A magnet propped against my office bookshelf proclaims, “Not all who wander are lost.” It’s a gift from a dear friend who understands my need for adventure and exploration — and change. The very reasons I accepted the offer to hunt morel mushrooms with my husband and his outdoorsman buddy twenty-some years ago on a wooded place 3 miles from home. An adventure? Exploration? Of course — I was all in.
With mesh bags in hand the three of us scattered in different directions on the several-acre property in hopes of finding the mother lode of morels. Compared to the guys, I was an outdoor novice, but with a solid career in the Girl Scouts and the outdoors skills patches to prove it, I was confident I would return with the side dish for venison backstrap that night.
Instead, I lost track of time and my surroundings and couldn’t find my way back. The hunt for morels long forgotten, the mesh bag now served as a breadcrumb for rescuers searching for clues of my whereabouts. Without a compass (or smartphone back then), and clouds moving in, I couldn’t determine east from west or north from south (or normal vs. eerie animal sounds.)
At last I heard voices in the distance screaming my name, and probably chuckling at my stupidity.
I could have benefited from joining Wander Woman Kansas, if they had been in existence. The organization offers outdoor educational clinics for women to learn skills and gain confidence exploring in nature. Learn more at wanderwomanks.com and check out the article about the organization in the Features section.
Enjoy your outdoor wanderings this month.
