Search this site

Support Login & Password FAQ I have an account. How do I login? (1) Click the Person icon 👤 in the upper right corner of the website's menu to get to the login page. (2) Login by using the same email that you used for your FFSC membership. (3) If your password doesn't work, click the "Forgot password?" link to reset your password. I can't login. Is this your first time logging in after October 2025? If so, you will need to click the Forgot Password? link on the login page. (The new system doesn't know your old password.) Also, when you login from now on, you'll use the email associated with your FFSC account to login from now on. your old username (from October 2025 or earlier) won't work for logging in anymore. I created a new login on this website. Where did all my old info go? If you already had an FFSC website account as of Nov. 3, 2025, your account was moved to this system. However, some of the old information (such as your past purchases) is still being moved. It should be available later in November. If you created a new account here instead of resetting the password for your existing account, please contact us so that we can help you. My password doesn't work. Make sure you are using your email as your username. On the login screen, click the Forgot Password? link to reset your password. Please note: Passwords created prior to Nov. 5 2025 will not be recognized until you reset your password. If that doesn't work, please contact us for help. On November 4th or 5th, 2025, I received an unexpected email about creating my password, but I've had a password years. Was that email legit? We moved our website to a new system in Nov. 2025. All existing paid-up members received an invitation on Nov. 4 or Nov. 5 to create a new password. If already reset your password since then, you can ignore the email. Or, if you're not comfortable clicking unfamiliar links in emails, you can use the "Forgot password?" link on the login page to reset your password instead. The "ffsc.us/user/reset/..." link I got a while back no longer works If you received an email before November 2025 with a link to login, that link will no longer work. Instead, follow the instructions above under "I have an account. How do I login?" to create a password. Then follow the instructions under "Membership FAQs" below to join the club. Membership FAQs What's the difference between the two membership plans? The "subscription" plan renews your membership dues automatically each year (PayPal will automatically charge your payment method). The "1 Year" plan does not automatically renew. (You need to remember to login and pay your membership dues each year.) See Why Join FFSC? for a detailed list of benefits. My "1 Year" membership expires soon. How do I renew it? When you buy a "Household Member 1 Year" plan, you will not see a Renew option in your account until the day after your current 1-year membership expires. If you want to pay before your current 1-year membership expires, you can log in to your account and then just purchase another "Household Members 1 Year" plan. During Checkout, we suggest you change the Start Date to be a date on or after your current membership year 's expiration. My "Subscription" membership expires soon. How do I renew it? If you have a subscription (auto-renewing) membership, it will automatically charge your credit card on file 1 year after the date you purchased it. If my membership expires, will I need to register all over again? No, you won't need to register again (unless you've been away for several years). After your membership expires, you can just login and then pay your membership dues to regain full access to all benefits. If your membership expired a couple years ago and you can't login, see the Login and Password FAQs above. (If that doesn't help, you can contact us for assistance.) My membership expired in 2025 and I don't see an option to renew it. What do I do? If your membership expired before November 3, 2025, you might not see a record of your expired membership. In that case, click Join FFSC in the Store menu to rejoin and pay your membership dues. How do I join the club? Visit the Join FFSC link in the Store menu, or go directly to the Choose Your Membership Plan page. From there, choose whether you want to subscribe to an auto-renewing plan, or whether you prefer to remember to pay each year. (The price is the same, and you can cancel your subscription before it renews.) I filled in all my info, but it won't let me submit the payment Your browser or security software might be mistaking the redirect to PayPal as an ad pop-up. Check your ad blocker's instructions for how to add an exception for this purchase. If you're using a VPN, it is masking your true IP address and location. Since banks and payment gateways (including PayPal) check your device's IP address to try to determine if it's really you, this means they often block connections from masked and public IP addresses. You can either temporarily turn off the VPN, or check its documentation for other solutions, or try another browser or device. Orders and Payments FAQ I paid for an upcoming event. Why don't I see it in my orders? Your Event payments are in the Tickets and RSVPs tab of your account. (We know that seems odd, but the website system we're using limits Product Orders to physical items (such as stickers and other merchandise), and it treats events and memberships separately. That's just how the underlying system currently works.) I paid for an FFSC membership. Why don't I see it in my orders? Your latest active membership info is in the FFSC Membership tab of your account. (Product Orders are only for stickers and other merchandise.) My Profile and Privacy How much of my profile is visible to other people? To preview what other users can see in your profile, login and then visit the Public Profile tab in your account. To show or hide specific details: (1) Go to the Account Info tab of your account. (2) Scroll down to Profile Privacy Settings. (3) Configure what's visible and what isn't by toggling the globe (public) and lock (private) icons next to each input field. I don't want any of my profile to be visible to other people. How do I make the whole thing private? (1) Go to the Account Info tab in your account. Scroll to the bottom. (2) Use the arrow to expand the Profile Privacy section. (3) Click "Make Profile Private". Click to enlarge My Account Pages In the Account area, I see navigation tabs, but they are blank. What should I do? Reload/refresh the page in your browser's navigation bar. If you don't know where the reload/refresh button is, you can use your browser's menu or keyboard shortcuts: Safari: In Safari's menu, choose View > Reload Page . (Or press Command+R) Chrome : In Chrome's menu, choose View > Reload This Page . (Or press Command+R on a Mac, or Ctrl+R on Windows). Microsoft Edge : Press Ctrl+R. A few more FAQs are available below for logged-in FFSC members. If you still need help, please visit the Contact FFSC page for more assistance options. FFSC Account FAQs Having trouble entering info? Can't find your membership payment? We're here to help.

