To get started, visit the local forest ranger station.  They will provide you with a secondary harvest permit.  The permit is free of charge and required for collecting in national and state forest areas.   The rangers will provide you with trail maps and advise you on what you can harvest and where.  No, you can’t just grab everything you see.   The rangers are very helpful and if you ask, can offer lots of direction and advice.  I think the rangers look forward to my visit each year.  “Hey Bob, look, it’s that crazy girl from the city again.  Comes out here every fall to collect sticks.  Sticks, can you imagine?”  They are always so amazed that I don’t want to collect mushrooms like everyone else who stops by the station for a permit.  If I want to eat Chanterelles, I’ll go to a French bistro, thank you.

Then off you go!  All you need is a big lunch, a bottle of water, a knife, a couple pair of gloves and a back pack filled with heavy duty garbage bags for your treasures.  At least that’s all I need.  David on the other hand reminds me that to travel safely in the mountains you should always take a few extra things.  I will confess that I appreciated David’s advice after I fell in the creek on one trip.  Warm dry socks never felt so good.  

David suggests that you should always carry a map and compass, extra water and food, raingear and extra clothing, fire starter and waterproof matches, a pocket knife, flashlight, sunglasses, sun screen and a fully charged cell phone.   Stay on clearly marked trails and always let someone know where you are foraging and when to expect you back.  We don’t want to lose any of you. 

The mountains won’t wait forever.  Get going now before the snow covers all of those wonderful treasures. 

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