If you travel in isolated wilderness areas, learning to identify a few edible wild plants can keep you safe also. Someday you may be lost or injured, or a bear will push you out of way to gorge himself your freeze-dried meals. In a survival situation, food isn't usually a priority (warmth and water are), but a pile of roasted cattail hearts sure will cheer you up and warm you up, and they even taste good.

Stay away from protected plants, of course, unless you are in a true life-or-death situation. Also, don't eat all beautiful flowers, or kill off lilies by eating all bulbs. Use common sense. If you aren't sure if you're doing harm, stick to eating wild berries.

Check out a few books on harvesting wild food. You don't need to become a wilderness survival fanatic. You really only need to learn to recognise a dozen high-calorie, abundant wild edible plants to be a lot safer in wilderness, and to enjoy it more.

There are literally thousands of great places to hike in North America and dozens of quality websites to learn more about sport. Check out our on-line education center or connect with a local hiking club for hikes in your area – but in any case it is up to you and only you to get most out of your hikes.

Use this information and you’ll Get It Right The First Time. Get Outdoors!