News & Stories / Fair News 2000 Fungus Fair Better than Fair Congratulations all around once again for a Fair which was, of course, a great deal better than fair. It was wonderful! Deb • February 1, 2000 Crucibulum laeve. © Christina Woolf (CC-BY-NC) (from inaturalist.org, obs. 19576780) Though conditions were dry, we did find mushrooms for display, with the final species count at 234. As usual Lee Yamada orchestrated a great event, with assistance from the Fair Committee md the FFSC and Museum Association memberships. The opening night reception was a treat for all, as was the mushroom art exhibit, a new feature this year coordinated by Marjorie Young and hung with the able assistance of Rene Seltzer and Henry Young. The public can view the beauty of mushroom art for the month of January. The FFSC has once again done a wonderful thing, and I'm honored to be a part of such a group. You're the greatest! Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

Boletus rex-veris (McCloud). Photo by Hugh Smith Boletus rex-veris Hugh Smith Boletus rex-veris , commonly known as the spring king bolete, is a basidiomycete fungus of the genus Boletus found in western North America Camera (Not provided) Focal L. Aperture Shutter Sp. ISO Flash Photo taken on May 18, 2025 Mushroom(s) ... Previous Photo Back to Gallery Next Photo

News & Stories / Big Bend as a Potential Foray Location? We're planning for the Echo Summit foray as I write this article. This reminds me of a trip my wife Toni and I took this summer. Mark Gillespie • October 1, 2001 Boletus edulis. © Darvin DeShazer (from mushroomobserver.org) We visited some hot springs in Big Bend near Mt. Shasta. They are listed in Marjorie Young's-. guide to Hot Springs and Hot Pools of the Southwest. Most of you know her as one of our former FFSC CEOs. I mention it here because Toni and I were impressed with the habitat surrounding Big Bend on the Pit River. It looks like a great place for a foray in the fall after the rains get going. Lots of pines mixed with oaks that should produce boletes. One of the issues that get raised by some of our members is how crowded our long distance forays have become. As our group grows in size and popularity, this becomes more of an issue. We try to keep our eyes out for new foray sites and are looking forward to developing some new locations. One advantage of Big Bend are the hot springs. These are some of the hottest Toni and I have visited. There are some natural Indian springs that flow out of a hillside. They travel from pool to pool until emptying into the Pit River. They are truly sensational in a beautiful forest setting. There is some primitive camping at a former resort that is being rebuilt. This could allow us to enjoy two great pursuits, mushrooms and soaking! Keep your ears out as we plan this a little further. If you have any suggestions for foray sites, both local and long distance, please let us know. The best way to do this is at one of our minister's meetings on the second Wednesday of each month. It's also a good place to stay abreast of coming events as they are planned and discussed. One of the other complaints I hear comes from members who feel left out. As some of our popular forays fill up far in advance, attending minister's meetings is the best way to stay involved. You will definitely be kept appraised of which forays and culinary events have space left and can get your registration in early. We can also use fresh ideas and energy to keep developing the federation. If I don't get to see you at Echo Summit, it's already a good time to reserve space in Albion for December. Mark Gillespie, CEO Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

Porcini Chicken Pâté with Chanterelle Sauce This pâté serves equally well as an appetizer or entree. by Marje Young Boletus edulis. © DJ (CC-BY-NC) (from inaturalist.org, obs. 345434064) Method Make the Pâté Soak the porcini in boiling water for 1 hour. Drain mushrooms, reserving the soaking liquid. Squeeze mushrooms to reduce liquid. Sauté in butter for 5 minutes. Chop 1/3 of the mushrooms and set aside. Boil the soaking liquid to reduce to half, being careful not to include any grit from the porcini. Preheated oven to 350°F. Process the chicken breasts, 2/3 of the porcini, egg whites, tarragon, garlic and seasoning until chicken is finely ground. Add cream and 1/2 cup of porcini soaking liquid in a steady stream, processing until smooth. Transfer to a bowl, then stir in chopped porcini and chill 30 minutes. Put in a 1.5 quart mold or loaf pan, and bake at 350°F for about 1 hour or until firm in center and a thermometer registers 165°F. Unmold and slice. Top with chanterelle sauce and fresh tarragon. Make the Sauce Sauté Chanterelles in butter over medium-high heat until moisture evaporates. Stir in chicken broth with dissolved cornstarch. Add wine, stirring constantly until sauce is thickened. Adjust seasoning to taste. Serve chilled with bread, toasted pita, or crackers. Recipe contributed: October 1996 Marje found (or was inspired by) a great pâté recipe in Monadnock Mushroom Cookery , a community cookbook published in 1991 by the Monadnock Mushroom Club (formerly known as Monadnock Mushroomers Unlimited at the time of publication) based in Keene, New Hampshire. The original cookbook is now out of print, but you might still find it in online thrift bookstores. Objective: Appetizer Total Time: About 3.5 hours Yield: 10 to 12 appetizers Suggested Mushrooms: Chanterelle (Cantharellus californicus, Cantharellus formosus, Cantharellus subalbidus) Porcini (Boletus edulis, Boletus regineus, Boletus rex-veris) Join FFSC or renew your membership to access the rest of this content. Join FFSC Login as an FFSC member to access the rest of this content. Login Ingredients Pâté 3 oz. dried Porcini 4 cup boiling water 3 Tbsp. butter 1 1/2 (1.5) lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts 2 large egg whites 1 Tbsp. or more fresh tarragon (marjoram is also quite good) 1 1/2 (1.5) cups heavy cream Salt & pepper to taste At least 1 small clove garlic, pressed. Chanterelle Sauce 2 cups fresh or thawed frozen chanterelles, sliced 1 cup. chicken broth 1 Tbsp. cornstarch 3 Tbsp. white wine Salt to taste 2 Tbsp. butter 1.5 qt. (9"x5") mold or loaf pan Previous Recipe All Recipes Next Recipe

