Mushroom Obsession

was created to help parents get their kids out from behind the screen and into nature to safely explore the mystical and magnificent world of exotic edible mushrooms: how to safely hunt them in the woods, cultivate them in your own back yard, and even how to make them taste magnificent in the kitchen! If you consider yourself "mushroom obsessed," this site is the place for you!

Fall 2026 Foray Report

About this time each year, after the first late summer/early fall rains, I do a test foray into my usual mushroom hunting grounds in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, to see what’s happening and plan additional forays throughout September and October. On Thursday and Friday of this week (Sept. 3-4) I camped out in the woods and conducted a preliminary foray. Here’s a report and a schedule of additional forays that are planned. If you would like to join any of them, please email me at LarryShort@gmail.com.

Golden Chanterelles Are Happening

Following this week’s rains, the Chanties are popping up. I collected several dozen nice, healthy young specimens.

My first (of several dozen) Golden Chanterelle of the Fall 2026 season.

And Then There are Lobsters!

In addition to the Chanterelles, I found several nice Lobsters. (To review, the Lobster is a very ordinary fungus, Russula brevipers, which has been infected with another fungus, Hydromyces lactiflourum, which has the effect of exploding it in size, giving it a bright red color, and also flavoring it with overtones of lobster!

My first of several lobsters of the Fall 2026 season.

And More!

In addition to the usual Chanterelles and Lobsters, I found a nice Shrimp russula:

and also a pretty shelf mushroom I’d never seen before, Pycnoporellus fulgens … not an edible, but something which a nice red dye can be made:

Are You Interested in Learning More?

It’s always an adventure, with new mushrooms to be found! If you are interested in joining me for a foray, I will be scheduling the following dates and times:

  • Friday, Sept. 11, 2-4 p.m.
  • Saturday, Sept. 12, 10 a.m. – 12 noon
  • Saturday, Sept. 12, 2-4 p.m.
  • Friday, Sept. 18, 2-4 p.m.
  • Saturday, Sept. 19, 10 a.m. – 12 noon
  • Saturday, Sept. 19, 2-4 p.m.
  • Friday, Oct. 2, 2-4 p.m.
  • Saturday, Oct. 3, 10 a.m. – 12 noon
  • Saturday, Oct. 3, 2-4 p.m.
  • Friday, Oct. 9, 2-4 p.m.
  • Saturday, Oct. 10, 10 a.m.-noon
  • Saturday, Oct. 10, 2-4 p.m.
  • Friday, Oct. 16, 2-4 p.m.
  • Saturday, Oct. 17, 10 a.m.-noon
  • Saturday, Oct. 17, 2-4 p.m.
  • Friday, Oct. 23, 2-4 p.m.
  • Saturday, Oct. 24, 10 a.m. – noon
  • Saturday, Oct. 24, 2- 4 p.m.
  • Friday, Oct. 30, 2-4 p.m.
  • Saturday, Oct. 31, 10 a.m. – 12 noon
  • Saturday, Oct. 31, 2-4 p.m.

I will look forward to hunting with you! Send me a message expressing interest at LarryShort@gmail.com and I will reply with the necessary details. Forays are free.

Cheers!

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Larry Short

Larry Short is an author and novelist with three decades of experience in Christian communications, digital innovation, and nonprofit management. A graduate of Biola University, he created WorldVision.org, won the Evangelical Press Association’s Best Personality Feature of the Year award in 1981, and published his historical fantasy novel, Fountains of the Deep, on Amazon Kindle. He is currently writing Apocalypse, his first science fiction novel. Now that he’s formally retired he spends his time leading ministry directors at his church, feeding his mushroom obsession, working for the local school district part-time, and traveling. He has served as a young adults pastor, elder, prayer ministry coordinator, community groups coordinator, and deacon of welcome and assimilation at an Evangelical Free church in the Northwest, as well as a grandfather, exotic mushroom hunter and hobby cyclist.

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