Easy Wild Edibles for Supper

Building real skills is important. Technically, a person isn't supposed to pick flowers or dig up live plants in a National Forest, but I only take small portions to sample and practice survival skills. In a true survival situation, I would gather much more and cook as needed.




This video shows only 6 easily identifiable wild edibles common to many forests. Each excursion into the woods gives me an opportunity to expand my knowledge.

The spaghetti was broken into small pieces and cooked in a pot of hot water. I added a seasoning package from the dollar store and then broke the green edibles into small pieces and added them at the last minute.

Wild edibles provide vitamins and minerals that are needed for good sustainable health.

Book Two Free in July

This is the cover to Book Two of the River Survival Series, entitled  All Hell Won't Wait Fire plays an important part of this End of the World as We Know It fictional thriller series. Find out how raiding cannibals use this devastating diversion when they attack Rivertown.



If you've read the first book, An End of Days, please write a review at Amazon.com. I hope you enjoyed Carla's adventures and felt the desperation as she evolved into a heartless killer.

Book Two takes us into a struggling town. We see how the surrounding farming community deals with trespassers and learn how a metropolis dissolved into just a handful of survivors. Be prepared for strange happenings. Reaching out for direction, the paranormal makes a few appearances, although the folks of Rivertown shrug it off to maintain a semblance of normalcy.

Why is Apache so removed from culture and what keeps him in Rivertown? We get a look into his past and find clues....but not to give too much away, I'll stop here and not spoil your discovery.

How does Sheriff Snyder deal with residents who cause trouble in his town? How about the policy on Squatters? Its heavy handed, but when O'Leary tells what happened at Tucker's Orchard, you'll probably cheer.


On July 10th through the 14th, you can get this book free as part of the promotion for the TEOTWAWKI , SHTF,  or apocalyptic post grid thriller series.

Read more about The River Survival Series- How and Why . If you haven't read the first book An End of Days before diving into All Hell Won't Wait, you may have many questions.

You can get it for $1.99 at Amazon.com if you missed the free promotion this month. All Hell Won't Wait will leave you with hope and determination to survive no matter what.

New Friends in the Club

Saturday Night I camped with new friends. Every year they take a road trip to Riverside and camp at Lazy Acres. I met one of the members the previous night at the Bear Trap Bar and Grill. He thought I'd have a lot in common with these bikers because we all love camping. Check out their website BMW Motorcycle Club of Colorado They are based in Denver. Everyone was super friendly. We're going to stay in touch.

A pine cone makes a great scrubby for the cook pot.  Once you're finished washing the dishes, you can burn it in the camp fire.

On Sunday I drove up to camp at Dry Lake. It's really not so dry. There is no running water or pumps, but this photo was taken behind tent sight number 8. You could get water here and filter it. Or, just keep some on hand to douse the campfire. There were plenty of mosquitoes, too.

Friends at Dry Lake. We watched movies and sat around telling stories for several hours.

Tour of Mountainman Mike's Bunker and Thirty Foot Pole Shed

This footage was taken on June 14th, this summer. I'm describing it from an artistic point of view. I didn't get to go inside the pole shed. I'm not sure what it contains. The owner of this property utilizes natural landscaping and trees to build, along with rocks and cement, layering poles for added strength.

As you listen to Mike, you'll notice the survivalist themes of protection and defense of the property.

Making the Mountain Retreat Female Friendly

Living and working with Mountainman Mike this week has produced a lot of photo opts and lots of memories. There's lots to do and never a boring moment.

We're up at 9,500 feet. Snow and cold streams are very refreshing. With solar panels but no Internet, writing and reading are prime evening activities after a day of manual labor.



While building a raised bed for the garden, I glanced up and saw a bear rummaging through a collapsed tent. I shouted and began to chase him away, totally forgetting to take a photo until he was well on his way. Uncharacteristically, the cinnamon colored black bear would stop and watch me. He obviously is not scared of people.

This same bear has been noted around the neighborhood. As you can see, it is not a griz. There's no hump or pie shaped face. Nonetheless, black bears are dangerous and have been known to hurt and kill more people than griz.

Stay tuned for more footage taken this week.

Free End of Days-Book One

Click here http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0076BT2SW to get your free copy of the first book of the River Survival Series.

For five days, until June 18th, I'm giving away the first book free to get you started on this "post grid down" drama. There are four books in the series.

 

Some call this scenario The End of the World as We Know It, or TEOTWAWKI. The final, fifth book is in the works.

 

 

Survival Skills from Our Ancestors

Remember, on June 14th until June 18th, you can get your free copy of my first novel, a thriller SHTF or TEOTWAWKI theme.

When the grid goes down and Military Law is declared, survivalists take on a no-holds bared approach. An End of Days- book one of the River Survival Series


In the meantime, I'm continuing summer adventures in southern Wyoming. Soon I'll be up at Mountainman Mike's Hold building and learning all the wilderness skills our forefathers had.