News & Stories / Mycology & Art News FFSC Educational Grants in the 2007-2008 Season We thought you might like to see where the club’s education funds go. In the 2007–2008 season grants were made to Christian Fernando Schwartz at UCSC and Sarah Navarro at UC Davis. Their synopses follow. Marje Young • September 1, 2008 Christian Schwarz. Photo by Carolyn Lagattuta Macrofungi Mapping Project by Christian Fernando Schwarz My project aims to take advantage of the unique research opportunities presented by the Forest Ecology Plot (FEP), a 6-hectare area of forest on the University of California, Santa Cruz’s Upper Campus Reserve. This plot has been outlined and mapped by Environmental Studies Professor Greg Gilbert. The plot extends from the lower reaches of the Seven Springs Trail northwards towards Marshall Field, and east to Empire Grade. About 8,000 shrubs and trees on the plot are individually tagged and mapped, which makes this plot an extraordinary backdrop for ecological research. The Macrofungi Mapping Project (MMP) has three main goals. First, it aims to create a detailed map of the distribution of macrofungi present on a 40m wide (East-West), 300m long (North-South) sub-plot on the eastern side of the FEP. Second, the project will contribute towards the formation of a baseline of fungal diversity and abundance on the FEP, which will serve as a point of comparison and departure for future research, potentially including important investiga-tions of the encroachment of invasive species.The third, and most important goal of the project is to examine the patterns of spatial distribution of mycorrhizal macrofungi. The characterization of such patterns will be facilitated by the amount of data collected by the Gilbert lab, and the wide range of analytical perspectives that the data offers. This project will be repeated for the next 6 quarters, encompassing 3 fruiting seasons. This timeframe aims to establish the project as a low-level longitudinal study, an essential aspect of ecological research on wild fungi. From the Forest to the Workplace: My Personal Journey in Mycology by Sarah Navarro My original interest in fungi developed by accompanying my grandparents on weekend mushroom hunting trips up into the Sierras. At the time, I viewed it as a fun and interesting hobby, with no idea that it would later be the basis for my future studies in school, a scholarship, and the job I have today after graduating from college. While attending UC Davis I was able to explore the world of mycology and expand my interest in fungi. Through my first class, Mushroom, Molds and Society, I developed a strong interest in fungi and how it impacts our environment. This course opened my eyes to the wonderful world of fungi and there was no turning back. From that first course, I explored more class options and even-tually discovered the Fungal Biology and Ecology minor offered by UC Davis. I immediately began taking any mycology classes that fit into my schedule. I learned about many different aspects of mycology: medical and food uses, how to iden-tify various types of mushrooms, and the many societal impacts fungi have worldwide. Additionally, my minor led to many special opportunities: I was able to work as an undergraduate researcher in the lab of Dr. David Rizzo throughout the year and, during my last quarter, to study Fungal Ecology directly with Dr. Tom Gordon. Under Dr. Rizzo, I performed research focusing on the forest pathogen, Phytophthora ramorum, more commonly known as Sudden Oak Death. Through this experience, I discovered a natural ability and love for research work. I have a strong interest in researching forest ecology, plant pathology, and mycology, all of which I was able to broaden during my time spent researching in the Rizzo Lab. With Dr. Tom Gordon, I was able to learn about the vast subject of Fungal Ecology. I was tested not only on my knowl-edge of specific examples of fungi, but also on how to apply my new information to many other fungi. It was not until the past school year that I was finally able to find my passion for mycology. I have known for some time that mycology was an interest of mine, but through my many experiences this year, I found it to be my passion as well. With the completion of my study of Fungal Ecology, I became the only student this year to graduate with the minor of Fungal Ecology. My interest in mycology did not stop with my minor; it has also carried over into the job I have today. Before graduating, I accepted the position of Research Scientist in Microbiology with Marrone Organic Innovations. Marrone Organics is focused on the development of biopesticides for use in organic and environmentally responsible farming. With my background in fungi, I was well suited for the position and have since been enjoying my work. At work, I have become known as the “Fungi Expert,” a title that I love greatly. I hope to pursue graduate work in the field of plant pathology and further my knowledge of mycology. None of my life-changing accomplishments and experiences could have happened without the help and support of the Fungus Federation. I would not have been able to turn a fun experience with my grandparents into the job and passion for mycology that I have now without your help. I look forward to my future in mycology and will always remember searching though the woods for my first mushroom. Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts Macrofungal Ecology Project Mycology & Art News FFSC Scholarship Awarded to Kristopher Hennig Mycology & Art News FFSC Scholarship Awarded to Christian Schwarz Mycology & Art News Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

News & Stories / Editoricus Blatheronsus: Great Kids on Forays Well, once again the Albion Foray has taught me a thing or two about the world of mushrooms. Larry Payne • March 1, 2000 Tiny hedgehog (Hydnum oregonense). © Grace Stark (CC-BY-NC) (from inaturalist.org, obs. 290056938) As you may recall, last year's Albion was my first ever group foray. That was the trip where I discovered that most of the folks on the foray, people I heretofore had considered sane, actually took the time to put the mushrooms they collected into tiny little wax paper bags in their baskets. This is a practice which still baffles me. (As far as I can tell, John Brown and I, the only two who simply throw their mushrooms straight into the baskets, are the only sane folks in the bunch. I mean, everyone knows how normal we are.) Anyway, this year I learned, for the second month in a row, that I can be wrong. In my column last month, I said that I hate kids. Well, it only took the beauty of Albion and the presence of two really great little kids, Henry and Oscar, to make me realize that some kids can be great. Henry was, as usual, Henry. Which essentially means that he was a constant blur of motion wearing a smile. And I will never forget stumbling through the underbrush and coming across Oscar, standing there so proud in the middle of the forest, hands gently cupping a small hedgehog the size of a pea— the size of a split pea. Only on the face of a child could there have been such a look of awe and grace and glee. It was a lot of fun spending a weekend with these two kids. Another thing I learned: The real reason to attend a foray is not necessarily to collect mushrooms. As the absolutely gorgeous weather tempted many of us farther into woods filled with delectable hedgehogs and winter chanterelles, I noticed that various members of the foray started gathering at the cars and heading off for other destinations. Some to a local mineral spa, some to another type of watering hole, some to the beckoning shops of Mendocino. Only a few of us diehards kept our noses in the duff. Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

