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Hunting in modern times always conjures up an image of a person with a firearm. But when considering human history, the firearm is a fairly …
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Surviving winter can be challenging, but with informed winter foraging tips, it’s possible to make it through the freezing weather in one peace.
Learn how and where to find stock and how to prepare in this ultimate winter foraging guide.
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Hunting guarantees you a constant protein supply during winter, especially if you know the right places to go hunting. However, it is vital to have a suitable crossbow or rifle to take down a deer or an elk.
As far as trapping goes, raccoons, rabbits, and beavers are your best bet at landing a meal. Take advantage of their naturally sneaky and greedy behavior to lure them into traps and be keen to cook the meat all through to kill parasites and bacteria.
Tip: Never eat random dead animals that you come across.
You can readily find acorns on the ground, but you will need to lightly dig in the snow where you find their trees to reveal them. In some cases, the acorns may also be under dead grass or fallen leaves hence the need to search before giving up.
If you decide to forage these nuts, you can roast or boil them after the three-day soak, or you can dry and grind them into flour.
Tip: It is vital to soak acorns for three days, changing the water in between to remove tannins. In case of water shortage, skip these are they might not be worth the water wastage in the long run.
Berries have antioxidant properties and make excellent winter foods. Head into the forests in the middle of December and January, and you might be lucky to find the last berries on salal shrubs and black huckleberries. You will be amazed at how well the freezing weather preserves these.
Reminder: Don’t eat berries you haven’t had before as they could make you sick.
Pine nuts are readily available in most areas and are a great way to stay energized throughout winter. Your best chance at finding pine nuts is from the closed cones on the trees. Any that have fallen are likely to have already been scavenged by animals, but you could still get lucky.
Though not the tastiest fruit, crabapples are hardy in cold weather and pack a ton of nutrients. While you will mostly find them hanging in their trees, you can still eat any that you find fallen.
However, ensure you examine them for any signs of being eaten by vermin or decay – avoid eating crabapples with insects in general as it you risk infection.
While mushrooms are some of the most common and nutritious things you will see around in winter, consuming the wrong kind can be fatal. So, unless you are sure about particular mushrooms, it is safe to skip them.
Though there is a wide range of mushrooms that do well in winter, the specific varieties will depend on where you are. To ensure you do not consume poisonous ones, familiarize yourself with the types of edible mushrooms that grow in the wild.
Tip: You can easily spot mushrooms on growing trees or rotting vegetation, especially logs.
The milkweed is the ultimate winter foraging plant. Besides being a great source of healthy seeds that you can comfortably eat raw, the fluff provides excellent insulation for shelters, clothing, and sleeping bags.
The fluff and dried milkweed pods also make the perfect tinder for when you want to start a fire.
While the large and dense watercress clusters are more prevalent in spring, it grows all year-round, which increases your chances of success during your winter foraging. Moreover, you can eat it raw, which makes it a handy source of nutrients for winter survival when most heat sources are scarce.
You will rarely find these above the ground in the cold weather, but you can pull yourself enough to keep your body nourished with some digging. Besides underground, you can also find them on heavy vegetation or trees and in rotting logs.
If you do not find grubs or bugs, you can try out crickets, ants, and termites as they are also readily available and safe for consumption. Even so, ensure you boil all insects to kill any parasites or bacteria.
Tips
Cattails are like root tubers and should be prepared in the same way you would potatoes. Wash and peel them before thinly slicing them together with other vegetables and a protein to make yourself a hearty stew.
Alternatively, dry and grind them into flour if you’re not in immediate need of food and have a way of keeping them dry during winter.
You will mostly find these as you forage for cattail roots, and the chances are that where you find one, there’re others. Use a small rake to scrape them off the muddy beds, and be sure to wash and scrub them before boiling.
Boil them until the shells open, after which you should cook them a little longer.
Reminder: If you suspect that you got the mussels from a contaminated water source, do not consume them.
Infuse your winter beverages with these vitamin C packed cherry-like parts of a rose flower or make jelly. Either way, you will benefit from the much-needed vitamin C to keep flu and colds at bay in the freezing weather while benefiting from other rose hips’ medicinal properties.
Tip: To get the most from rose hips, consume them when fresh as the levels of natural vitamin C significantly decline during drying and storage.
