Have you ever went on a climbing trip and thought you had packed everything?

Well, I'm the first to admit it. Your stomach starts to growl like a bear. You really are hungry, so what do you do? Well not many of us think about the food available outdoors, so here's a little insight.

Have you ever heard of reindeer moss? Reindeer moss grows on rock, you've probably touched it a few times. Reindeer moss is a tiny lite green tree or fuzzy looking bush that grow on the boulder's and cliff line that you've probably clmb on and It's full of vitamin's and mineral's, although it taste a little earthy, it can keep you alive and have the energy to finish your day of climbing. Just remember the golden rule of thumb: That if it taste bitter it's not fit to eat, much less it's probably poisonous. So, eat and be merry!!

Make sure you are able to correctly identfy wild plants before eating them. It's also wise to skin test them before eating. Skin test is done by rubbing the plant on your inner arm. Wait 20+ mins. If you breakout in a rash it's not a good idea to eat. If you don' t get a rash it doesn't mean that it's completely safe.

In some parts of the world reindeer moss is protected. (County of Cornwall in England is one) It's a very slow growing plant. As such I wouldn't recommend eating it because it will take a long time to grow back.

What exactly am I wrong on Brad? It is protected in Cornwall. It does take a long time to grow. As for being nutritious see below. You've already said it tastes like dirt.

NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
The nutritive value of reindeer lichens is rather poor.  The protein content, 
calcium and phosphorous levels, and vitamin content are very low. (continued...)

its also great for starting fire! along with birch bark, which is an extreemly diverse tree. you can drink the sap from it or make tea. also when they fall and rot insects are drawn to this tree more than any other due to its sap and paperlike qualities so it will harbour lots and lots of bugs to eat.

if you are by the sea there may be lots and lots of bright orange berrys in a very spiky bush called a buckthorn in amongst the sand dunes, the juice of which is slightly bitter (breaking one rule i know) but paked with protein.

another useful plant to eat is the ostrich fern or fiddlehead. (its the one that appears in all the jurrasic park movies ;p) you can eat the small fronds that are still curled up or fry them with oil for more flavour.

in the way of meat you can get this by making snares simply out of shoelaces and catch rabbits, mink, squirrel, or hedgehog (cooked in clay to remove spines.)

and water is fairly simple, find a spring where the water is naturally being refreshed by the earth so it wont stay dirty. or climb above the cattle line so there is no contamination in the water.

if you are at the beach go to the cliffs and dig a well a little way up the rock, this will fill with water and if you get some rope and put it in the water then place a rock over it to keep it there then the water will seep down the rope and collect freshly at the bottom in your canteen. you can usually expect 2 pints after one hour with this.

just a sample of my knowlage for you guys.

well there are many plants. i learn most of my things from t.v. watching ray mears, if you have heard of him? other than that i use google and wikipedia.

where abouts do you live? i might know a thing or two about tucker from your area.