Media and Publicity If you're a member of the press or just looking for news about the Fungus Fair, we've collected useful info for you below. Fungus Fair Logo Artwork Members of the press are welcome to download and use these Santa Cruz Fungus Fair art files for publication. Please credit the artists and copyright holders. 2026 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Logo For 2026 we held a logo design contest focusing on “Underground Wonders: Secrets of the Fungal Kingdom” as the Fair theme. The winning design was created by Viel Xander Olaguera (@vxolaguera) from Torrance, CA. The logo was used on T-shirts, posters, and postcards. Plus, several of the other contest entries were on display during the Fair. The 2026 logo uses the concept of “wood wide web” to emphasize the underground network of fungi that connects our world's plants. The design portrays the following California fungi, selected for their different features (from left to right and down): Zombie-ant fungus ( Ophiocordyceps unilateralis ), growing from its host carpenter ant A lobster mushroom ( Hypomyces lactifluorum ), a parasitic fungus best known as an edible delicacy and for dyeing textiles A King Bolete ( Boletus edulis ), better-known in grocery stores and restaurants as "porcini" Honey fungus ( Armillaria mellea ), a plant pathogen known to arborists as "oak root rot," to the curious for its bioluminescent mycelium, and to others for its subtle nutty and sweet flavor A death cap ( Amanita phalloides ), one of the most poisonous fungi in the world Mycelium, as the "wood wide web" Inspired by the bioluminescence of honey fungus mycelium, the logo on this year's Fungus Fair T-shirt will also glow in the dark! If you use the 2026 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair logo in publications about the 2026 Fair, please include these credits near the image: Artist: Viel Xander Olaguera © Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz A new Fair logo will be available in November 2026 for the 2027 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair. Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz Logo You are welcome to include the FFSC logo in news articles, and visit the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History's website for their logo. Example of FFSC Logo Downloads FFSC logo, with full name FFSC-logo-full-transparent_2x .png Download PNG • 845KB FFSC logo, acronym only ffsc-logo-circle-only-transp .png Download PNG • 330KB FFSC logo SVG (small) .svg Download SVG • 201KB 2026 Fungus Fair Poster and Postcard Vector Images (PDF) If you use the poster or postcard images, please include these credits near the image: Logo Artist: Viel Xander Olaguera Poster Layout : Lynn Piquett © Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz 2026 Fair Postcard and Poster .pdf Download PDF • 2.12MB Past Fungus Fair Photos for Publication 301 Center St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA Feel free to download and use any of the images on this page for your articles in conjunction with the Santa Cruz Fungus Fair. We ask that you please credit the photographers. Thanks! Past Fungus Fair Posters Check out some of our past Santa Cruz Fungus Fair poster artwork too! Fungus Fair Poster Archive History of the Fungus Fair The Fungus Fair originated in 1974 at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, led by the efforts of David Arora, who went on to write “ All That the Rain Promises and More ” and “ Mushrooms Demystified ”, which is widely considered to be one of the best and most comprehensive mushroom guidebooks available. As the Fungus Fair grew, it found new homes throughout the county, including Harvey West Park and London Nelson Community Center. During the pandemic years of 2021-2023, the Fair took on new forms, as the Virtual and Outdoor Fair with a full week of live video lectures plus two weekends of small group, expert guided forays, and the Mini Fungus Fair held at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History. In January of 2024 the Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz partnered again with the Santa Cruz Natural History Museum to bring the Fungus Fair triumphantly back to the London Nelson Community Center, celebrating the 50th anniversary with our largest event ever. The 2026 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair will be the 39th Fungus Fair organized by the Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz. Visit the FFSC History page for more about the origins of the Santa Cruz Fungus Fair. The Great Hall, at the Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Press Releases and News 2026 Fair Press Release and Contacts 2026 Fungus Fair_Press Release .pdf Download PDF • 495KB Santa Cruz Fungus Fair in the News On the FFSC Website Fungus Fair News Past News about the Fungus Fair Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz hosts 51st Fungi Fair, KAZU Santa Cruz Fungus Fair returns to the London Nelson Center , Santa Cruz Sentinel The 50th Anniversary Fungus Fair brings mushroom mania to Santa Cruz , KAZU Santa Cruz Fungus Fair celebrates 50 years , KSBW Action News 8 Tom Karwin, On Gardening | Fungus Fair makes its return , Santa Cruz Sentinel Fungus are Among Us , Palo Alto Online Not a Mushroom at the Fungus Fair , City on a Hill Press 46th annual Santa Cruz Fungus Fair , KSBW Get to know your mushrooms at Santa Cruz's Fungus Fair , SFGate Santa Cruz Fungus Fair: Mushroom Fun , SFGate A Fungus Fair Fancy , Sunset Magazine Past Fungus Fair Videos Visit the Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz YouTube channel (@ffscmedia) for more videos.

