Bushwhacking

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Our Bushwhacking Excursions are limited and hosted only occasionally throughout the season due to their intensity and restricted range of appeal. 

These excursions aim to provide amateur naturalists who have some existing knowledge and/or prior training an opportunity to exercise and enhance their skills. Small groups will visit wild areas to forage for wild plants and mushrooms together. Groups are intentionally kept small so that our Guide is able to provide more one-on-one style instruction to members throughout, and to minimize our impact on the spaces we visit.

The primary goal of our Bushwhacking Excursion is knowledge and experience. However, as long as conditions permit their responsible and sustainable harvest, we also hope to leave these excursions with some wild edibles to enjoy later.

Difficulty: Intense

Some locations may have no established trail system or maintenance whatsoever. If we're lucky, there may be deer-paths to follow, but more likely than not we'll be foraging our own way through the undergrowth, mud and/or flooding depending on location and time of year. Expect difficult and often unwelcoming terrain throughout.

Creature Climate: Intense

You WILL become intimately acquainted with ticks, be required to make frequent Blood Sacrifices to the Mosquito Horde (often regardless of precautions), and endure verbal harassment from various critters that you've offended with your presence 🤷‍♀️.

With the exception of Mosquitoes and Ticks, it is rare to be met with outright aggression when crossing paths with local creatures in these areas. Most will avoid us entirely (i.e., deer etc.), some may observe from a distance out of curiosity (i.e., wild turkeys, crows, etc.), and others hide in place until the last minute so that they can flee in a sudden burst of noise to startle you in retaliation (i.e., grouse).... 

All jokes aside, while there are hazardous animals in these areas to be aware of (i.e., coyote, rutting buck, porcupine, etc.) seeing them at all is uncommon (they generally prefer to avoid humans), and it is even more uncommon to have a dangerous encounter with them. In a very real way the biggest threat that will be encountered is the smallest and most unimposing of creatures - ticks, and to a lesser degree, mosquitoes. 

Subject Overview:

The following core topics will be addressed during each excursion:

• Location-Specific Details (type of property, ownership/management, unique features, rules, etc.)
• Responsible Access (location-based foraging and off-trail exploring prohibitions, trespassing, consequences, etc.)
• General Safety (guarding against ticks, identifying and avoiding environmental hazards etc.)
• Stewardship Principles (recognizing and managing access impact, etc.)
• Plant Identification and Safety (safe and hazardous, uses and dangers, etc.)
• Mushroom Identification and Safety (how to identify mushroom species, safe and hazardous species, uses and dangers etc.)

GRIT

First and foremost, you'll need grit.

It is not uncommon for these excursions to be uncomfortable:

• often it will be hot with minimal relief because bare skin or light clothing will be exploited by the Mosquito Horde as a buffet, and the thick undergrowth nullifies any cool breezes
• the terrain is usually unaccommodating (sometimes flooded, muddy, etc.) and physically demanding
• being mummified with layers of sunscreen, bug spray, and sweat under protective bug-proof clothing (probably) caked in mud isn't exactly a spa treatment

In addition, it is also possible that we'll endure these conditions and have little to show for it at the end of the day. Drought and other unusual climate conditions may undermine our search for certain plants and fungi, leaving us with fewer learning and/or foraging opportunities than we'd like. Whether foraging finds are plentiful or limited during the excursion, grit is the number one, nonnegotiable tool that you'll require to get the most out of the experience.

GEAR

General items you should bring to ensure you are able to get the most out of these excursions are listed below. Everyone is different in terms of what gear will be essential in ensuring their comfort under the conditions that may be encountered in wild spaces, so we've included some optional but recommended gear to consider by season.

To ensure everyone's safety, certain gear items are mandatory for all Bushwhacking Excursions and will be required for participation.

**MANDATORY GEAR**

• High Visibility Shirt or Vest (will be provided)
• Long Pants (no shorts)
• Boots (no sandals, flip-flops, running shoes)

GENERAL GEAR

• Government-issued Photo Identification
• Provincial Health Card (or equivalent health coverage identification)
• Basket/Mesh Bags
• Small Gardening Spade
• Small Gardening Shears
• Small Utility Knife

(HIGHLY) RECOMMENDED GEAR BY SEASON

All Seasons:

• Water Bladder/Bottle
• Sunscreen
• Gaiters

Spring:

• Bug-proof, long-sleeved shirt
• Bug-proof face shield/hood
• Bite/Prick-Proof Gloves
• Bug/Tick Spray
• Tall Rubber Boots
• Towel (leave in vehicle; to dry off if needed and/or protect seats from mud)

Summer:

• Bug-proof, long-sleeved shirt
• Bug-proof face shield/hood
• Bite/Prick-Proof Gloves
• Bug/Tick Spray
• Tall Rubber Boots (if significant rainfall in days prior to excursion)
• Cooler with Ice, Extra Water (keep in your vehicle, leave space for foraged items)
• Towel (leave in vehicle; to dry off if needed and/or protect seats from mud)

Fall:

• Bug-proof, long-sleeved shirt
• Bug-proof face shield/hood
• Bite/Prick-Proof Gloves
• Bug/Tick Spray
• Tall Rubber Boots (if significant rainfall in days prior to excursion)
• Cooler with Ice, Extra Water (keep in your vehicle, leave space for foraged items)
• Towel (leave in vehicle; to dry off if needed and/or protect seats from mud)

Winter:

• Warm Layers
• Warm Gloves
• Crampons