These include chickweed, wild onions, wild garlic, and dandelion crowns and roots. The best part of foraging wild greens is that they can’t help but flaunt their lush green foliage under the snow or poke through vegetation, making it easier to find them.
Tip: Wash and boil them in salty water or cook as you would any other greens.
In average temperatures, our bodies burn a lot of calories to keep us warm. Therefore, you can expect that you will need to burn a lot more calories during winter than you would in average weather conditions. Keep this in mind when winter foraging, as you will likely need more food than you think you do to survive.
Since daylight hours drastically decrease during winter, lack of proper planning plan for your winter foraging can leave you wandering in the dark in unfamiliar territory and dangerously low temperatures.
Besides foraging on familiar grounds, be keen with your resources, and always plan to avoid been caught up in the cold with no food.
Winter is remarkably damp in most regions, which doesn’t make the storage of your winter survival stock easy. Therefore, besides gnawers like rodents, you will have to take measures to ensure you keep dampness to a minimum. This will prevent the growth of mold and mildew on your stored food.
Heat is an excellent way to deal with moisture.
As their natural food supply dwindles, rodents can become a nuisance, especially during winter. They will invade your space to steal from your store. Besides stealing your much-needed food supply, rodents will also bring parasites and diseases harmful to humans.
It is paramount to, therefore, actively address their possibility and prepare accordingly.
Watch this video by UK Wildcrafts on my top 6 plants to forage in winter:
Winter foraging for survival is about creative thinking as it is about being practical. To increase your chances of success, take some time today to scout out the most viable spots within walking distance. This way, you will not be going out on a wild goose chase come frost.
Do you have other tips for winter foraging? Let us know in the comment section below!
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There is a reason why the idiomatic expression walking on thin ice means being in danger. To walk on ice is quite dangerous. To prevent falling and slipping during the winter season, special attention is needed especially when walking on ice. Keep in mind these important measures for a safe winter walking and to help keep you on your feet.
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Your shoes can help reduce your risk of slipping and falling when walking on ice. For survivalists who love wearing high heels or shoes with slick leather, plastic, or smooth soles, this isn’t the perfect time to be wearing them.
When walking on ice, it’s recommended that you wear a pair of flat shoes or boots made of non-slip rubber, neoprene, or abrasive composite. They must fit well, and the soles must be grooved. Wearing these types of shoes can help your feet get the needed grip and keep you upright.
You might also want to consider wearing special footwear such as ice cleats or shoe grips for that extra support. However, don’t forget to remove these, while sitting down, when entering your home or building. These shoes can make you slip on smooth floorings like ceramic, stone, and tile.
Look ahead and avoid reading, engaging in conversation, using your mobile phone, or listening to music while walking on ice. You need to stay alert and ensure that you can hear approaching traffic and other signals.
Walk consciously and decide your next step by checking icy surfaces and uneven areas. Additionally, look up every once in a while, and check for falling ice from buildings.
As you exit your vehicle, step outside before grabbing objects and retrieving your items. You might want to transfer to another parking spot if the pavement is coated with ice.
If you’re walking with your babies or small children in a stroller, they must be in front of you. Position them close to the curb as you walk.
As much as you like taking shortcuts especially if you’re in a rush, it may not be a good idea if there’s ice on the roadway. Use designated walkways or sidewalks instead.
Prepare by planning and looking for the safest route of your walk. A shortcut may not be safe because most likely, its road hasn’t been cleared yet of ice.
Assume that all wet areas are icy and slippery. Water vapor or dew that froze on cold surfaces form a thin and almost invisible layer of ice that looks like a wet pavement. Walk deliberately, take small steps, and approach with extra caution.
Ice usually appears during the mornings so be more careful during this time of the day. Test if the area is slippery by slightly tapping your foot on the surface. You may also want to bring a small bag of sand or gravel, and spread it on icy surfaces for better traction.
When entering buildings, don’t forget to check the floor as it might be wet. Step first, and rub your shoes on rugs by the doorway.
Do the penguin walk by spreading and slightly pointing your feet out. Bend your torso forward to some extent, and slightly bend your knees. Walk as flat-footed as possible while curling your toes, and put the center of your gravity on your front leg.
Remove your hands from your pockets and extend your arms to your sides. Additionally, keep in mind to take slow steps when shifting your weight. These will help maintain your balance.
