slanted, casting long shadows that make shallow impressions easier to see. A hand lens or small ruler helps measure track size and depth, and a notebook or phone camera keeps a record for later study. 

Reading the Clues 

Each track carries a signature combination of shape, stride and pattern. The spacing between prints tells how fast an animal was moving; the depth hints at its weight, or the preparation of a pounce; and the symmetry reveals its gait. 

Deer leave two neat, heart-shaped prints, each about 2 to 3 inches long. In soft snow, their hooves cut deep and sharp. A wandering line means the deer was browsing for twigs, while a direct, steady trail suggests it was traveling between feeding and bedding areas. 

Snowshoe hares print in a distinctive pattern: two large hind feet land ahead of the smaller front ones as they hop. Their tracks often appear in clusters, each group marking a single bound. Look for them near thickets, brush piles or the edges of open fields where they feed at dusk and dawn. 

Bobcats and mountain lions walk with a smooth, straight pattern, often along brushy edges. When trotting, you’ll see alternating left-right prints. When stalking, they tighten up and sometimes overlap perfectly, called “direct register walking.” Their prints are round, with no claw marks as they have retractable claws.  

Squirrels leave tracks that seem almost playful. Their large hind feet land ahead of the smaller fronts, creating a leapfrog pattern that leads from tree base to tree base. Scattered bits of cone debris nearby mark feeding spots, often called “middens.” 

Following the Story 

Winter tracking is less about finding the animal itself and more about understanding its habits. Every trail is a mystery of motion and intention. As in a “whodunit” story, embrace the inspector role: Who? What are they doing? Where are they headed and where did they come from? When or how long ago? And why? 

Let the mystery unfold as you take in all the signs that you see, hear, smell and feel. If you’re following fresh mountain lion tracks, I suggest following them back from where they came, not to where they were headed. Best not to find yourself face-to-face with one!  

Spend enough time tracking and the forest begins to speak in a new language. What once looked like an empty white field becomes alive with paths, decisions and dramas unfolding in silence. You realize you’re walking through a world in motion, one that never really sleeps. 

So the next time fresh snow falls, grab your boots and head outside. Slow down, look closely and follow the prints. Every mark in the snow is a story of survival, and in reading them, you become part of that story too. 

Karie Lee Knoke is a wilderness and primitive-skills instructor and founder of Sacred Cedars Wilderness School. She was a contestant on the reality survival TV show, “Alone,” Season 9, on the History Channel. For more information, go to Karieleeknoke.com or follow her on Facebook @SacredCedarsWildernessSchool or Instagram @karie_lee_knoke. 

The post Wintertime Animal Tracking  appeared first on Out There Venture.

Cover photo courtesy of Karie Lee Knoke

There’s something about walking through a forest in the fall that stirs the soul. The earth softens underfoot, the scent of damp leaves fills the air, and, if you slow down enough, the wild begins to reveal its secrets. One of those gifts is mushrooms, popping up in the quiet places, nourished by rain and decay. Fall is the season when fungi call us to pay attention, to harvest with gentleness, and to remember our place in the web of life. 

Mushrooms are a gift from the forest floor. They provide us with food and medicine. In their own mysterious way, they are teachers and connectors between life and death. They break down the old to nourish the new. In the fall, when the rains return, mushrooms emerge, reminding us that even in a season of dying back, there is abundance. 

This is the time to lace up your boots, carry a sharp knife, bring a basket or woven mesh bag (never plastic), and head into the woods with curiosity, care and respect. I prefer a mesh bag to allow the spores to sprinkle to the forest ground as I walk, replenishing next year’s harvest. 

Five of my Favorite Mushrooms to Know This Fall 

1. Hen of the woods (Grifola frondosa) 
   Also known as maitake, often growing in generous clusters at the base of oaks, this beautiful mushroom fans out like layered feathers. It’s meaty, grounding and deeply nourishing. I often find it in the same place year after year, like an old friend returning. Sauté it slowly, and let the earthy flavor shine. 
    

