Posted on January 9, 2010 - by Blackhawk Staff Writer

Trees and Tracks Snowshoe Hike

Director of Outdoor Pursuits, Jil Wickander, lent her vast knowledge of the winter flora and fauna at Blackhawk to homeowners on a special “Trees and Tracks” snowshoe hike this past Saturday. Along the way, fox and deer tracks dotted the landscape as we trekked through the trees and along the Payette River.

In addition to animal tracks, we were also able to learn about a number of winter plants. One of the most prevalant plant species we encountered was Wolf Lichen (pictured on the tree above). This green lichen is found on trees throughout the region and seems to be one of those plants you see, but rarely acknowledge, so commonplace is its presence. In fact, this special plant has a long history with the indigenous people of North America. Wolf Lichen was the most widely used dye lichen, used from the Rockies to the Pacific coast, from California to Alaska. Some groups also made paint from it. This lichen is sufficiently poisonous that the Achomawi in Northern California used it, mixed with rattlesnake venom, to make poison arrowheads. The Apache painted wolf-lichen crosses on their feet so they could pass their enemies unseen.

Wolf Lichen also has medicinal applications and is used most commonly as a dermatological aid. Below is a recipe for a salve that can be used on a number of skin conditions.

Wolf Lichen Salve
Pack four cups of fresh Wolf Lichen into a quart jar. Fill the jar with olive oil. Pour mixture into a 2 quart pan, place on stove and heat slowly over low heat, stirring frequently, for 20 to 30 minutes. Strain the oil through a coffee filter or several layers of cheesecloth, discarding solids. Add 1½ ounces of finely shaved beeswax to the oil and heat slowly over simmering water. Pour into salve jars and cool completely before applying lid. Use salve for treating eczema and similar skin conditions.