Kenai/Southcentral Morels?

[Matt Wallace]

Hi all,

I'm a fairly recent Alaska transplant and I'm looking forward to doing
some foraging this summer and fall!

I've been doing a little reading on Alaska morels, and I've found
quite a bit of info focusing on the interior, but not for Southcentral/
Kenai. Just wondering about the input of the group: do morels show up
around here, post-fire or otherwise?

I haven't gone looking for morels since I was a kid in Oregon, but if
there's a group forage, or even an individual happy to tolerate an
enthusiastic newbie, I'd love to go out and re-learn the ropes vis a
vis Where, When, and How to spot 'em.

Best,
Matt Wallace
Anchorage

[shane mccoy]

Matt,
Most of the Kenai folk hunt the big fires like Carriboo hills or Skilak Lake.  I have found morels everywhere (under cottonwoods, black pruce...), but after fires for the next few years is the best ares by far.  i have only found the black morels up here, not the large blonde ones we hunted in Iowa (anyone else find the blond ones?)  i went looking in my favorite Verpa spot today, and it is too early.  with the little precipt today they may start soon, with morels to follow.  wait for the smell of the cottonwoods!
 
> Date: Wed, 27 Apr 2011 15:15:56 -0700
> Subject: Kenai/Southcentral Morels?
> From: dubiou...@gmail.com
> To: kp...@googlegroups.com

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[Mike Wiley]

Hi Everyone- Good Luck with the morels  Have not found too many around here-Clam Gulch- but had Chaga coffee for breakfast.  Brewed it with my regular  morning coffee. We have quite abit of it here on the old birch trees.  Does anyone know if it has economic value.  Thank you.  Mike Wiley

[Shelley Rainwater]

Mike it does have some economic value - though what I have found is that it is good medicine and mums the word rather than drawing commercial interest. With that I have a friend that I would very much like to supply with some, he is a dear friend and a fine individual - if you have some you could share, sell or trade I let me know.  Shelley

---

From: Salmon...@alaska.net
To: kp...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: Kenai/Southcentral Morels?
Date: Wed, 27 Apr 2011 16:07:01 -0800

[Dominique collet]

You are at the right address.
Morels should be found pretty soon and will look for them. We are
counting on people scouting the area to let us know the hotspot to
search so we can share the bounty in good SCAMS (South Central
Mycological Society) tradition. Recently burned forests should be a
good bet. We do not advocate commercial harvest but we strongly
support cooperation between members
Dominique

[Mike Wiley]

Hi Shelley - Yes i have a container on the table right now and a number of birch chunks on the porch with chaga.  Give me an address and i can mail some to your friend or stop by at my house in Clam Gulch.  I expect to be in Homer within afew days also.  Are  you related to the Rainwater Clan in Homer?  worked with  some at the Bradley Lake  Job and remember Charlie who was an Assembly President i believe.  Most happy to share-this stuff has amazing antioxident value.   Regards, mike wiley

[Matt Wallace]

Thanks for the replies, folks!

I've been doing some digging around on the BLM Fire History Maps (http://fire.ak.blm.gov/predsvcs/maps.php). Not too many 2010 fires with road access, but Eklutna Lake could be an option-- although I think you'd have to bike in about 11 or 12 miles to reach the fire perimeter (if I'm right in my recollection that cars are not allowed on that portion of the road).

Is late May too early to go looking? I don't know how morels work, but I've been operating under the assumption that the mycelial growth happens mostly the same year as the fire, and it's more or less just a waiting game for fruiting conditions in Spring.

Cheers,
Matt

p.s.- Another cool site that gives detailed historical weather trends and graphs by weather station:

http://weatherspark.com/

[sbjor...@gmail.com]

Hi All,

I have been a member for 2 years now, just not an active one on the
board! I live in Anchorage, but I find myself down on the Peninsula
quite a bit due to being from a commercial fishing family ;)

Two years ago I cracked my oil pan while looking out at the Caribou
Hills fire...haha

I would love to get out and about with others, as Matt stated above.
I started getting more serious about mushrooms last year: looking
through guides, doing spore prints, taking photos...

Very interested in meeting up with others this year!

Sarah

[Shelley Rainwater]

Mike that would be great!!!