2. Chicken of the woods (Laetiporus sulphureus) 
   Not to be mistaken with hen of the woods, these are so called because of their slightly lemony taste with the texture of chicken when cooked. They can be found growing on dead or dying stumps or tree trunks of hardwood trees. It’s best to harvest this mushroom when it is young and tender, before it gets chalky. I like to sauté them in butter or add to soups or use as a chicken substitute in any recipe. 
    

3. Chanterelles (Cantharellus spp.) 
   Golden and elegant, chanterelles are often found tucked into mossy glades beneath fir and hemlock. Their fruity aroma and delicate ridges make them unmistakable, once you truly get to know them. Don’t rush. Look closely. A poisonous lookalike, the jack-o’-lantern, grows in similar habitats. Learn the differences well before tasting. 
    

4. Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) 
   These pale, soft fans grow on dying trees, such as birch, poplar and other hardwoods. They come in flushes, sometimes covering a log with soft, edible blooms. They cook up tender and mild and are among the easier mushrooms to identify. Still, know what you’re looking for. Nature rewards those who move slowly and pay attention. 
   
   
    

5. Puffballs (Calvatia spp.) 
   When young and firm, puffballs are wonderful sliced and sautéed. Just be sure to cut them open and look inside. They should be pure white with no signs of gills or inner structure. If you see anything developing inside, leave it. That’s nature telling you it’s not edible. 

A Practice in Awareness 

Foraging mushrooms is not something to dabble in casually. It’s a practice. Some mushrooms can kill you, some can heal you, and many live in the mystery between. Go slow. Use more than one field guide. Taste nothing until you are absolutely sure. 

Harvesting with Respect 

Only take what you need. Leave plenty for the deer, the insects, the spores and the soil. Cut mushrooms cleanly at the base, and disturb as little as possible. The mycelium, the real body of the mushroom, is underground, and we are merely gathering its fruit. Be gentle. 

For me, fall foraging is about remembering. That we are part of nature. That the Earth provides. That there is still wildness to be found, if we walk with humbleness and reverence. 

Karie Lee Knoke is a wilderness and primitive skills instructor and founder of Sacred Cedars Wilderness School. She was a contestant on the reality survival TV show, Alone Season 9, on the History Channel. Go to Karieleeknoke.com for more information, or follow her on Facebook @SacredCedarsWildernessSchool or Instagram @karie_lee_knoke. 

The post Foraging Fall Edible Mushrooms: Walking in Step with the Season  appeared first on Out There Venture.

As the warmth of summer rolls in, the forest bursts forth with life and the invitation to reconnect with the expressiveness of nature, with each other and with ourselves. The time for community, for togetherness, and creating the kinds of memories that last forever. This is the season to unleash yourself and be wild again! 

Step outside. Kick off your shoes and feel the earth beneath your feet. Hike a trail that leads to nowhere but wonder. Jump into an icy alpine lake. Sleep under a sky full of stars and wake to the orchestra of birdsongs instead of alarm clocks.  

Do you know which birdsongs belong to whom? It’s an art of musical identification that takes a lifetime to master. My favorite songbird is the Swainson’s Thrush. It is the last migratory songbird to show up for summer and the first to leave as the mid-summer’s sun starts its retreat. Songbirds give us the perfect excuse to remember to listen. 

I love to lie under the stars in my sleeping bag, just as dusk descends. I close my eyes and listen to the birds. Who will be the last to make its final call of the day? The bird on the right? No, the bird on the left. No, now I hear one off in the distance. Then the bird on the right chirps one more time. This goes on and on until . . . nothing but crickets.  

Birds are nature’s alarm system. Knowing their songs and behaviors will give you clues that danger is nearby. The birds will tell you that hikers are coming down the trail, half a mile away. They may even warn you that a mountain lion is nearby.  

