Huckleberries Are As Coveted as Gold
in Some Places
Here is an enlarged view of this sweet little touch of gold in its beautiful natural environment. Notice the berry surrounded by such lovely variegated leaves.
What is so valuable about the wild huckleberry that people would spend $60 or more for only one gallon? And, why would some people drive over rough unpaved mountain trails for two to five hours or more just to look for the berry and hope that they might be able to pick some.
I don't have all the answers to those questions. But, I do know that Native Americans have valued this fruit for hundreds of years. The Yakama Nation include the berry in their tribal traditions as do many other tribes.
The succulent huckleberry we love is a deep blue or purple with a deep raspberry juice. It looks somewhat like a blue berry, only darker. It tastes somewhat like a blueberry, but has a much stronger wild essence. I have read that it is the most nutritionally valuable fruit! It is very convenient to store in the freezer without loss of integrity.
Idaho claims the huckleberry as its state fruit. California also loves its red huckleberry. I imagine bears have feasted for centuries on the huckleberry in preparation for their long winter hibernation.
In our region every one I know loves huckleberry desserts, flavorings, teas, and sauces of every variety.
Our 2012 journey to the land of Huckleberries
Today, we left Yakima at 8:30 am with water, snacks, and picking containers. We traveled albout two hours, half of the time on rough rocky roadway before we found any berries with fruit.
Below are views along our route in search of the berries. I cannot tell you the location of our site. That confidential information is even more secretive than the location of Iran's nuclear arsenal. On some of our berry excusions, we have gone to such extremes as blindfolding our companions enroute so they will not know the exact location of our huckleberry route!
Unfortunately, our picking site changes somehwat ever year due to the availability the berries. o Climate conditions such as water supply, temperature, and seasonal variations impact the growth of the berry bushes and fruit. So one year's great picking success does not mean another succulent season.
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| The Huckleberry is Found at Higher Altitudes |
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| Behind the Trees is Mt Rainier |
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| Another View of Mt. Rainier in the Distance |
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| Inconveniences Along the Route |
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| Other Landscapes |
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| Notice the Trail Quality |
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| After 1-2 Hours of Picking Not the Best Year! |
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| The Berry Picking Group Take A Break |
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| Great Field of Huckleberry Plants Berries are Small and Scarce This Year |
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| Mt Rainier Setting is Worth the Huckleberry Search |
This year's blueberry picking was tough, to say the least. The berries were small and there just weren't many to be found as you can see. But, the day's journey into the beautiful quiet mountains was well worth every bit of our effort.
The total result of four active picking adults was probably one half of a gallon. That could be sufficient for two to three berry pies per couple (filling in with other berries or fruit). Last year we found enough berries for at least ten to twelve pies!
In today's Huckleberry market, (theYakama Nation members supply select stores with berries they find on their reservation) the one half gallon of berries we managed to find might have a value of $20 to $30. So you see, the treasured Huckleberry search is a delightful labor of love as well as product.
Great post, Sally. May I be on your Picking Group list? You may blindfold me, of course - and I promise not to tell where I think we are! I'm a very good picker and a lot of fun. Thanks for this PNW travelogue! Peggy
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