I will be heading to Anchorage tomorrow - Friday, hoping to depart noonish. If that will work I can stop by or meet you somewhere. The friend is in Big Lake - just had surgery for cancer can use all the good jujus he can get. Otherwise PO box 3182 Homer 99603 phone 299 - 2126. Some what related to Rainwater clan was married to Chris.

Shelley

---

From: Salmon...@alaska.net
To: kp...@googlegroups.com

Subject: Re: Chaga Fungi
Date: Wed, 27 Apr 2011 22:23:42 -0800

[shane mccoy]

Matt and any fellow 'stuck in Anchorage',
anyone want to carpool to the burn by Eklutna?  Anyone interested in meeting to share info etc?  I know there are some really knowledgeable folks up here, but i have not branched out into the group yet...( and the elusive morel can fruit any time after a cool spell with warming conditions and precipt- i have found them accidentally in mid-summer)
 

---

Date: Thu, 28 Apr 2011 08:49:18 -0800
Subject: Re: Kenai/Southcentral Morels?
From: dubiou...@gmail.com
To: kp...@googlegroups.com

[Mike Wiley]

Hi Shelley-My cell # is 252-1114 and i will be working around here tomorrow on spring clean up.  We live on a lake just past mile 116.  We're mile post 115.7 - north side of the lake - east side of the Highway.   We're all the way back past the homestead cabin and the junk beach trucks.  Home # 262-7198.  See you tomorrow. mwiley

[Matt Wallace]

Shane- I'm for it! 

Wife and I might go walking around up by Eklutna this weekend, but doubt we'll make it all the way back to the fire area. Heck, for all I know there might still be snow on the ground. 

Last weekend in May/first weekend in June sound about right?

Sent from my iPhone

[shane mccoy]

sounds about right, but i will keep checking the low lands for the first morels and then proceed to the uplands.
 

---

From: dubiou...@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 28 Apr 2011 22:49:12 -0800
Subject: Re: Kenai/Southcentral Morels?
To: kp...@googlegroups.com

[Robert Watts]

I'm not there anymore, but have usually found morels around the Skilak Lake area about Memorial Day. Usually on the North side of roads or clearings where the sun can penetrate. Bob Watts,  in the Tucson desert ..no trees, no water, no morels

----- Original Message -----

From: shane mccoy

---

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Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
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[shane mccoy]

not trying to spam, but check out the sale prices on waders right now!!!  if you need new waders or a backup pair...

http://www.hodgman.com/Sale-Fishing-C69.aspxï؟½

 

---

From: realt...@cox.net

To: kp...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: Kenai/Southcentral Morels?

Date: Fri, 29 Apr 2011 08:07:47 -0700

[Steve Eckelman]

Dominique, Yes Its the correct address, Hope all is well. We are looking forward to going on a hunt with you. Kate up here in Girdwood did very well last year in the latest burn, as you know.  I'll be chatting her up! Let me know when and say hi to Ken, See you soon!

 

Steve Eckelman

---

From: Dominique collet <rabdo...@gmail.com>
To: kp...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Wed, April 27, 2011 9:47:02 PM
Subject: Re: Kenai/Southcentral Morels?

>> kpms+unsub...@googlegroups.com.

>> For more options, visit this group at
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[sbjor...@gmail.com]

I heard the burn down off of East End Rd in Homer has morels... I was
thinking about heading down that way this weekend to look for morels
and do some king fishing.

Anyone heading down that way? Or Ninilchik? Since it is on the way,
I'll be stopping by Skilak - stretching legs and keeping my eyes out.

Would love to meet up with anyone!


Sarah
319-331-9499

On Apr 29, 5:54 am, shane mccoy <mcji...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> sounds about right, but i will keep checking the low lands for the first morels and then proceed to the uplands.
>

> From: dubious.ch...@gmail.com
> Date: Thu, 28 Apr 2011 22:49:12 -0800
> Subject: Re: Kenai/Southcentral Morels?
> To: kp...@googlegroups.com
>
> Shane- I'm for it!
>
> Wife and I might go walking around up by Eklutna this weekend, but doubt we'll make it all the way back to the fire area. Heck, for all I know there might still be snow on the ground.
>
> Last weekend in May/first weekend in June sound about right?
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>

> On Apr 28, 2011, at 2:08 PM, shane mccoy <mcji...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> Matt and any fellow 'stuck in Anchorage',
> anyone want to carpool to the burn by Eklutna?  Anyone interested in meeting to share info etc?  I know there are some really knowledgeable folks up here, but i have not branched out into the group yet...( and the elusive morel can fruit any time after a cool spell with warming conditions and precipt- i have found them accidentally in mid-summer)
>

> Date: Thu, 28 Apr 2011 08:49:18 -0800
> Subject: Re: Kenai/Southcentral Morels?