Have you ever noticed that birds will be singing happily one moment, and suddenly they are silent? Peculiar as it may seem, this is a sign that a predator is so close that they don’t want to reveal their location. This is called the concentric ring of silence. Birds outside of the predator zone warn the rest of the forest that a predator is nearby, while the ones inside the predator zone are silent. If you ever experience this phenomenon, you may want to perk up your senses and look around. 

Once, I was stalking quietly through the woods. I spent the morning sitting under a tree and observing nature. I got cold and decided to stealthily make my way back home. Suddenly, I stopped in my tracks. I noticed that the songbirds had stopped singing. I shamed myself for being too noisy and causing disruption in the forest, as I was being perceived as a predator. 

Then, WHAM! It was as if someone grabbed my head and spun it around. I looked directly eye to eye with a mountain lion who was stalking me! I had spun around so fast, I startled it. It shook its head in surprise and scampered off as if embarrassed. Just then I realized that I was not the predator—I was the prey! The birds had warned me by their silence. 

Nature teaches us if we are willing to tune into her silent, and not-so-silent, messages. It exists as a complex, interconnected web of relationships, where every element plays a vital role in the whole. 

So, this summer, hear the call of the wild. Not alone, but rather find your people, gather your gear, and go. Sleep under the stars. Listen to the landscapes. And in doing so, you’ll gain not just wilderness skills, but stories of meaningful experiences. Because summer isn’t just a season, it’s an invitation to weave into nature’s wild community! 

Karie Lee Knoke is a wilderness/primitive skills instructor and founder of Sacred Cedars Wilderness School. She was a contestant on the reality survival TV show, Alone Season 9, on the History Channel. Go to www.karieleeknoke.com for more information, or follow her on Facebook @SacredCedarsWildernessSchool or Instagram @karie_lee_knoke 

The post Become Wild This Summer What birds and their songs can teach us if we listen  appeared first on Out There Venture.

As the warmth of summer rolls in, the forest bursts forth with life and the invitation to reconnect with the expressiveness of nature, with each other and with ourselves. The time for community, for togetherness, and creating the kinds of memories that last forever. This is the season to unleash yourself and be wild again! 

Step outside. Kick off your shoes and feel the earth beneath your feet. Hike a trail that leads to nowhere but wonder. Jump into an icy alpine lake. Sleep under a sky full of stars and wake to the orchestra of birdsongs instead of alarm clocks.  

Do you know which birdsongs belong to whom? It’s an art of musical identification that takes a lifetime to master. My favorite songbird is the Swainson’s Thrush. It is the last migratory songbird to show up for summer and the first to leave as the mid-summer’s sun starts its retreat. Songbirds give us the perfect excuse to remember to listen. 

I love to lie under the stars in my sleeping bag, just as dusk descends. I close my eyes and listen to the birds. Who will be the last to make its final call of the day? The bird on the right? No, the bird on the left. No, now I hear one off in the distance. Then the bird on the right chirps one more time. This goes on and on until . . . nothing but crickets.  

Birds are nature’s alarm system. Knowing their songs and behaviors will give you clues that danger is nearby. The birds will tell you that hikers are coming down the trail, half a mile away. They may even warn you that a mountain lion is nearby.  

Have you ever noticed that birds will be singing happily one moment, and suddenly they are silent? Peculiar as it may seem, this is a sign that a predator is so close that they don’t want to reveal their location. This is called the concentric ring of silence. Birds outside of the predator zone warn the rest of the forest that a predator is nearby, while the ones inside the predator zone are silent. If you ever experience this phenomenon, you may want to perk up your senses and look around. 

Once, I was stalking quietly through the woods. I spent the morning sitting under a tree and observing nature. I got cold and decided to stealthily make my way back home. Suddenly, I stopped in my tracks. I noticed that the songbirds had stopped singing. I shamed myself for being too noisy and causing disruption in the forest, as I was being perceived as a predator. 

