Foraging for Blueberries in Vermont (1956)

One of the subjects that I find interesting these days is the development of our species, from ancient times.  

I got half-way thru “The Dawn of Everything” and had to return it to our local library (which I so appreciate).  I will get “The Dawn of Everything” again, but the wait list is long; I am currently #141 and there are 82 copies in distribution, which means about two months from now for me.  Currently reading “Why The West Rules - For Now” by Ian Morris.  

These books spend some time on our ancient forerunners, the so-called hunter/gatherers or foragers.  This got me to thinking of my first experience foraging.

It was freshman trip of the fall of 1956.  As a junior, I had signed up to be a group leader.  I think the only qualification, if any, was to be a member of the Dartmouth Outing Club, which I was.  But that did not mean that I had any significant experiences of hiking or camping!

I assembled with my group of about six incoming freshmen.  We were given maps and water and food, and dropped off at our starting location, somewhere in Vermont, for I believe two nights on our own.

Fortunately the weather was fine; warm and dry.  But more fortunately, one of the incoming freshmen in the group was John Wheaton, class of 1960, who actually knew what he was doing in the outdoors.  John actually told us what to do, and we all survived; if fact, had fun.

As for foraging, it was my first time.  We came upon wild blueberries and ate them right off the vine, and they were delicious!

Thanks to Dartmouth for my first experience of hiking and camping out, and to John for guiding us thru the wilds of Vermont, and finding those blueberries.

(That was not the end of my connection to John Wheaton.  Later, for New Years, 1960, John invited me to come to Pasadena for the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl.  It was there that he introduced me to my first wife, Leslie Collins, whose father Bob was class of 1935.)