Mushrooming in the snow...can you believe it? It's not even October, and the snows are blanketing the landscape, wrapping Mt. Hood in a lovely white shawl. Awesome!
Still, even though beautiful, the snows present a particular challenge to mushroomers, even dedicated ones like us. Do you go to your favorite, usual spots which normally would fill your basket with fall fungi? Or, do you sit in that easy chair, warmed by a fire in the wood stove, and dream of previous autumns when you were able to fill the freezer with freshly gathered mushrooms?
The answer was quick and easy for our small band of enthusiastic mushroomers. Pile into the Subaru girls, and let's head up the mountain for another perspective on fall mushrooming!
All I can say is, let it keep snowing if an abundance of
white chanterelles and matsutake are what come with snow.
After dropping off other members of the party in Government Camp, I headed back up the mountain and came upon an abundance of matsutake, one of which measured at least 7" in diameter while the remainder were all spectacular young buds, barely popping their beautiful caps above the soil. These matsutake were a gift for my special friend back in Government Camp. I knew that she'd probably dehydrate them before heading off to her winter home in Arizona next week.
I have to confess, it's wonderful to know someone who values matsutake. They are not a mushroom of choice for me. That hint of anise is quite off putting.
But you, dear friend and mushroom mentor, please enjoy the matsutake, as I have enjoyed your friendship over these many years!
Cleaning these frozen white chanterelles was
quicker and easier than in previous years.