Then, WHAM! It was as if someone grabbed my head and spun it around. I looked directly eye to eye with a mountain lion who was stalking me! I had spun around so fast, I startled it. It shook its head in surprise and scampered off as if embarrassed. Just then I realized that I was not the predator—I was the prey! The birds had warned me by their silence. 

Nature teaches us if we are willing to tune into her silent, and not-so-silent, messages. It exists as a complex, interconnected web of relationships, where every element plays a vital role in the whole. 

So, this summer, hear the call of the wild. Not alone, but rather find your people, gather your gear, and go. Sleep under the stars. Listen to the landscapes. And in doing so, you’ll gain not just wilderness skills, but stories of meaningful experiences. Because summer isn’t just a season, it’s an invitation to weave into nature’s wild community! 

Karie Lee Knoke is a wilderness/primitive skills instructor and founder of Sacred Cedars Wilderness School. She was a contestant on the reality survival TV show, Alone Season 9, on the History Channel. Go to www.karieleeknoke.com for more information, or follow her on Facebook @SacredCedarsWildernessSchool or Instagram @karie_lee_knoke 

The post Become Wild This Summer What birds and their songs can teach us if we listen  appeared first on Out There Venture.

Cover photo courtesy of Karie Lee Knoke

As winter releases its grip and the first green shoots pierce through thawing soil, foragers have long known that spring offers unique bitter plants that can help transition our bodies into the new season. These wild edibles, known collectively as “spring bitters,” have historically served as natural tonics to cleanse and energize after winter’s heavy foods. 

Spring bitters are plants that contain compounds, primarily alkaloids and glycosides, that signal your taste buds to produce saliva and begin the digestive process and support liver function. Traditional herbalists believe these plants helped our ancestors transition from preserved winter foods to fresh spring fare. Here are some plants that you can forage right here in the Inland Northwest. 

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) 

The common dandelion stands as perhaps the most recognizable spring bitter. Every part of this plant offers different benefits. Young leaves provide a pleasant bitter taste perfect for salads. Roots can be roasted for tea or stews. Flowers are tasty sweet and add color to any dish or can be made into wine. You’re probably pulling this out of your garden anyway, so you might as well wash it off and eat it! 

Chickweed (Stellaria media) 

This tender green appears in early spring, often before other plants. It contains high levels of vitamins A and C and offers a mild, slightly bitter taste. Chickweed pesto is among my favorite on pasta or added straight to a salad. You’ll find chickweed in your garden or in moist, shady areas. 

Wild Ginger Root (Asarum canadense) 

Wild ginger can be found in moist, dark areas, often next to streams. Its illusive flower resembles an orchid, but is in fact in the birthwort family. It has been used to help with indigestion and gas by Native Americans and in modern herbalism. The root has a strong ginger-like flavor and can be dried and used to make tea. It is edible, however, take caution and only consume in small doses! The root can be rolled in sugar to make candy or simmered into a yummy syrup. 

Mountain Bog Gentian Root (Gentiana calycosa) 

This beautiful plant is found in and around wet areas at mid to high elevations throughout the Cascade, Olympic, and Rocky Mountains. They are short plants, with intensely blue tulip-looking flowers. Mountain bog gentian is used for digestion problems such as loss of appetite, fullness, intestinal gas, diarrhea, gastritis, heartburn, and vomiting. It is also used for fever, hysteria, and high blood pressure. 

Woodland Violet (Viola spp.) 

Wild violets are among the first wildflowers to pop up. When I see these beneath the trees, I know it’s game-on for foraging! Both yellow and purple flowers and the leaves are edible and delicious. Their heart-shaped leaves provide gentle bitterness and can be harvested throughout most of the early summer months. The flowers offer subtle sweetness and stunning presentation in salads. They are rich in mucilaginous compounds that soothe digestion. 

Health Considerations 

While spring bitters offer numerous benefits, consider these important points: 

• Start slowly—Begin with small amounts to allow your digestive system to adjust. Some people may experience mild digestive upset when first introducing bitter foods. 

