View photos of the edible plant Cirsium arvense (Creeping thistle), profiled in the Wild Edible Series: Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah (as Cirsium spp.).

A passage from Wild Edible Plants of Colorado:

Thistle stalk also deserve mention as they are too an often overlooked edible. It needs to be immature, just–emerging, and flexible.

A passage from Wild Edible Plants of New Mexico:

Cut the stalk from the base of the plant. Remove
the leaves and tops (usually spiny) and peel
away the outer layer until the inner palatable
part is revealed.