Mushroom Obsession

I’m writing this update right in the middle of prime Fall mushroom season! We’ve been conducting forays since early September, most recently last weekend, and we are heading out again today. Looking at the remaining weather forecast and considering other schedule issues, first I will post our anticipated remaining foray schedule:

• This afternoon (Thursday, Oct. 9), 2-4 p.m.
• Tomorrow morning (Friday, Oct. 10), 9-11 a.m. (light rain expected)
• Tomorrow afternoon, 1-3 p.m.
• Tuesday afternoon (Oct. 14), 2-4 p.m.
• Wednesday morning (Oct. 15), 9-11 a.m. and afternoon, 1-3 p.m.

I’m sorry, we have no more weekend foray dates available. But I am hoping that if you are interested, you can join me on a weekday (when it’s less crowded with other hunters, anyway).

The above dates are subject to change depending on weather and other factors. I don’t mind hunting in light rain, but if it’s too windy or stormy it’s not safe.

Last Saturday’s foray featured beautiful weather and peaceful forest, plus participants left to right: Our foray leader (yours truly), Jay, Allen (holding one of his munchkins), Mary, and John. Plus the star of the show, lots of Lobster mushrooms!

Please email me directly at LarryShort (at symbol) Gmail (dot) com if you are interested in joining a foray. They are free of charge, and I offer some MushroomObsession branded items (coffee mugs and walking sticks) for a suggested donation of $10 for the mugs and $30 for the walking sticks (which are custom created from Alaskan Ginseng wood, found in our hunting zone … each one is unique!).

About the Mushrooms

The big story so far this year is the prized lobster mushroom. One ranger told me they are more profuse than anytime in his experience, and the commercial pickers are making millions.

A good 10 pounds or so of delicious Lobster mushrooms here … if you bought them at Safeway, that would run you at least $370!

If you’re not familiar with the lobster mushroom, here in the Northwest that’s an ordinary white (and bland) mushroom, Russula brevipes, that gets infected by another fungus (Hydromyces lactiflourum), which turns it bright red, causes it to change shape and increase in size, and gives it a seafood flavor reminiscent of lobster! It dehydrates and rehydrates well, and is excellent in a variety of dishes. (I am collecting recipes now!) It is highly prized in particular by vegetarians, and at Safeway fetches $37 per pound. Over the past month I (and my foray companions) have frequently filled up my basket (to the 2-gallon noncommercial limit, free permit required) and returned with something like 10 or 15 pounds of Lobster mushrooms! Some individual lobster mushrooms can weigh as much as 2 or 3 pounds each.

At times I have found patches of these (usually in marshy areas) so profuse that you have to work to avoid stepping on them. I’m guessing they are nearing the end of their run now, but we will find out more today and I’ll report back.

This was one of the larger Golden Chanterelles we found in our forays.

Also coming on strong is the prized Golden Chanterelle mushroom. Due to early minimal rains these were slow coming on but were doing better last weekend, and my guess is that recent rains will help.

Other mushrooms just starting to come on include boletes (Fat Jacks predominate, but I’ve also found some small Admirables) and common puffballs (larger and nicer than usual). There are also quite a few Shrimp Russulas out there, coral and club fungus (if you like those … I don’t care for them myself), and I’ve also seen some Angel Wings and even a Cauliflower Mushroom.

Pretty little Angel Wings are nearly always found here on dead and down Douglas Fir.

I will be keeping my eyes open for my favorites, Lion’s Mane and Hedgehogs (closely related to one another, the former grow in trees and the latter on the ground in damp areas), which should be coming on soon as the temps drop. We found a lot of Hedgehogs last year.

Hedgehogs are a tooth mushroo closely related to Lion’s Mane.

And I’m also keeping my eyes open for another late bloomer, the delicious Elfin Saddle, as well as some Pigs’ Ears and Shaggy Mane.

Don’t Put It Off ‘Til Next Year!

If you haven’t gotten “out there” yet this season, this may be your last opportunity! Let me know if you can join me, or if you get the chance to get out there on your own, please comment and let me know what you have found. Cheers and happy hunting!