Mushroom Hunting

This past weekend, our friends and guides, Liz Graham and Chris O'Connell, guided us on our yearly mushroom hunt through the old growth forests on the Olympic Peninsula. We had to cross a river twice which meant currents of freezing cold water challenged every barefoot step and rose up to my underwear (I took off my pants). We also walked in the rain for one of the days so we were as moist as any Northwest piece of moss, but like all devout mushroom hunters we were undeterred. There is a very palpable siren call that draws you into the serenity of the forest, guiding you from one beautifully poised mushroom, proud in its singularity, onto the next surprise, a patch of fruiting bodies occupying a down sloping hollow and on you go, deeper and deeper into the forest, knife in hand, bending low. One might disappear; entranced by the mushrooms, giddy from the hunt, footsteps silenced by the deep forest duff. We probably gathered 50 lbs of mostly chanterelles but some massive cauliflower mushrooms and humble hedgehog mushrooms as well. Now, the task at hand is to dry, saute and freeze, and cook up these deliciously earthy morsels.

Do not miss the 2008 Wild Mushroom Exhibit on October 11 & 12th at the Center for Urban Horticulture if you want to learn more about this most abundant member and resource in the Northwest.