Hucks On!

It’s huckleberry season here in western Montana and Mike and I have been pickin like the dickens. Soon after moving onto the land last July, thanks to the guidance of a local guy we met at the river, we discovered that within a short & lovely drive up higher into the National Forest land surrounding Empty Mountain, hucks abound. We went picking a few times last summer, both on our own and accompanied by friends who wonderfully joined us. Last year, the hucks came on in mid-August. So this year, they’re surprisingly early - not that I’m complaining!

Here at EM, we’re situated at around 3,200 feet in elevation. Hucks, from what I’ve read, grow between 2,000-11,000 feet. We’ve located two prime spots for picking thus far, one that clocks in at 5,200 feet, and the other one, less than 10-min further up the road from there, at 5,800 feet. 

If you’re not familiar with huckleberries, they’re typically smaller in size than a blueberry, and taste like, well, I’m not sure what they taste like. I personally wouldn’t say they taste like a blueberry, although I am hard-pressed to come up with anything closer to compare it to. They’re a really lovey ruby-ish red-purple color, and pretty good eating. I say “pretty good” because I personally couldn’t just sit & eat them in the same way I could blueberries, for example. Hucks are a mix of bitter & sweet, so after one handful of hucks, I’m good for a litle while. 

Hucks are similar to cherries for me. I like the act of picking them more than I like the act of eating them. But with both hucks & local cherries, I super enjoy sharing my bounty with friends, and also using the fruit to bake or make smoothies with. Huckleberry tarts, for instance, are amazing. It wouldn’t be a good idea, but I could eat those all day. 

This past Sunday, we spent 3 joy-filled hours picking hucks and wound up with 5.5 pounds! It was probably the best picking we’ve ever experienced. Not only were there are a lot of plants ripe with berries, but the amount of berries per plant was also really high. We also came across a fair amount of larger sized berries. When it comes to picking hucks, it’s not uncommon for it to be a back intensive activity. Hucks grow low, so bending over to pick through the brambles is usually necessary. But on Sunday, due to the high volume of berries, we could just sit down and hang out in one spot for 10-15 minutes at a stretch and pick away. 

Something I appreciate about picking hucks with other people is that it’s an activity we can do together, but each of us also has our own solo world of picking. As someone who considers herself an ambivert - with both introvert & extrovert qualities - I am especially fond of activities that allow me the chance to share space with people that don’t involve a whole lot of social talking. Other examples: group motorcycle rides; sitting meditation & outdoor walking meditation with others. 

I find huck picking to be an activity that has a natural quality of mindfulness built into it. When I’m picking, I’m fully present with what I’m doing. It takes virtually no effort to still & settle my thinking/planning mind. As soon as I start picking, I’m simply picking berries, both physically & mentally. When I enter the kingdom of berries, in what feels like 10-minutes, 3-hours have passed, and my hands are deliciously stained red with huck juice as a badge of honor. It’s a delightful way to spend an afternoon, as far as I’m concerned. 

Having amassed such a large haul, we gave some away, froze some, and ate some. With a small fridge, and an even smaller freezer, our storing capacity here in the woods is limited. Figuring I needed more inspiration about how to make use of them, I went online and looked up how to make a simple syrup with them. I mean, adding them to oatmeal and pancakes is great and all, but it doesn’t require very many. I can utilize quite a few in making syrup, which is handy when it comes to the fact that I want to keep picking! 

Hucks, like all berries, have a short grow season. When they come on, it’s now or never. As memory serves, we have 3-4 weeks max to pick once the hucks are ripe, before they start to wilt & fade. Assuming, that is, that bears or other humans haven’t gobbled them up first. 

After trying my hand at syrup making this week, I’ve become a fan. I’m now thinking about learning how to can, so I can store it for longer. And down the line, who knows? Maybe a small line of Empty Mountain huckleberry syrups & spreads is in our future!