News & Stories / Fair News 2002 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair was a Rousing Success! We topped our previous total for number of species collected at over 280. We also had our largest attendance ever at more than 3000. Mark Gillespie • February 1, 2002 Ramaria sp. exhibit at a Fungus Fair. Photo by Larry Volpe Another milestone set was the largest number of new members signed up at the fair. As always, a huge acknowledgment of thanks is dueto the entire staff. Lee Yamada has completed his tenth success as Fair Minister. Nathan Wilson lent us his expertise as the lead for our identification crew, and the Santa Cruz Natural History Museum staff insured that the event ran smoothly. There are a tremendous number of people who volunteer their time for everything from set-up to checking the doors. All are due an enormous thank you! One of the most pleasant outcomes from the fair is a large number of new members. Because of this, the general meeting following the fair was dedicated to the basics of identification and was put on by Henry Young and Phil Carpenter. Those in attendance found it very helpful. There will be a beginner's ID class on Feb 6, Wednesday at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History from 7-9 pm. This is the perfect place to begin to learn the science of mushroom identification. Henry Young leads the class and makes the process fun and easy to follow. Another great way for beginners to get started and have a great time is to attend the second Albion foray described in this Duff . The food is great and you have an opportunity to sit and ID mushrooms with experienced members. I want to say welcome to all of our new members! Mark Gillespie, CEO Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts Fungus Fair 2003 Recap Fungus Fair – Well Done! Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

News & Stories / Writings Reality Check: Dispelling a Myth Have you ever walked down a trail you know, searching for mushrooms you had missed? What was different? Your perspective? So was mine--I could not recognize ground I covered from a different direction. I was lost. Henry Young • January 26, 2015 Forest at Kings Fire (2015). Photo by Yevgeny Nyden (Reprinted from FFSC's original Duff newsletter, 1998) After getting rained out on this year's annual Eldorado camping foray, Phil and I decided to return several weeks later based on reports from a friend of good hunting. We drove up Friday evening, June 5, arriving at the campground about 10:30 PM. First things first, we each had a beer. Then we made a minimal camp. We decided that since we could see the moon through the clouds that it wouldn’t rain and didn’t set up the tent. Phil set out his tarp and sleeping bag at the base of a large pine. I set my gear down in the open. On a trip to the restroom I found three Boletus edulis with my flashlight! We both took this as a good sign and planned on checking the campground in the morning. Before dawn I awoke to a clear sky and stars. Not long after, with the first sounds of morning, birdsong greeting us, the day began. With daylight we had coffee and sweet rolls and headed for the burn. Forest at Kings Fire (2015). Photo by Yevgeny Nyden Burns, whether controlled burns or forest fires, are good places to hunt morels in the Sierra Nevada. This was a controlled burn from the previous year. Arriving at the burn, Phil recommended a road I was unfamiliar with, that ran along the ridge above the burn. The road I knew was a few hundred yards below the ridge.This road was more like a stream bed than a road. The surface was “gravel” composed of 3-6” rocks. The lower road was earthen and smoother. With the burn bounded by the two roads we had good reference points for knowing where we were in relation to the truck. We would hunt up and down the slope and move down the road, driving the truck up a few hundred yards at a time. At the first likely spot we looked, we found a few fresh morels in what I call bear clover (not sure of the species) a habitat where neither of us had previously found any fungi. Encouraged, we kept moving up the ridge, stopping, checking, and collecting a few here and there. We found good habitat after a couple of hours and collected several pounds of morels each. At about 11:30 AM we broke for lunch. Phil had those obnoxious sardines in hot sauce, cheese, pickles, and potato chips. “Have you had the fat free chips?”, he asked. “Try some, they’re really good”. I did, not bad. I had my usual chub of salami, cheese, bread and some fruit. Of course both of us had beer. While we had lunch we observed the skyline and Phil noticed a coolness in the air that presaged a storm. Since we had heard the weather prediction, thunderstorms starting late Saturday for the weekend we were not surprised and agreed to get off that road before the rain started. After lunch we went back for more morels. At one point Phil chose to go further down the slope. Starting to tire, I decided to head back up slope to the truck. As I went, I intentionally drifted east or to my right thinking to search areas we hadn’t been in before I got to the road. I expected to come out on the road above the truck and just walked down to the truck. When I got to the ridge there was the road and a nice patch of morels which I picked. I then started down the road to the truck but quickly realized that I was on a different road than the ridge road the truck was on. This road led down between two ridges. “How did this happen?”, I asked myself. As I had worked my way up the hill I kept the ridge in sight and felt that I was still below the ridge road. What I did not know was that the ridge road ended a short distance from the truck and I had gone past that point before reaching the ridge. The road I was on was on the next ridge over. It was then about 2PM and I wasn’t worried about time to find my way back yet. Thinking to retrace my path, I returned to the last morel patch and tried to figure which way led back the way I had come. I realized that I had gotten turned around and no longer knew which way to go. Have you ever walked down a trail you know, searching for mushrooms you had missed? What was different? Your perspective? So was mine, I could not recognize the ground I covered from a different direction. I was lost. In the hope that I was wrong, I started up the ridge road I was on. I thought that if I was on the right road I’d get to the truck in a few minutes. Five minutes became ten, then fifteen, at which point I turned around and started back to the morel patch. By this time I was fatigued and not thinking clearly. I had gone out wearing just a tee shirt and jeans, leaving my fanny pack with emergency supplies in the truck. I had no food and no water. As I walked, and I walk at a fast pace, I noticed that my hands were turning blue. I assumed that it was from oxygen deprivation, since the day was still warm and I was not chilled, and I stopped to catch my breath. After that I would walk for 24-40 paces, stop, and breath ten times and resume walking. When I got back to the morel patch reference pointI spent about fifteen more minutes frantically trying to figure which way to go. As I tried to hike through the woods, off road I got light headed and dizzy, my legs cramping. I returned to the road and decided on the direction that led out to North-South Road and headed down it. After what seemed to be a couple of miles, I decided that I had gone too far and was going in the wrong direction. I turned around thinking that I should have followed one of the first rules when lost, stay put . I wanted to get back to the last morel patch because I knew it was within a few hundred yards of the truck and Phil would at some point honk the horn on the truck and I could follow the sound back. Then it started raining. Meanwhile