• Individual reactions may occur—Those with certain medical conditions or taking medications should consult healthcare providers before consuming wild plants. Pregnant women should be especially cautious. 

Foraging spring bitters connects us to ancient traditions of seasonal eating while providing natural support for our bodies’ transition into spring. With proper knowledge, careful identification, and responsible harvesting practices, these wild plants offer both culinary adventure and potential health benefits. Remember that foraging is as much about developing a relationship with your local environment as it is about gathering food. 

Karie Lee Knoke is a wilderness/primitive skills instructor and founder of Sacred Cedars Wilderness School near Sandpoint, Idaho. She was a contestant on the reality survival TV show, Alone Season 9, on the History Channel. Go to www.karieleeknoke.com for more information, or follow her on Facebook @SacredCedarsWildernessSchool or Instagram @karie_lee_knoke. 

The post Foraging Spring Bitters: Nature’s Seasonal Tonic  appeared first on Out There Venture.

By Karie Lee Knoke 

During a recent course at Sacred Cedars Wilderness School, called Survival Sisterhood, I dove in deep about the concept of creating an ongoing community of women centered around the subject of survival. In the circle of women who attended the course, we discussed what ‘survival’ really means. With the popularity of reality survival TV shows, most folks instantly think of survival as something we do in the wilderness or preparing for when SHTF. However, the real meaning of survival is much more serious. 

In short, survival means, “to continue to live, especially after being in a difficult or life-threatening situation.”  The key words are life-threatening. Let’s not forget our dear loved ones who are faced with cancer or other life-threatening illnesses who are often left to fight their battle, alone. How can we, as women, support each other? It can be as simple as going for a walk with someone who just wants companionship while they are going through Chemo. A simple, yet priceless act of compassion can go a long way!  

As we contemplated the many facets of survival, we set the intention of our circle as this: Survival Sisterhood is a circle of women teaching women survival skills in a safe, supportive, non-judgmental, non-competitive, heart-centered, fun and community-oriented environment. To empower women with tools that build self-confidence, self-reliance, courage and strength to endure whatever challenges life brings forth.  

Throughout the Survival Sisterhood course, we covered several skills starting with the basics of knife safety and cutting techniques. The knife is an essential tool in survival, and knowing the proper way to use it and care for it is critical.   

We found fresh tracks of coyote, bobcat, skunk, black bear, moose, snowshoe hare and a feral house cat. Tracking what animals are in your area can not only provide an opportunity for food, but also alert you to what predators are around.  

Foraging for wild edibles is always a hit! Harvesting fresh cattail roots for dinner during a refreshing swim was the most hilarious adventure of all! I haven’t laughed that hard in years! We cooked up the roots in a hollowed-out pumpkin using hot stones. 

One of my favorite skills is archery. Witnessing the transformation of a woman who pulls a bow for the first time to hitting her target is astonishing. Taking aim at something, whether small game for dinner or an envisioned personal goal, teaches you how to have the fortitude and courage to go for what you want in life.  

One skill that is almost always overlooked, yet vitally important, is self-care. Maintaining your well-being when times are tough is critical for mental clarity, keeping your emotions in check, and your physical body vibrant and resilient.   

In future Survival Sisterhood courses, top-notch women instructors will be offering other practical skills, such as self-defense, wilderness emergency care, herbal medicine, S.E.R.E. (survival, evasion, resistance, and escape) tactics, hand gun training, and hunting techniques, just to name a few.  

You don’t need any experience to belong to this community. Survival Sisterhood is a supportive and safe environment for women to learn and grow. It allows women to connect with each other, creating life-time friendships and a support network to help those in need. Survival Sisterhood is more than survival; it’s about thriving in all areas of life.  

Survival Sisterhood will launch as a new program in Sacred Cedars Wilderness School this November. Come on ladies! Let’s do this!  

