Huckleberry Picking

The mountains of Coeur d'Alene are known for their abundance of huckleberries and apparently you are not a true North Idahoan if you have not experienced the tradition of picking wild huckleberries.  The huckleberries are a round purple berry native to North Idaho and are actually the official state fruit (didn't know that we had one.)  The best picking is between late July and early August. 

I was invited by our new friends to go huckleberry picking in early August.  We headed up the mountain early one weekday morning in an effort to avoid the afternoon heat as well as the weekend pickers.  We prepared ourselves by wearing long pants, long sleeved shirts, and hiking boots.  Berry picking can be a dangerous endeavor since it involves hiking up and down hills and squeezing between bushes.  On our belts, we carried plastic milk cartons modified to hold the berries that we picked. 

It was exciting to walk among the trees and bushes searching for the coveted purple berry. Although it is easy to get lost in the quiet process of picking, you have to remember to be on the lookout for wildlife.   Apparently bears also love huckleberries.  They are high in carbohydrates and are one of the primary food sources for grizzly and black bears.  We also saw evidence of recent moose activity in the area (fresh droppings). 

By the time we headed down the mountain, we had gathered several gallons of huckleberries.  I went home with a gallon myself.  I later found out that these precious berries sell for almost $60 a gallon.   I guess I hit the jackpot!

Huckleberries are delicious. They are great to use in recipes in place of blueberries or as a topping for ice cream or french toast. Check out my photo of huckleberry french toast...yummy!