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Backpacker Magazine – October 2007
You're lost, hungry, and starting to shiver: Time to play squirrel.
With billions of nutritious nuts plunking to the ground every fall, a caloric cornucopia is all around you. Pith-helmeted New York naturalist "Wildman" Steve Brill favors these prolific varieties to save your life, or jazz up your salad.
Black Walnut
Season: Late September, October
Stomp on this little green tennis ball to expose the brittle, ridged interior shell—and avoid the staining liquid. The meat inside will add a rich, fruity flavor to trail mix, cereal, salad, and soup. Dark-barked walnut trees grow in the Midwest and East, in places like New York's Bear Mountain State Park. From the George Washington Bridge, take the Palisades Interstate Parkway 42 miles north to exit 19. Park at the inn, and follow the red-blazed Major Welch Trail 3 miles to the white-blazed Appalachian Trail near the Bear Mountain summit.
Butternut
Season: late August through September
About twice the size of a grape, the sticky, green, lemon-scented butternut husk tapers at both ends like a spindle. Butternut trees grow in hardwood and bottomland forests throughout the East and Southeast, and they produce crunchy, sweet nuts that taste like pecans. Find butternuts along the Euell Gibbons Nature Trail in West Virginia's North Bend State Park. From Parkersburg, drive 21 miles east on US 50 to WV 21, turn right to go 4 miles to Cairo, and follow signs to the park.
Hazelnut
Season: late August through September
This heart-shaped nut (also called a filbert) is produced by a smooth-barked shrub common to the eastern United States and southern Canada. Pick hazelnuts in early fall when the bristly green husks turn brown. Dry the shells and then crack them open to scoop out the oily meat inside. Find them in Virginia's George Washington National Forest along the 3.5-mile Chimney Hollow Trail. From Staunton, VA, head 15 miles north on US 250 to the trailhead just before the road forks at West Augusta.

READERS COMMENTS
I always read articles about natural foods and I've always wanted to be walking through the woods and spot something that I can eat without wondering "is that the right thing?" So I never follow through on it. This article has great info in it, but could you include pictures so I'm not trying to find something by description alone? Thanks for all the great info, I love sitting down with a new issue and learning everything I can.
Posted: May 02, 2008 Jeremy Anderson
I had never used my survival skills or my knowledge of wild edibles until last year. I went on a two day "in and out" in the Georgia mountains with my dog Luna. Unfortunately I forgaot to pack Lunas food, cutting my supply in half. I made use of several tasty bits for the next morning, and the hike back including acorns, some sassafrass root and other goodies. now it is common custom for me to search out a few extras whenever I can. No need for a cache though. As stated by others leave some for the next hungry inhabitant whom or whatever it my be.
Posted: Apr 26, 2008 Andrew Bender
Getting accostomed to eating nature's food is something I aspire to. We tend to eat so many things that are processed that looking back to nature is a desire. Of course one should not being wasteful. Out of respect for the environment and animals, eating your fill and leaving the rest is the common courtesy.
Posted: Apr 20, 2008 Piscataway, New Jersey
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