Karie Lee Knoke is a wilderness/primitive skills instructor and founder of Sacred Cedars Wilderness School. She was a contestant on the reality survival TV show, Alone Season 9, on the History Channel. Go to www.karieleeknoke.com for more information, or follow her on Facebook @SacredCedarsWildernessSchool or Instagram @karie_lee_knoke 

The post Survival Sisterhood  appeared first on Out There Venture.

Cover photo courtesy of Karie Lee Knoke

As summer wanes, giving way to the onset of fall, the last of the summer orchestra of songbirds migrate towards another symphonic performance in the south. The residential birds of winter, the juncos, chickadees and nuthatches, reclaim the forest, collecting seeds that will sustain them throughout winter. The squirrels are in squirrel mode, caching their stashes of nuts, pinecones and mushrooms. 

We too go into squirrel mode as we reap what we sowed in our garden and start putting up food for the winter. Here in the Inland Pacific Northwest, for some of us, filling our freezers with wild game is just a part of what we do to feed our families and has been for generations. Hunting and gathering is part of our ancestral roots. 

With the onset of modern conveniences and factory farms, there has been a huge disconnect between us and the food that we eat. But for those who hunt and grow their own food, there is a deep appreciation and connection, knowing where their food comes from and the hard work it took to put it on the table. 

With hunting season upon us, many are preparing for the annual task of bringing home some meat and filling the freezer. Taking an animal’s life is not an easy task. It is a sacred endeavor that takes time, skill, respect and responsibility. Our ancestors depended on hunting and used every part of the animal to not only feed themselves, but to make clothes, tools, musical instruments, and more. 

Holistic animal processing is more than just separating muscle groups and wrapping them up for roasts and burger, it is the art and wisdom of using the whole animal so that nothing goes to waste. Bones can be cut up for bone broth or shaped into handy tools, such as an awl, needles, or a handle for a knife. Did you know that the knee bone of an elk is a highly sought-after tool for a bow drill kit to make fire? 

The sinew (tendon which connects the muscle to bone) is super useful for binding. Broken down into thin strings, sinew makes a strong thread for sewing or binding a stone knife blade to a bone or antler handle. It’s super strong and shrinks when it dries, cinching up the bone around the blade.  

Of course, there is the age-old technique that my ancestors used of making buckskin or bark tanned leather out of deer hides for making clothes or a saddle bag or whatever they needed. It is nature’s material.  

The hide of the forelegs of any furry ungulate can be made into beautiful hock bags or a purse. I made a backpack with Elk hocks and it formed to fit my back, comfortable and fashionable. 

When carefully harvesting an animal, you can collect the blood before it coagulates to make blood sausage, which is stuffed into well-cleaned intestines. Or blood pudding baked inside of the stomach lining. The Swedish folks make Haggis, which is a savory pudding made of the sheep’s organs and spices, baked inside of a sheep stomach. I’ve heard that roasted Moose head and boiled Moose tongue is a favorite amongst the Yukon folks.  

I know these may be out-of-the-norm meals for many of us and may sound kind of gross to unadventurous pallets, but believe me, they are quite delicious! During my time on “Alone,” I discovered the importance of eating the whole animal and how scrumptious and fatty the heads are. 

Have you ever seen the inside of a goat stomach? It has a beautiful six-sided design, similar to a honeycomb, that can be bark tanned and made into a satchel. And the hooves of a deer are commonly made into rattles, not to mention that the hide could be turned into rawhide for making a drum or a container. 

As you can see, one animal will give you more than just food on the table, but an abundance of other handy items. Using the whole animal gives a new life to its body as well as giving life to your family. I am grateful for the gifts that each animal provides. 

I hope that you all have a great season of foraging and finding food for your families. And, most of all, enjoy the fall fresh air!  

Karie Lee Knoke is a wilderness/primitive skills instructor and founder of Sacred Cedars Wilderness School. She was a contestant on the reality survival TV show, Alone Season 9, on the History Channel. Go to www.karieleeknoke.com for more information, or follow her on Facebook @SacredCedarsWildernessSchool or Instagram @karie_lee_knoke 

The post Wild Animal Creations   appeared first on Out There Venture.