> From: dubious.ch...@gmail.com

> To: kp...@googlegroups.com
>
> Thanks for the replies, folks!
>
> I've been doing some digging around on the BLM Fire History Maps (http://fire.ak.blm.gov/predsvcs/maps.php). Not too many 2010 fires with road access, but Eklutna Lake could be an option-- although I think you'd have to bike in about 11 or 12 miles to reach the fire perimeter (if I'm right in my recollection that cars are not allowed on that portion of the road).
>
> Is late May too early to go looking? I don't know how morels work, but I've been operating under the assumption that the mycelial growth happens mostly the same year as the fire, and it's more or less just a waiting game for fruiting conditions in Spring.
>
> Cheers,
> Matt
>
> p.s.- Another cool site that gives detailed historical weather trends and graphs by weather station:
>
> http://weatherspark.com/
>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Kenai Peninsula Mycological Society" group.
> To post to this group, send email to kp...@googlegroups.com.
> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to kpms+uns...@googlegroups.com.

> For more options, visit this group athttp://groups.google.com/group/kpms?hl=en.

>
> --
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[Shelley Rainwater]

Sarah

I'm in Homer and would be up for a foray.

Shelley
907-299-2126

> Date: Tue, 24 May 2011 09:09:10 -0700
> Subject: Re: Kenai/Southcentral Morels?
> From: sbjor...@gmail.com
> To: kp...@googlegroups.com

[sbjor...@gmail.com]

Thanks for responding Shelley!

I should be down that way Friday evening. Would you be up for a
morning foray Sat morning? Or maybe one Sunday evening?

I need to make a run over to Seldovia on Saturday. I am unsure when I
am leaving.

I have your cell!

Looking forward to meeting up ;)

Sarah

On May 24, 11:31 am, Shelley Rainwater <equineam...@hotmail.com>
wrote:

> Sarah
>
> I'm in Homer and would be up for a foray.
>
> Shelley
> 907-299-2126
>
>
>
> > Date: Tue, 24 May 2011 09:09:10 -0700
> > Subject: Re: Kenai/Southcentral Morels?

> > From: sbjorgen...@gmail.com

> > For more options, visit this group athttp://groups.google.com/group/kpms?hl=en.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[Peter & Sheila]

Sarah or Shelley,

Have you made it out at all.

Peter

[Timothy Smith Sr.]

My wife and I have found a few out in the Skilak Loop area. It is still so dry in most of the areas that we checked for Morels. We have tried three times in the last month and have only found a few. Good Luck Tim Smith

[sbjor...@gmail.com]

I (briefly) checked out the burn on East End Rd in Homer ~1.5 weeks
ago.... found a few false morels in the 40min I had to look (had to
drive back to Anchorage to make it to work...haha).

I went out to Eagle River Nature Center earlier this week (briefly
since with a non-mushroom person...haha), but I only found last year's
puff balls.

Anyone interested in joining me sometime??? Or rather...letting me
join them? ;)

I would love to go with someone who is more knowledgeable/
experienced...especially for Alaskan conditions. I am from Iowa
originally, but I was not from the part of Iowa where morels reside.

I have great eyes and am very observant...but it helps to have someone
say "this is a good thing to look for...."

Anyone having much luck??

On Jun 14, 3:19 pm, "Timothy Smith Sr." <tjsalaskan...@gmail.com>
wrote:

> My wife and I have found a few out in the Skilak Loop area. It is still so
> dry in most of the areas that we checked for Morels. We have tried three
> times in the last month and have only found a few. Good Luck Tim Smith
>

> On Wed, Apr 27, 2011 at 9:47 PM, Dominique collet <rabdoph...@gmail.com>wrote:
>
>
>
> > You are at the right address.
> > Morels should be found pretty soon and will look for them. We are
> > counting on people scouting the area to let us know the hotspot to
> > search so we can share the bounty in good SCAMS (South Central
> > Mycological Society) tradition. Recently burned forests should be a
> > good bet. We do not advocate commercial harvest but we strongly
> > support cooperation between members
> > Dominique
> >  On Wed, Apr 27, 2011 at 5:15 PM, Shelley Rainwater

