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Walking with the Western PA Mushroom Club

Aug 15, 2009
Melissa
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Members of the Mushroom Club with Ella, showing off their mushrooms!

Members of the Mushroom Club with Ella, showing off their mushrooms!


Today Dave, Ella and I did something new: we went for a hike with the Western PA Mushroom Club!

Our two day camping trip to Raccoon Creek State Park prompted our interest in mushrooms. While there to get a glimpse of the Perseid Meteor Shower away from the city lights, we noticed an abundance of mushrooms! We stopped in to the nature center at the Wildflower Reserve, and the woman brought us out some great books on mushrooms that we poured over.

One thing we learned was that although mushrooms can be extremely dangerous and deadly, not to be afraid to dig them up and take a look at them. (I have always been too afraid to even touch anything!)

So we took pictures, took notes, went back to the books and found a huge amount of interesting information! By observation, I noticed some mushrooms had “gills” and others “pores.” When we returned to town we looked up the Mushroom Club, found that they walk just about every Saturday morning from spring through November, and so we set out with them today.

Mushroom Hatching from an egg. Many Amanitas are deadly poisonous, and some people avoid eating them altogether.

Mushroom Hatching from an "egg". Many Amanitas are deadly poisonous, and some people just avoided them.

Old Man of The Woods, edible, turns black when picking (we did not eat)

Old Man of The Woods, edible, turns black when picking (we did not eat)

Chanterelle Harvest (edible!)

Chanterelle Harvest (edible!)

identifying the mushrooms after the walk

identifying the mushrooms after the walk

The exciting thing was the harvest of tasty (once cooked!) chanterelles! Look for our entry on them coming soon!

A good book we found for identifying mushrooms is the National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mushrooms (National Audubon Society Field Guides)
or go to our Amazon page of Recommended Mushroom Books.

Have fun, stay safe!

~ Melissa

Food Under Foot

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  • Totally awesome! I told Jim all about your mushroom adventures and he'd love to go with you sometime, too! LOVE the pictures!!

    Lots of love to you,

    Wendi
    XOXOXO

  • Thanks, Wendi!
    We'll have to make sure Jim comes on a mushroom walk next time we go. They are so much fun!
    Talk to you soon!
    Love,
    Melissa

  • JasonOli

    Melissa -

    I've become somewhat obsessed with Mushrooms as of late. I heard Paul Stamets speak twice and read his book Mycellium Running more that twice. This is a must read about "how mushrooms can help save the world".

    For those on the West Coast, there are 2 books that are definitely worth getting: David Arora's Mushroom's Demystified (Michael Pollan calls this the "West Coast mushroomer's Bible" in the Omnivore's Dilemma) and the companion small pocket guide All That the Rain Promises and More..." also by David Arora.

    I've listed these books at our Amazon Food Under Foot Recommended Books page.

    NOTE: Always make sure that you accurately identify mushrooms before ingestion. It is safe to handle them but as little as one Death Cap can kill when eaten. Not to scare you off, just get educated and go with a guide until you're comfortable.

    ~Jason

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