Phil was wondering where I was since we had agreed to get out before the rain started. After I had left him he hunted down the slope and back up. When he got to the truck and I wasn’t there he just figured that I was still hunting elsewhere so he went back out again. Returning the second time and finding that I still wasn’t there he got concerned. He started honking the horn and calling out to me. When he got no response he became worried that I might be hurt and unable to respond. He then searched the slope we had been hunting, up and down, side to side. Since I had not gotten lost in the twelve years we’ve hunted together, he held firm in his mind, “Henry doesn’t get lost” . So the only other explanation for my absence was that I was hurt. When it started raining he knew that something must be wrong and he got his rain gear on and hiked out to North-South Road, where some horsemen were camped. This was because I had the truck keys and had not given him a duplicate since we were not locking the truck. He explained the situation to them and one of them gave him a ride to the nearest phone at the campground to call for help. Phil started by calling 911, but they could not connect him to the ranger search and rescue team. He finally got the search and rescue phone number and called direct. The effort to find me, beyond Phil’s, had begun. It was a frustratingly slow start for Phil as it took over an hour to get anyone else into the woods to search. He and two sheriff’s deputies finally got back out to where the truck was and re-searched the slope we had been hunting on. By then it was 5:30PM and Phil was tiring from all of the hiking he had done that day but he still moved up and down the slope easier and faster than the two deputies half his age. With darkness approaching, the deputies call off the search in the woods and explained to Phil that they would drive the roads with lights and sirens on to give me something to hone in on. At this point Phil said, “Aren’t you going to keep looking? Give me a light and I will.” “No. We don’t need two missing persons.” “But I’m telling you, Henry doesn’t get lost. He must be hurt and down in this rain he won’t survive the night.” “We’re going to drive the roads. You stay with the truck in case he shows up.” “What are you going to do about me?”, Phil asked. “Can’t you sleep in the back of the truck?” “No, it’s wet and full of gear.” When the rain started I knew that I had to make a shelter and hope that a rescue effort would start soon. I needed shelter from the rain and the cold of night. I chose a cedar tree to build a lean-to against. I chose the cedar because of its thick canopy, hoping it would help shed the rain. I started building the lean-to with eight foot branches about 3 inches in diameter. I leaned three main poles against the tree and started cutting green boughs from other trees to layer over the poles. I then added pine duff and more boughs. Then two of the poles collapsed and all I had was a pile of debris. I fished out the poles, moved the boughs and duff out of the way and started over. I made the second attempt a bit smaller than the first, but it too collapsed. At that point, I remembered that for heat retention, smaller is better . My third attempt to build a lean-to was small , the poles only touching the tree about three feet up. Just enough so that sitting with my back to the tree I had just enough room. This time it worked. I piled and gathered and piled until at most all I could see when looking out was a few specks of daylight. I left one side open so I could get in and out. One side kept collapsing which let the breeze flow through – finally though it stabilized. It helped to drape green branches over the doorway to reduce airflow. By then I was soaked to the skin and my activity and adrenaline were not enough to keep me warm so I stuffed my T-shirt with pine needles for insulation . Around 4PM I reached the point of exhaustion and chill that I could not work on my lean-to any longer, so I crawled in to wait. After a while I started thinking, “There’s still lots of daylight, the rain is letting up, I could walk for ½ hour trying to get back, and if not, return to the shelter.” I crawled out of my shelter, picked up my basket and started walking. I reached a dirt bike road going up a short distance from my shelter and started up it. My legs protested with trembling and cramps. My head spun. “You idiot, get back to your shelter.” I did. Sitting in my little lean-to, I had a lot of time to think over all of the things I could or should have done. The first and most obvious was that I should have worn my fanny pack. Had I done so, I would have been warm and dry in my shelter rather than cold and soaked to the skin. Being tired, I should have just gone to the truck instead of hunting more. As anyone who knows me is aware I wear a bandana to keep the sweat out of my eyes. I took it off and squeezed as much water out of it as I could. I then retied it in triangular fashion over my head to help retain some body heat. A short while later I reached up and felt it, it was dry! If you are cold, cover your head . You lose a lot of body heat out the top of your head and a hat will help retain it . I wondered what Phil was thinking and doing. I hoped he’d realized I was lost by this time and had gone for help. I shivered and rubbed my arms, stuffed my shirt with more pine needles and waited for dark. A while before dark I did something I hadn’t done in years. I said a prayer. This was different though. I prayed to my mother who had died just over two weeks ago on May 20. I prayed to her because at her funeral service, Father Mike urged us to when we were in a time of need. It was short and simple, “Ma, please send someone to find your son”. With darkness I started the long wait for the return of daylight. After calling for search and rescue, Phil called home to have his wife Margaret pass the word that I was missing to Marje, my wife. Marje was spending her afternoon shopping. About the time it started raining on me she started feeling uneasy. At 4PM a voice inside said “Go home, now!”. So she did. Since Phil or I hadn’t called to say we’d be back in time for dinner, Marge made dinner plans with a friend. Then Margaret called with the news that I was missing. Marge’s concern was the same as Phil’s. “Henry doesn’t get lost, so he must be hurt.” Two Eldorado Park Rangers arrived on the scene and following directions headed to where my truck was. Whether the directions were inaccurate or in the darkness they missed the second road to the right I don’t know. They wound up taking the third road right. Sitting shivering, thinking, fearing the night and hypothermia, I heard the sound of a motor vehicle. Turning toward the sound I saw headlights and spotlights round a bend in the road. I was instantly out of the shelter shouting and whistling to get their attention. The vehicle started down a side road away from me when I heard a woman’s voice say, “Where are you?”. I was thinking, “Come up the road not down.”, but all I could shout was “Up, up, up.” They understood and drove up to where I was. I had been found. Getting out of the vehicle someone noticed my lean-to and said, “Built yourself a shelter, smart move.” At that point I was untucking my shirt and dumping out the pine needles. I must have been a sight. “What are the pine needles for?” “Insulation.” “Another smart move.” They made room for me in the truck, gave me the front passenger seat and cranked up the heat. The myth? Henry doesn’t get lost; dispelled. Henry got lost. Now read Phil's account of this day from a companion's point of view. Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts Lost: The Companion's View Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