> > <equineam...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> > > Mike it does have some economic value - though what I have found is that
> > it
> > > is good medicine and mums the word rather than drawing commercial
> > interest.
> > > With that I have a friend that I would very much like to supply with
> > some,
> > > he is a dear friend and a fine individual - if you have some you could
> > > share, sell or trade I let me know.  Shelley
>
> > > ________________________________

> > > From: Salmonfis...@alaska.net

> > >> From: dubious.ch...@gmail.com

[Kerri Schmitt]

Hi- I'm in Soldotna and would love to go with someone who is more experienced.  I'm pretty flexible in schedule.
Kerri Schmitt
260-3386

[Matt Wallace]

We did go out to the Eklutna Lake fire for camping about three weeks back, but it was very dry.

But I'm also almost totally inexperienced mushroom hunting, so add me to the list of people looking to join an experienced forager on a foray.

[Phil and Amanda]

The burn on East End Road is all grass which, in our experience, means no morels.  We went to our usual places on the west side of the Kenai Mountains and cleaned up.  Aside from the Skilak fire this was our best year ever.  I am sorry but we can't be more specific in our locations.  There are not really that many morels and one person would reduce our year (usually limited to one weekend) to a very poor rating.  I will tell you that we find them under closed canopy deciduous trees with no grass in the understory.  Happy exploring.

----- Original Message -----

From: Matt Wallace

To: kp...@googlegroups.com

Sent: Wednesday, June 15, 2011 2:56 PM

Subject: Re: Kenai/Southcentral Morels?

[Peter & Sheila]

Matt,

 

From what you are saying these are not associated with a burn area.

 

Peter

 

 

 

---

[Peter & Sheila]

Phil and Amanda

From what you are saying these are not associated with a burn area.

 

Peter

 

 

 

[shane mccoy]

i believe morels are a mycorizal species; associated with trees.  Burns often trigger large numbers of fruitings, but i could be wrong about the mycorizal status as they can be cultivated indoors... they form a sclorata that eventually fruits given the corect conditions.
Anyone else have thoughts?
 

---

From: pmm...@embarqmail.com
To: kp...@googlegroups.com
Subject: RE: Kenai/Southcentral Morels?
Date: Thu, 16 Jun 2011 11:10:38 -0500

[Matt Wallace]

I read somewhere recently that morels are sort of a saprophyte/mycorrhizal crossover-- but I am not sure what the implications are for foraging. 

Sent from my iPhone

[Phil and Amanda]

For, what ever reason, morels are typically abundant after a burn in many places, but not all.  I stopped to check out a burn along the highway just north of Healy a few weeks ago.  It was in the height of morel season but there were no morels in that burn.  Also, in our experience, once grass grows into a burn area morels are not to be found.  We did not find any morels in after the Caribou Hills Fire, but grass everywhere.   And, as mentioned below, be found lots of grass and no morels on East End Road. On the other hand, many burns are famous for their morel proliferation. After the Skilak burn people filled five gallon buckets with morels in very short times.  They were all over the place.  If others have had different experiences we would be interested to hear about it.

[E. Clough]

I heard some nonmembers got many a few days ago toward Kasilof. How is everyone fairing?  Evie

---

From: pan...@alaska.net

To: kp...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: Kenai/Southcentral Morels?

Date: Sat, 18 Jun 2011 10:04:40 -0800

[Peter & Sheila]

Phil & Amanda,

 

I was in Healy and went to Fairbanks on Friday and then on to the first burn on the Manely hot springs road.  (I drove by the burns you talked about but didn’t stop.)

 

I found my first burn Morel's.  I didn't have much time to look and since this was my first experience looking in a burn it took me a little while to find the areas burned to the dirt (This I believe is supposed to be key the fire needs to be intense enough to burn all the moss layer.  This would make sense from your grass observation too).  I didn't find any big patches of morels but since I was looking along the road it looked as if someone else had been there within the last week or less.  It didn't look like they had found huge numbers either.  Many of the ones I found were still small and fresh so there might be a window still.  I also found a couple of what look like morchella esculenta along the edge of the burn.  I guess they are rare in this area.  One thing I found strange is that some of the black morels were infested with white maggots (white with black heads).  Has anyone else seen this before?  I find them in almost everything else but never morels in the lower 48.

 

Thanks so much.

 

Peter