RELATED: On Seriously Thin Ice: Cold Water Survival Tactics
A pair of ski poles or canes can help keep your balance when walking on ice, but ensure that the height is right for you. Check the end of the cane, and make sure that it’s at your wrist level when held upside down.
You can also attach a retractable ice pick onto its end for better grip. Just flip the cane back once you’re on hard surfaces since it tends to be slippery in this type of area. You can also use a walker for additional care.
When walking on ice, it’s important that you can see clearly, and you’re visible to others as well. Wear sunglasses so you can see better, but be sure that they don’t block your view. Additionally, they help prevent snow blindness.
If possible, avoid carrying heavy or large loads as they can lose your balance and block your vision. Use bright-colored clothes and reflective material such as a coat, scarf, or hat so other road users can easily notice you while walking.
As much as possible, avoid walking on slopes since the combination of gravity and ice can make you slip or fall. However, if walking along icy stairs and inclines is unavoidable, keep in mind to climb and descend slowly. Take your time, hold on to handrails, and firmly plant your feet on each step for stability.
Despite being careful, falls can still occur. If these happen, do not extend your arms. Try to fall by landing on your thighs first, followed by your hips and shoulders. Make sure not to let your head hit the ice.
Additionally, you can still lessen the risk of getting an injury due to falling. If you think you’re about to fall, try to roll backwards. Relax, and avoid falling forward.
Throw the objects you’re carrying, and prioritize yourself instead of your items. You can also wear a bulky coat to serve as your cushion and a hip protector in case you fall.
Aside from being careful when walking on ice, you also have to know what to do in case the ice cracks apart. Watch this video by Tech Insider to learn how to survive a fall through frozen ice:
Don’t be afraid to step outdoors. Appreciate the beauty of the winter season while walking on ice by following these tips for safe winter walking.
What other safety tips when walking on ice do you have in mind? Share them with us in the comments section below!
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Don’t have enough drinking water to last your entire winter trip? Learning how to melt snow is an effective life hack you need to survive! Here are five ways you can turn that ice into a last minute beverage.
If you’ve brought a vacuum flask of hot water with you, melting snow won’t be too hard. Pouring this over a handful of snow should do the trick in reducing the ice into water.
Once the melting is done, make sure to transfer the water into an insulated bottle quickly. Leaving it out can cause it to freeze again, so don’t forget to keep the liquid warm.
Boiling is one of the most basic skills you need to learn on how to melt snow. As long as you’ve got a pot and some fire, you don’t have to worry about being dehydrated in the cold.
Having a modern camping stove will definitely be useful, but a pot of snow over a fire pit will also work. Start with a small amount of ice at first, then add more along the way. Never fill the pot with snow to the brim to avoid overflowing.
It’s also important to keep the lid on at all times to maintain the heat. With higher temperatures, the snow will melt easier and quicker.
Forgot to pack a kettle into your camping bag? An empty jar or cup can serve as a temporary container for the snow.
Grab a shirt or bandana and place a lump of snow on top. Tie the corners up to form a sack, then hang it around a stick or branch over the container.
Much like roasting a marshmallow, put the bag of snow near a bonfire and allow it to embrace the heat of the flames. This will help the snow melt and drip; it may take some time, but it will fill up the cup.
Relying on the sun’s intense heat waves isn’t so bad if it will help you quench your thirst! Using a garbage bag, stuff some snow into it and place it on a hot and toasty spot. It should be able to melt the snow in a slow yet effective fashion.
You can also use a sandwich bag if you want something more light and portable. Clear plastic bags can be very handy, especially when you’re learning how to melt snow.
Heating up snow under the sun is already a form of passive melting, but there’s another way you can try to liquify snow while you are out and about.
Add small amounts of snow into your water bottle when you head out for a hike or climb. As you go further, continue to add more until you have your desired volume.
Your bottle also has to have a little bit of water first before you fill it up with snow. That liquid is very crucial because it will aid the snow in melting, along with your body heat.
You can also watch this video on how to melt snow for drinking water by CBC Life:
Before you decide to melt your snow, you need to check what you have to work with. Make sure to collect clean and fresh snow; you need to avoid discolored and stained ice. Being patient is very necessary since melting can take a while, especially when you’re out in the winter wilderness.
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