Harvestor's Instinct

A day visit from my sister Heather yielded an impromptu shrooming session. While visiting with some friends of hers at a neighboring hotel, she spied a shaggy man mushroom. The fungus is very easily identified and it seems in Haines, there are no poisonous mushrooms that really resemble it. The season is so short for them that as soon as you spy one you need to go hunting or you will miss the season.

A long afternoon drive lead us to a logging road north of Haines. We were not exactly sure where to find these treats of the wilderness. So we drive slowly until we could see one poking through the leaves, then we took to the woods.

My sisters harvester's instinct kicked in and boredom ramped up into a need to hunt mushrooms and get as many as she should get. The only thing that slowed her urge to gather was mosquitos. We were at a loss for ways to keep them or even have them around for an extra day.



The shaggy manes were fried up and served with baked salmon, a tasty fresh Alaskan meal. At least I think they were shaggy manes. I am still alive and I didn't hallucinate, so I think we got it right.

My sister and father found several pounds worth, and I found 2 mushrooms. I think I am better with photos and fish than fungus.