Cover photo courtesy of Bri Loveall

In ancient traditions, summer is the element of fire. The time of action, expression, creativity and joy. A time to be free and untethered.  

Here in the Inland Northwest, our summers are short. There is an urgency in the air to play as hard as we can, allowing our bones to soak up the heat and vitamin D, giving us a surge of bountiful energy. 

The sun invites us to let go of our daily grind and responsibilities and reconnect with nature and the outdoors. Escaping to true wilderness offers a profound opportunity to disconnect from the urban hustle and immerse yourself in untouched natural beauty. This experience allows you to truly appreciate the raw, unspoiled landscapes and the serenity they provide.  

Planning weekend getaways to nearby national parks, forests, or nature reserves can be a practical approach. These trips don’t have to be lengthy; even a brief retreat they can rejuvenate your spirit and provide a sense of peace. Engage in activities like hiking, camping, horseback riding or kayaking to fully immerse yourself in the wilderness.  

Such activities not only provide physical exercise, but foster a deeper connection with nature and the opportunity for learning about the wild world our ancestors lived in. What foods did they eat? How did they shelter themselves from the elements and predators? What did they carry water in? There is so much lost wisdom and it’s imperative to keep these traditions alive. 

Gaining the wisdom of our ancestors enhances your outdoor adventures with self-confidence and self-reliance. Knowing what to do when adventure turns awry can turn a surviving situation into a thriving situation. Learning ancestral wilderness skills is not only crucial for survival, but fun and inspiring. Just think about what you could make with willow. Perhaps a basket, or a stick horse for your child to play with, or a simple hotdog roasting stick. Not to mention that nibbling on willow bark is a great antidote for those troublesome headaches. And all this costs you nothing except some time spent outdoors.  

Of course, in summer, there are endless encounters with wildlife, from the finned to the furred and the feathered, providing a wealth of entertainment watching their mysterious movements and methods of survival for their species. Understanding their movement patterns and habits can lead you to that perfect shot, whether you’re an aspiring photographer or trying to put food on your family’s table.  

And what about those rocks! Here’s a topic that is easily stepped over. What do we have to learn from stones? From shelter building to making a cutting edge, stones have been used for tools since the stone age. Knowing how to find the right stone that will break and can be flint-knapped into a knife or arrowhead is priceless and intriguing. Flint-knapping is an art that few master, but if you can make a stone that cuts something, that’s valuable and may be all you need. So instead of practicing your stone skipping abilities, try breaking one open to create a useful tool if you find yourself in a pinch. 

Gaining this type of knowledge will forever change the way you hike. Instead of just aiming for the peak, you’ll develop a keen ability to identify useful plants and stones, find ideal shelter spots, and truly connect with your surroundings. Your journey will become more meaningful and deeply connected to nature than ever before.  

Tapping into the ancient wisdom of our ancestors is profound and can dig up a sense of belonging. A place to call home within yourself, regardless of where you live. 

Joining outdoor groups can provide structured, guided experiences and the camaraderie of like-minded individuals, making your wilderness escapes more enriching and enjoyable. The best place to learn these skills is out in the wilderness itself with supportive mentors to guide you through each step of the process, physically and emotionally.  

So, this summer, play with purpose. Ignite your fire and creative passion and allow yourself to be free and wild. Feel free to join us on a wilderness adventure of learning and connection to nature with supportive guides. You’ll build a community of fellow outdoor adventurers, creating a sense of belonging, confidence, self-reliance and unforgettable memories of family fun! 

Karie Lee Knoke is a wilderness/primitive skills instructor and founder of Sacred Cedars Wilderness School. She was a contestant on the reality survival TV show, Alone Season 9, on the History Channel. Go to www.karieleeknoke.com for more information, or follow her on Facebook @SacredCedarsWildernessSchool or Instagram @karie_lee_knoke 

The post Summer Wilderness Adventures  appeared first on Out There Venture.

