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Ridge Runners

     After several fix in the field problems that required tools in more than one location we made it part of our mandatory to carry gear both a gerber type multi-tool , and a swiss army type knife. Mark had told us on the air many times, but not everyone followed up on doing it. The problem was fixed by quantity purchase to include a few extras. They don't do any job fast, but a tool is better than no tool. A small lanyard line can be tied to the tool from the case. As Mark showed us in a training exercise here in 1994.

    Sgt. E. Jones
                                            3rd Squad 2nd Platoon,273 Company
39th RCT
             "Ridge Runners"

Keeping Alive
Years ago I heard a news report about a teenaged boy that had become lost during a deer hunting trip. When he did not return as agreed upon, his family immediately began to look for him. They looked all afternoon and could not find him. The police were called in and an organized search began the following morning. They finally found the boy’s body the following spring. It was obvious that he had died from exposure, but what he really died from was a lack of knowledge. He was unprepared.

An unexpected stay in the wilderness does not have to result in death. Nor does it require expensive equipment. What it does require is the right attitude, and learning some basic survival techniques. This article will focus on what someone can eat if they are caught in a survival situation.

The ability to recognize edible foods in the wild does much to increase your confidence level in a survival situation. You don’t have to be a scientist to be able to recognize edible plants, in fact many of the basic edible plants you will find in the woods can also be found in your own backyard or in the local field. Also, it is not necessary for you to be able to recognize hundreds of plants. Just knowing how to recognize ten or fifteen plants that are common for the area you travel in will be just fine in most cases.

There are numerous books out providing color pictures and descriptions of edible wild plants, with prices ranging from ten dollars on up. If you intend to spend much time roaming the back woods, it would be a good idea to pick up such a book.

The following is a list of edible plants that are common in the state of Michigan. All of them are easy to recognize and will provide you with enough sustenance to keep you alive until someone finds you or you find your own way out.

Dandelion - This is a common weed found in just about everyone’s lawn. The edible parts include the root, leaves, and the flower head. The root can be eaten boiled, or you can roast the root and grind it to make coffee. The young leaves can be eaten raw or boiled and eaten as spinach. As a child my parents had us kids collect the yellow heads so they could make dandelion wine.

Plantain - Kids often refer to plantain as rabbit food. It is a weed that can also be found in your lawn or in the cracks in the sidewalk. The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked, and can also be use to make a backwoods tea.

Staghorn Sumac - This shrub commonly grows along side roads or fields where it can get plenty of sunlight. The Staghorn Sumac has a very distinctive cluster of red berries that appear as red cones from a distance. It is these red berries that are edible. What is nice about this shrub is that the berries will stay on the branches well into the winter. The Indians used to make a lemonade type of drink by crushing the berries and pouring boiling water over the berries and allowing it to steep for ten or fifteen minutes before straining the liquid. Add sugar to the liquid and enjoy.

Raspberries / Blackberries - High in vitamin C the berries are great to snack on while wondering through the woods. The juice from the berries can be added to medicine to make it taste a little better. They also make great pies, jams, and jellies. The leaves, dried out of the sun, can be used to make tea.

Roses Hips - Because of the high vitamin C content, rose hips were used as a replacement for citrus fruit in England during World War II. The rose petals and the hips can be used to make at e refreshing tea.

Cattail - This plant can be found in ditches along roads, along the edges of lakes and in swamps.