Seward fungus: mushrooms among us
Seward Alaska is a temperate rainforest, and since my return from the east coast I have noticed quite a few crazy looking mushrooms lurking in the moss. Most are very poisonous, but some are not. It’s safe to say that I am definitely not a mycologist, and am extremely under qualified to give any sort of advice to aspiring mushroom hunters; however I am authorized to say that Seward a prime fungus foraging area. Our average rainfall is about 75 inches a year, and a thick coniferous covering of Sitka spruce coupled with moderate temperatures makes for perfect fungus growing conditions. Usually mushroom foragers don’t give out their hunting spots so they can keep people from wiping out their stash, …show more content…
Some will burn your skin on contact; others induce instant diarrhea, and death. One of Alaska’s deadliest mushrooms are those little brown ones that you see popping up all over your lawn, the baseball fields, and pretty much every other moist area. Mushroom foraging is a serious affair, and unfortunately there are no formal mycology groups in Seward, however if you are willing to drive to Sterling I hear there is a semi-formal group that takes regular forays. If you can’t make it to Sterling there are a few “safe mushrooms” that have few or no poisonous look-alikes, and are great mushrooms for a beginner to start practicing safe identification. Luckily, the most of the common “safe mushrooms” grow in Seward, but always be sure t be safe rather than sorry. Bring a mycology book with you; I recommend All That the Rain Promises and More: A Hip Pocket Guide to Western Mushrooms. I got this book from the Nature Center at Exit Glacier when I worked as a YCC (Youth Conservation Corps.) back in high school, and I’m not sure if its still sold here, but nevertheless it is still a great place to start asking questions about mushrooms. Ann and Lew Fineman have been volunteering at Exit Glacier through the National Park Service’s VIP (Volunteers in Parks) program for many years, and although they don’t work in Seward every summer they are great sources of in-depth information about anything regarding the park, and the Seward
Seward Alaska is a temperate rainforest, and since my return from the east coast I have noticed quite a few crazy looking mushrooms lurking in the moss. Most are very poisonous, but some are not. It’s safe to say that I am definitely not a mycologist, and am extremely under qualified to give any sort of advice to aspiring mushroom hunters; however I am authorized to say that Seward a prime fungus foraging area. Our average rainfall is about 75 inches a year, and a thick coniferous covering of Sitka spruce coupled with moderate temperatures makes for perfect fungus growing conditions. Usually mushroom foragers don’t give out their hunting spots so they can keep people from wiping out their stash, …show more content…
Some will burn your skin on contact; others induce instant diarrhea, and death. One of Alaska’s deadliest mushrooms are those little brown ones that you see popping up all over your lawn, the baseball fields, and pretty much every other moist area. Mushroom foraging is a serious affair, and unfortunately there are no formal mycology groups in Seward, however if you are willing to drive to Sterling I hear there is a semi-formal group that takes regular forays. If you can’t make it to Sterling there are a few “safe mushrooms” that have few or no poisonous look-alikes, and are great mushrooms for a beginner to start practicing safe identification. Luckily, the most of the common “safe mushrooms” grow in Seward, but always be sure t be safe rather than sorry. Bring a mycology book with you; I recommend All That the Rain Promises and More: A Hip Pocket Guide to Western Mushrooms. I got this book from the Nature Center at Exit Glacier when I worked as a YCC (Youth Conservation Corps.) back in high school, and I’m not sure if its still sold here, but nevertheless it is still a great place to start asking questions about mushrooms. Ann and Lew Fineman have been volunteering at Exit Glacier through the National Park Service’s VIP (Volunteers in Parks) program for many years, and although they don’t work in Seward every summer they are great sources of in-depth information about anything regarding the park, and the Seward