News & Stories / Spring Fungi of the Sierra Nevada - 2026 Recap Each spring, the retreat of the snowpack provides a unique ecological window of opportunity for “snowbank fungi”, a group of mushrooms that (as the name suggests) grow in and around snowbanks. As spring gives way to summer, curious mycophiles from around the world gather at a rustic campus in Tahoe National Forest to study these fascinating fungi. Lisa Tesler • June 18, 2026 Snowbank fungi (Mycena overholtsii). Photo by Lisa Tesler At the beginning of June, my mom and I headed up to the Tahoe area to participate in Spring Fungi of the Sierra Nevada . This is a 5-day mycology course designed for absolute beginners and experienced mycophiles alike. Snowbank fungi are endemic to the high-elevation coniferous forests of western North America, where short, cold summers allow snowbank remnants to linger into August. To help others learn about these interesting species, the renowned mycologist Dr. Harry D. Thiers created this course in 1982. Over the years, other instuctors have included Dr. Roy Halling , Dr. Andrew Methven , and Dr. Dennis E. Desjardin . As of 2017, Dr. Brian Perry has been leading the course. Dr. Perry maintains a detailed species list and grows it each year. So in lieu of a field report, here's a recap of what we experienced in this year's course. The Campus Setting Daily Activities Course Registration Final Comments The Campus Setting Sierra Nevada Field Campus sign. Photo by Lisa Tesler The academic setting is SF State's Sierra Nevada Field Campus, a semi-rustic outpost tucked off Highway 49 , along the North Yuba River in the Tahoe National Forest. Due to limited funding and historic preservation agreements, this campus' architecture sits somewhere between a 1970s research station and a U.S. Forest Service campground. In fact, a non-profit group, Friends of the SNFC , and the university are both seeking donations to improve student amenities and the facilities. ( More info below ) The campus center is a two-story wooden building, housing a single communal classroom downstairs, along with bathrooms and showers, and a dining hall upstairs. For this course, Dr. Perry (Brian) converted the classroom’s long tables into rows of temporary lab workstations. Each workstation included a compound microscope plus basic supplies (razor blade, forceps, slides, cover slips and lens wipes). Pairs of students also shared a dissecting scope and an assortment of diagnostic reagents. Our classmates included a few mother/daughter participants (like my mom and me), as well as couples and friends who had come up together. So the pairs formed quickly, and those who came solo synced up to form the remaining pairs. Other buildings on the property include housing for the campus director, teaching staff, etc., as well as forest-service-style showers and bathrooms at both ends of the campus for students who were camping. On-Site Lodging Tent photo from https://sierra.sfsu.edu/gallery-0 Most students rented large canvas-wall tents built on wooden platforms (which were apparently pretty comfortable), or pitched their own tents among the pines. Alternatively, some people slept in their own camper vans or trailers in the parking lot across the river. (For our own accessibility and health reasons, my mom and I opted to stay in Sierra City, about 10 minutes away.) Due to an aging bridge and limited budget for road maintenance, students who camped could drive to their tents to unload/load gear on the first and last day, but otherwise we were all asked to leave our cars in the main parking lot during the week. Food Options As this is bear country, the campus provided an industrial refrigerator in the dining hall for personal perishables, plus shelves for non-perishables. If you attend this course and opt in to camping on campus, please note that the kitchen was for staff only, and students were asked not to cook or have food in their tents. Campus chefs typically prepare one tasty main dish per meal (with variants for meat-eaters and vegetarians). When we were there, they offered stroganoff, Chilaquiles, Taco Tuesday, etc. and incorporated wild mushrooms as available. They also laid out self-service buffets for morning cereal, brown-bag lunches, and evening salads. Daily Activities We followed a regular daily schedule, with each activity building on what we had learned in the morning earlier in the week: Morning Lecture Daily Foray(s) Afternoon Lab Session Evening Talk Morning Lecture Each morning after breakfast, we gathered at 8:15am for a lecture in the dining hall. Dr. Brian Perry started the week with lectures on macro- and micro-morphological characteristics. As the week progressed, he shifted to beautiful slides covering the taxonomy of local Spring basidiomycetes and ascomycetes. (Heh--for my part, I spent most of that time taking notes on how Brian pronounced the Latin names--much to my mom’s amusement, along with her observations about California’s high school education system no longer requiring Latin...) Daily Foray(s) View of the Yuba River from the the Sierra Nevada Field Campus bridge. Photo by Lisa Tesler At around 10:30am each day, we packed up our lunches and baskets, and we headed outdoors. After a short walk across the Yuba River, we gathered in the parking lot, while enjoying the fresh air and a swarm of California Tortoiseshell butterflies. From there, we carpooled along Highway 49 to seek the types of fungi we had studied so far. Some participants were experienced snowbank mushroom foragers, and seemed to easily find interesting species left and right. Others initially found the hunting to be a little more challenging--especially if used to hunting for large edibles in areas where the mushrooms practically stand up and wave at you. With some time, everyone still found plenty to study for the class. On the first day, a fellow participant whom my mom befriended approached our car during a break, reverently holding a beautiful Spring King. “It’s the first porcini I’ve ever found, after all these years!” she bubbled. We congratulated her, and my mom asked if she was planning to prepare a special meal with it. “I’m going to donate it to the campus kitchen, so everyone can enjoy it!” she replied with delight and generosity. Another delightful foray location was at around 7,000 feet, where the air was cooler, and the mosquitoes were still blessedly dormant. Hunting here was familiar and yet different (compared to our typical FFSC forays). For this hunt, we started by looking for patches of snow. Then, with sunglasses and face masks on for sun protection, we carefully peered under and around the melting edges of the snowbanks. Note: One passerby was clearly baffled to see people surrounding snowbanks near the road, each of us hunched over, squatting, or nearly lying down amongst broken logs and rocks. In this habitat, we found elegant mushrooms like the snowbank fairy helmet ( Mycena overholtsii ). This is a paradoxical giant among the usually tiny mycenoids, growing up to 6 inches tall, with caps over 2 inches wide. Like other snowbank fungi, their fruiting bodies are just warm enough to melt small caverns in the snow, allowing them to grow tall until they break through the surface (or the snow melts away) to release their spores. The snowmelt also created an ideal habitat for spring orange peel fungi ( Caloscypha fulgens ), black snowbank cups ( Donadinia nigella ), and other beauties. On another foray, we visited a wide open area at around 5,000 feet, where we found more black snowbank cups, along with bird’s nest fungi, and more. One day after lunch, some people began a little show-and-tell and “what is it?” with Brian and others. My mom took the opportunity to rest, so in the last few minutes before we left the area, I strolled back to revisit some trees where I had seen a couple of large, decomposing porcini, but