What do you do when the rains haven't come to Port Orford? Well, we head for the hills, or in this case, Mt. Hood, and traverse a route that will take us from Magic Tree to Magic Hill to Matsutakeville and finally to Magic Trail.
Friday we awoke to an overcast, somewhat drizzly day at our tiny cabin which nests among Douglas Fir, Western Red Cedars and Cottonwoods in Brightwood, a small town that is merely a dip in the road between Sandy and Wemme just off of Highway 26.
We pulled back the curtains and rejoiced in the dampness blanketing the mountain. Surely this was an indicator of good things to come. We put on our happy faces, gathered the tools of our trade (baskets, guidebooks, knives, notebooks, whistles and compasses) and packed lunch in a brown paper bag for a picnic near the historic Clackamas Lake Ranger Station.
Magic Tree, as usual, was our first stop and did not disappoint. At 3,000 feet the ground was moister than at our cabin, and the air was definitely cooler. There was a crispness in the air, and the autumn leaves hopscotched down the side road as we approached our destination. Several handfuls of Wooly Chanterelles greeted us as we navigated the dense brush and seemed to guide us to where White Chanterelles were hiding just below the duff. Dirty, yes, they were, but the soil was easily removed from the White Chanterelles back at the cabin later in the day, and it was well worth the effort.
We like to clean white chanterelles by gently brushing them
with a toothbrush under running water. Working with them
in a colander keeps the debris from going down the drain.
Magic Hill was noticeably drier and basically devoid of all fungi; not even LBMs could be found. The only treasures to be discovered were a large field of Oregon Grape which was still hanging onto its berries, deciduous Vine Maple decked out in its most brilliant fall colors, an impressive assortment of Artist's Conks, and, of course, litter: a deflated "Happy Birthday" balloon and 3 empty beverage cans (Rockstar Energy Drink, Rolling Rock Extra Pale, and Angry Orchard Crisp Apple Hard Cider). Back at the car, we noticed a number of mushrooms from the genus Suillus growing under conifers alongside the road in varying stages of decay and rot.
Matsutakeville was our next stop. Sure, we knew it was way too early for Matsutakes, but we were so close we just had to stop and look and smell. Was there a slight scent of anise in the air? No, not yet. It'll take cooler days and nights and more rains before this ground gives up these highly sought-after mycorrhizal mushrooms.
Magic Trail was back down the mountain and in a wetter, more temperate area. The land was lush with ferns and a vibrant network of undergrowth that will soon disappear when winter sets in. Traditionally, Lobsters are the first mushrooms here to catch our eye, thanks to the parasitic mold that has engulfed its host fungus with a hard, orange coating. These were out in profusion on Friday afternoon along with several nurse logs flush with Oyster and Angel Wing Mushrooms.
Fallen conifers create a congenial environment for
mushrooms such as these edible Angel Wings.
It was a long day of exploring but a very good day nonetheless - in fact, any day that one can bring home a collection of White Chanterelles is a magical day, and this was certainly one of those days.
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One last thought about our route for the day. Take note of our lunch spot. This lovely ranger station was constructed in 1933 by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and was vacated by the USDA Forest Service some years ago. You may wish to spend some time at this beautiful site by renting the 1,300 square foot main cabin. It's secluded, and the view is inspiring. More information on the housing is available on the Mt. Hood National Forest site.