Native American culture has always fascinated me. I'm intrigued by their ability to live intimately with nature and their pursuit of spiritual strength and guidance  through the Vision Quest. For thousands of years, they roamed and thrived off the land in tribal glory. As a survivalist, I study and write about their skills as well as the French fur traders and subsequent westward homesteaders. Living without all the things we fear loosing, they raised families and left legacies. Some survivalists are living this way now. I  hope to learn all I can from them.




Tapping into this fascination of ancient spirituality, I imagine our heroes using mushrooms and marijuana along with home brew to brace themselves against the appalling desperation rampant in a lawless society. They seek pain relief while searching for answers, wisdom and strength to go on.

There are paranormal dreams and coincidences. For instance, a stray wolf dog adopts our heroine as she flees north, becoming her best friend. Read more to discover why she names him Jesus. If you're familiar with the Narnia series, you'll know myths and legends, parables and associations have subtle teachings.

Free Book- First in the River Survival Series

Starting June 14, you can down load the first book in The River Survival Series at Amazon.com for free. If you have a kindle or wish to use the free PC application, you can begin this series this Friday.


http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0076BT2SW

 

This program allows authors to offer their work to the world for five days completely free and get their names out there.

Please leave a book review. I've taken the reviews seriously and have edited the complete work for grammar, spelling and possible confusion of names.

I'm very passionate about this post grid series. This drama-thriller begins with a typical couple living up in the mountains. When the grid goes down, catastrophe strikes. Our female protagonist evolves from a homemaker to brutal killer. She's not perfect, she makes mistakes, pays for them dearly. Other survivors endure the same heart wrenching changes, leaving compassion behind as they bring law and order back to their lives. Watch them meet, deal with cannibals, escape and rescue family caught in the jaws of death.

Read more about the How and Why of this intense series at : http://www.thefemalesurvivalist.blogspot.com/p/the-river-survival-series-why-and-how.html

June 14 to June 18, 2013 you can check out my first novel. The next book in the River Survival Series, All Hell Won't Wait, will be offered free the following month of July. Get ready for a new look at the apocalyptic drama!

Closure-When One Trail Ends

Getting ready to head up the mountain to live on the Divide for a couple weeks before resuming my hike, I'm getting my "REAL" world in order. Things like bank accounts, using air Miles before they expire, touching base with health care providers, suspending subscription to Netflix. Seems Internet is slow and sketchy and the thing no longer streams up here. Not even an issue when you're off line, though, is it?

 

Took this photo because someone on youtube dissed my spelling of the Native American structure. Then, I put on my boots and hiked it a ways. No griz sign, but I had my trusty bear spray clipped to my belt loop anyways. A gal can't be too careful. Some ask me if I've ever used it. Nope, I reply, but it sort of feels like a trusty weapon, one I may have to use against a wild dog or stalker some day. I consider it a last resort, though. Its really potent stuff.

 

 

This trail heads across the Madison Range. Seems to go on forever. A sweet stream runs alongside it on the right. Perfect habitat for all things wild.

 

While exiting the park, a traffic jam is common, especially nearing Old Faithful. Bison herds can not be rushed. The narrow passage from Madison Junction to Fairy Falls doesn't allow many bison to wander off into a field. Put on some good tunes, drink cold soda, and just relax. Unless the rangers come to facilitate, all you can do is be patient. Eventually, an hour later, the bison reached their meadows and dispersed left and right. Traffic resumed and I headed out of the south entrance, through the Tetons. A lovely snow capped mountain range was the reward. Be aware, even on Sunday, road construction is in progress. Tunes, Beverage and Patience. The key to all good karma.

Some Cool Discoveries

Taking a few days to catch up on the net, I'm reading this thread called Your Life in Six Words.

Some of the replies are hilarious.

 

http://www.survivalistboards.com/showthread.php?t=304833

 

View of Madison River before you get to the Last Yellowstone campground before exiting at the West end. Its a great campground, has places for hikers and bikers, plus about 270 RV sites. Check out my other blog, http://www.brawnyview.blogspot.com for more details. 

 

 

Gear unpacked for drying and resupplying. Notice two cans of root beer. I noticed they are an excellent source of immediate energy and fluids while hiking. Only problem, find a place for the empty can. Smash it good, put it in a plastic bag and haul it to town. I sure enjoyed the full sugar boost, a rare treat, no matter what I'm doing.

My Brawnygear tent I designed three years ago. I call it a prototype because its unlike the Tacoma I used to make. It has a full zippered door, a bathtubbed rectangular floor and weights a scant 22 ounces. But, its small. Square footage of approximately 20 feet.

 

I discovered too, which fact may seem obvious, but if your socks are even just a little loose, they will eventually wrinkle under your feet, especially if wet and cause awesome blisters, memorable and outstanding blisters which must be drained. These same socks were marvelous skiing last winter. Not so good hiking.

 

Warning, never drain a blister on dirty feet. Clean feet thoroughly, then create tiny-very tiny-incision. Do not remove any skin but press gently to relieve the pressure. Allow feet to air dry. Fresh air will aid in rapid healing. You can still hike lots of miles if blisters are treated with caution and care.

 

Life is good.