Where is Blast on this thread? Seems right up his alley.

Aha! I thought so!

Be sure to read the intro paragraph atop each category page. For example, on the Geology page I highly recomend the DK book, it's got a great intro and identification key. It's a good starter book. While the Simon & Schuster book is much more advanced and a great reference into crystology, but not well suited for beginners or general geology.

Good point! I'd like to add that ANY amount of food (that doesn't wreck havock on your system) will be a huge morale booster and greatly increase your odds. You can live for a while without any food at all, but observations are that it is highly unpleasant, and it will reduce your strength, mental abilities and thermo regulation. A small amount of food will make you function soooooo much better.

Food will not be my top priority, but if I have time and energy on my hands (such as waiting by a wreck) I would certainly try to find something to eat when the other priorities are met.

Setting aside the debate about the "calorie content" of mushrooms, the main reason to harvest them is that they are DELICIOUS! At least morels, chanterelles, and portobellos are and all can be found in the wild.

If you are interested, there are a variety of detailed guidebooks available that discuss the specifics of identification.

The first step is to get familiar with the deadly mushrooms.

Then learn what type of edible mushrooms are in your area and then see what deadly/poisonous mushrooms resemble those and then see how to distinguish them. This is a decent starting point for the western US (http://www.amazon.com/All-That-Rain-Prom...2622&sr=8-4).

If you don't know what you are doing, don't eat wild mushrooms. And, by the same token, if you don't know what you are doing, don't drive a car, fly a plane, operate an arc welder, go boating, go swimming, etc.