Report From The Sierra (by )
Sandi and I met Mark and Toni from Santa Cruz at McCloud for the McCloud Mushroom Festival. We rented a home on www.VRBO.com and we were able to walk to town for the festival every day. We've been before but this was so much better than the last time.
Yes, Hygrophorus caeruleus were found. There was lots of fungal activity from 3200 feet and up. There were Morels, Spring King Boletes, Butter Boletes, Bitter Boletes, Suillus, Cortinarius of many species including Dermocybe, a couple Hygrophorus, Agaricus, Tricholomas... I found a different Xylaria or Daldinia which I will put up on Mushroom Observer (www.mushroomobserver.org). I took the photos with the leaves and flowers of the tree they were growing on in Mt. Shasta (not a native tree). Frogs live at 6000 feet in the woods. Therefore there must be places to lay eggs. Mount Shasta was visible at all times of every day. Hardly a cloud!
Yes, we applied for permits. Some silly rules to hunt by. If you got a permit but didn't follow the rules narrated to you individually by the Ranger and got checked, what's the use! (i.e., cut any mushroom over 2 inches in diameter in half). I don't have much experience around Mount Shasta so I asked everyone I could about where to go. Without exception everyone said, "Go to 6000 feet". Every one! We found Spring Kings and Morels at 3900, 4800, 4900 and 5300. We found nothing at 6000 feet. Snow blocked the road at 6601 feet. It's beautiful at 6000 feet, just no mushrooms. Should have stayed between 3900 and 4900 feet. All of our best hunting was about 4800 feet. Happy birthday Mark!
Pictures? https://picasaweb.google.com/113390429066105034359/6287704962294129857 Phalluscybe Hugh Smith