I absolutely love this time of year as the fresh plants spring forth, marking the time to forage for food! I find that there is more food in the forest than what is ready in my garden. Not only that, the majority of weeds in my garden are delicious and edible. I think it’s insane to pull the weeds just to make room for more food to grow. Why not eat your weeds first, while waiting for your garden to grow? 

We are so fortunate in the Inland Northwest to have few poisonous plant varieties. If you were to look out across the natural landscape, you would find that roughly 90 percent of what you see is not poisonous. Therefore, it is edible, right? Well, maybe. A plant may be edible, but perhaps not palatable. Some plants are fine in small amounts, but can give you a tummy ache or make you sick in larger quantities. 

In my foraging classes, I like to rate plants on an edibility continuum from Yummy to Palatable, Survival, Toxic and Deadly. The Survival food category means it tastes horrible, but you probably won’t die.  

The best way to learn wild foraging is to focus on the poisonous plants first. The poisonous plant list is much shorter and the most important to learn. Ingesting the wrong plant can cause immediate death, so take the time to learn these first! Once you know these, the forest becomes a haven for finding dinner ingredients. 

Let’s start out with water hemlock (Cicuta maculata) and poisonous hemlock (Conium maculatum). These are the deadliest two plants in the Inland Northwest. One nibble of the plant and you may not live long enough to make it to the hospital. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after handling them to ensure you don’t accidentally put your fingers in your mouth. I would even go so far as to say not to pick any other edible plants that shares the same water. If you see water hemlock in a ditch, I would not pick the violet flower that’s growing next to it, just to be safe. 

These two plants are in the carrot family (Apiaceae) and can be mistaken for wild carrots, otherwise known as queen anne’s lace. Make sure you know the difference! Wild carrot tends to grow abundantly along roadsides and the root is quite edible. The flowering umbel is useful as a medicine as an analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, migraine remedy, expectorant, and antihistamine and makes an excellent flower essence that imparts profound wisdom, love and understanding. Consult your clinical herbalist before consuming as a medicine. 

Of course, there is the infamous death camas. Death camas and its relative blue camas will often grow next to each other. The bulbs of the blue prairie camas were a vital food source for Indigenous peoples. They are easy to identify when blooming, but once the flowers die off, you are left with a dried-up stem and leaf pattern that looks very similar to death camas. I wouldn’t bet my life on deciding which one to dig up!  

To help you start your journey down the path of wild foraging, here are some other poisonous plants that I suggest you learn first before you pick up your harvesting basket: red or white baneberry, arnica, tansy, lupines, milkweed, deadly nightshade flower and berries, foxglove, larkspur, monkshood, and pokeweed, just to name a few. But please note, even if the plant is poisonous, it may be useful as a medicine or have a utilitarian purpose. Dogbane and milkweed make excellent cordage and arnica makes a powerful topical remedy for sore muscles. 

Stinging nettle is one of my all-time favorites, because the whole plant is useful. The leaves are edible and medicinal, and the seeds make a great shampoo for hair loss. The stocks make excellent cordage, and the roots can be used in a sitz bath for arthritis. 

In my wild foraging classes, I rate whether a plant is edible, medicinal and/or utilitarian. I create a chart where the Y-axis represents these categories. If a plant is edible or medicinal, is it yummy, palatable, a survival food (yucky, but edible), toxic or deadly? Keeping in mind that different parts of the same plant may reside in several placements on the chart. 

To learn more, please join me for a day of foraging at my Wild Edible & Medicinal Foraging class on May 18 or June 8. 

Karie Lee Knoke is a wilderness/primitive skills instructor and founder of Sacred Cedars Wilderness School. She was a contestant on the reality survival TV show, Alone Season 9, on the History Channel/Netflix. Go to www.karieleeknoke.com for more information, or follow her on Facebook @SacredCedarsWildernessSchool or Instagram @karie_lee_knoke. 

The post Wild Foraging: Know What You’re Eating!  appeared first on Out There Venture.