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Savoring The Fruits Of Fall In The National Parks

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Blueberries, raspberries, and rose hips are just some of the fruits of fall to find in the parks/Jen Stegmann

There are endless ways to experience our magnificent national parks. We are surrounded by stunning scenery, awash in light and color. Our ears capture the rush of waterfalls in spring and elk bugling in autumn. Scents of crisp air, pines, and wildflowers greet us. Stick your feet into a mountain stream and feel the bonechilling temperatures, or touch the softness of a Pussytoes flower. These types of activities allow us yet another type of experience.

When I used to lead Junior Ranger programs, I always chatted with my audience about using our five senses to experience the natural world around us. But if you'll take another glance at the first paragraph, I left out one sense: Taste!

In the summer and autumn each year, we have an opportunity to experience the parks in a unique way. The abundance of wild edibles are tempting to a great many hikers. The sweet juice of wild raspberries has enticed me off-trail many times, and I know I am not alone.

Berries tempt a lot of park visitors, and also lead to many questions. Am I allowed to pick and eat these? Are they edible, or will they make me sick? Will my picking these berries impact the wildlife that depends on this food source?

When I used to talk to park visitors, I tried to emphasize two main concepts:

1) You must know the plants and environment around you.

Being able to positively identify specific species or plants is the most important part of the equation. There are some obvious species, such as raspberries and blueberries, that are easily identified. But there are other species that might seem a little confusing. Most of the time, there will not be someone around you to point out the poisonous plants/berries. A good field guide to edible and medicinal plants can be a big help. But if in doubt, move on down the trail.

With regards to your harvesting activities impacting wildlife, it is good practice to only select the ripe fruit and do NOT pick every berry you find in any given patch. Leave some behind for the next hungry being who comes along.

2) Each park has different rules regarding wild edibles; it is your responsibility to know and abide by these rules.

Before visiting a park, anyone can search the national park's website for its Superintendent's Compendium. This document, updated every couple of years as conditions in the park change, discusses current park regulations that are not necessarily spelled out by federal laws. Included in each compendium is a section that discusses what species you can harvest and how much you can harvest.

As I read through the published compendiums for the 59 units designated as 'National Parks,' I noticed a few common patterns worth noting in the harvesting regulations:

* A visitor can harvest generally 1-2 quarts of berries from native species for personal consumption. Do not try to sell your harvest; it is illegal.

* In the case of non-native (often invasive) species like Himalayan blackberries, the harvest limit is sometimes higher. The key is to make sure you're harvesting the right species.

* Orchards are frequently part of the historic human landscape preserved in many national parks and historic sites. If, for instance, you'™re visiting Acadia, Capitol Reef, Great Smoky Mountains, or Shenandoah national parks at the right time of year, you might be able to take home a bushel of apples or peaches grown in the park. Some sites might charge a nominal fee per pound to help maintain their orchards.

A Special Note About Mushrooms

Fungi come in all shapes and colors, and to someone new to our parks, mushrooms are fascinating. From bright orange and purple/black to little white or grey/brown mushrooms, they pop up everywhere, especially in the late summer and autumn in the mountains.

It is important to note, however, that the fruiting body (the visible 'mushroom') is generally only a small portion of the organism. Fungi play many crucial roles in the environment, including aiding in the decomposition of plant matter on the forest floor, and the most critical portion of the fungus might be invisible, hidden in the soil. Some parks specify that you may cut out edible fungi, not pull them, so as not to disturb the fungal structure remaining in the soil.

Many species resemble each other and many are highly toxic. Proper field identification is critical, and if you have any doubt about a particular species, simply leave the mushroom growing in its place.

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White chanterelles can be found in some parks...just be positive you know which species you'™re harvesting/Jen Stegmann

A Few Key Species That I Always Look For

Raspberries

There are many species of raspberries (Rubus sp.) in North America, especially in the western United States and along the Pacific Coast up to Alaska. It seems everyone has their favorite. In Washington state, people tend to look for Salmon berries (Rubus spectabilis). The dark pink flowers are showy in the spring and the berries are abundant at lower elevations in the Cascades. My favorite raspberries are the less abundant Black Raspberries. They have a slightly sweeter flavor and are a bit smaller in size and darker in color when ripe. I discovered them at Mount Rainier National Park and found them on hot, sunny hillsides. In my experience, this species is often on sites where you have to do a bit of scrambling to reach them. But they are worth the effort!

Blueberries

Just like raspberries, blueberries (sometimes called 'Huckleberries' in the Pacific Northwest) of many species (all Vaccinium sp.) are abundant. Alaska is carpeted with blueberries and any trip to our nation's largest national parks in late July and August should include time to sample the local harvest. Depending on the species and environment, the berries might range in color from medium blue to black. There is also one Vaccinium that has red berries. They will all make your taste buds happy.

Cranberries, Currants and Roses (Yes, Roses!)

These groups of species are often a bit less abundant than the raspberries and blueberries, but if you can find some high-bush cranberries, they are a real treat. In the Rocky Mountains, one can find dense bushes full of gooseberries and currants in the late summer and early autumn.

Watch out for thorns; picking these tasty berries might be a bit painful. Likewise, despite the shrub's bristles, I'm always delighted when I find a patch of wild roses. The fruit (rose hips), which tastes a bit like an apple, makes wonderful tea and jelly.

As summer passes and fruits ripen in the autumn, don't be afraid to learn a few new plants and taste the abundance our national parks offer. A final note: wildlife love berries, too, and you might be picking from a patch that draws bears. Keep an eye out and carry bear spray.

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