I still didn’t find any others. Basket with Porcini ( Boletus rex-veris ) That is, of course, until I experienced the classic foray trope: On the way back to my car, right smack in the middle of the area where 20 other students had just been hunting for over an hour, three robust porcini caps peeked out at me from under pine needle ‘shrumps, like sleepy foreheads emerging from blankets after a long winter slumber. With strategic mercy, Brian saved the wettest and most mosquito-choked habitats for Thursday, our last day of foraging. Some of the rarer high Sierra species only grow in marsh grasses or tucked into soaked logs, so upon arriving at this soggy location, students donned sandals and/or rubber boots—and a lot of mosquito repellent—to see if they could find some rarities. My mom and I didn’t find any of the rare specimens, but we were at least pleasantly rewarded with other enjoyable species. The group forays typically ended at around 2pm, giving everyone time to hunt at their own secret spots, rest/shower, or get ice cream at the Bassett’s Station Store. (My mom reported that the ice cream was very good.) At 3pm, we reconvened in the coolness of the lab. Afternoon Lab Session On our first afternoon in the lab, Brian briefly reviewed the morphological characteristics of basidiomycetes. Assistant instructor Taye Bright made sure everyone had at least one mushroom of the same species, and then they led us through a traditional group ID session. We used a set of dichotomous keys which Brian and Dennis Desjardin had developed for the course. (If you’re not familiar with dichotomous keys, think of an eye exam where you are asked to choose “A or B?”, and then each answer takes you to the next “A or B” question until you drill down to the species.) Next, we used our microscopes to look at the mushroom’s spores, to ensure everyone was able to see the same shapes. On Tuesday, we reviewed how to study more complex microscopic features, and Taye walked us through another ID session as a group. From then on, each of us began to work at our own pace in the lab—given that some students were professional biologists, and others were microscopy newbies. Several course alumni and guest advisors joined the sessions for the first few days, including Mike Woods , Douglas Smith , Dr. Andrew Wilson , and others. Thus, those of us who were new to microscopy (or who hadn’t touched a microscope since high school) got plenty of one-on-one help. They showed us (or in some cases re-showed us) how to prepare a basic squash mount, operate the microscope, understand which parts of different specimens to dissect, etc. Note : If you’ve attended this course in the past, Dr. Perry said alumni are welcome and encouraged to come back as guest advisors. You can join the forays, assist students in the lab, and sit in on lectures. Evening Talks (and Final Exam Day) After dinner each evening, students could attend optional evening talks, gather around picnic tables to socialize, or do their own thing. This year's speakers were Brian, Dr. Andrew Wilson , and campus Director Lynx Gallagher. In addition, J.R. Blair led an evening trip to go birding in the Sierra Valley. Tortoiseshell butterfly taking the final exam? Photo by Niecea Freeman On Friday morning, the instructors set out several specimens on those same picnic tables, with test questions as a final exam. (This was an open-book test, mostly for ourselves.) By Friday, my mom and I were mentally and physically exhausted, but happy about what we’d learned. Despite being tired on the drive home, we couldn’t resist stopping a few times to explore potential foray areas. “Let’s just look for 5 minutes…” we’d say, and then of course we’d poke around for 20 minutes. Knowing we still had a long drive back to the Monterey Bay Area, we finally agreed “This is the last spot!” The elevation was lower and the ground was pretty dry by then. We only found the remains of one morel, some Dyer's polypore ( Phaeolus schweinitzii ), and not much else. “Time to go,” said mom. But then, once again, while walking back toward the car, I noticed a clearing where the sun lit a pile of pine needles on an odd-looking rock. “Hmm… Is that a rock, or could it be a ‘shrump?” I wondered, and detoured over. Sure enough, another three porcini!! A tasty end to a long week. Boletus rex-veris on the way home. Photo by Lisa Tesler Course Registration Speaking of porcini, this year the course registration fee was $395 (plus meals and camping fees). Given the price of fresh morels and porcini at my local fine foods store, the edibles we found on this trip were probably worth about the same as the class fee! Even if you don’t look at the pricing that way, many commercial half-day and weekend ID classes range from $100-$150 per day and only have enough time to cover a fraction of this course’s depth. SNFC classes are treated like part of an extension program, which means you don’t need to be a matriculated student at SF State (or anywhere else) to take this course. In fact, this year’s cohort ranged from teenagers to octogenarians, and beginners to biologists. It should be noted that this course may be canceled if conditions are overly dry (as occurred in 2014 ). In fact, Brian normally co-leads a course with Alison Pollack the following week ( Myxomycetes of the Sierra Nevada ), but that course was canceled this year, due to inopportune conditions. Scholarship (and Donation) Options If you’re hesitant or unable to afford the $400 investment, I would encourage interested students and members to apply for an FFSC scholarship to cover (or at least offset) the fees. A non-profit group, Friends of the Sierra Nevada Field Campus , also offers scholarships for this course-and for any other SNFC courses and workshops. The Friends group also accepts tax-deductible donations . Over the years they've successfully funded many of the amenities that affect day-to-day campus life. Plus, the university is seeking larger donations to help fund infrastructure improvements to the bridge and buildings. Final Comments If you’re not interested in fungi that grow in the Sierra Nevada, there are many excellent courses in the Bay Area (including through FFSC ) that can teach you how to use dichotomous keys and/or how to use a microscope. That said, the length and depth of the Spring Fungi of the Sierra Nevada course (not to mention the lack of cellular, WiFi, and TV distractions) gives you a unique opportunity to focus (no pun intended) on your microscopy and ID skills. After you learn a skill, you get several more days of practice with attentive instructors and advisors in the room. They’ll answer your “Did I get this one right?” questions in real time, troubleshoot your squash mounts, and/or thumb through the keys alongside you to figure out why you went down an unexpected path. And it's a lot of fun! Where to Learn More about the Course In this YouTube video, Dr. Brian Perry gives an overview of what he covers in the course. You can read more about snowbank fungi in the Spring 2009 issue of Fungi Magazine : https://www.fungimag.com/spring-09-articles/13_Snow.pdf Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts Spring Fungi of the Sierra Nevada, June 2013 Microscopy of Gilled Mushrooms Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

Cookeina tricholoma (Mont.) Kuntze (2014, Yukatan). Photo by Yev Nyden Cookeina Kuntze Sprouting from Forest Litter in Quintana Roo Yevgeny Nyden Thank you Yev Nyden for contributing this exotic find from Quintana Roo, Mexico. Yev says he stumbled upon this peculiar looking mushroom while hiking Nohoch Mul temple in Coba. Enjoy! More about cup fungi in the genus Cookeina : Cookeina , Wikipedia Bristly Tropical Cup (Cookeina) , iNaturalist Camera Canon EOS 5D Mark III Focal L. 97mm Aperture f/4.0 Shutter Sp. 1/2s ISO 500 Flash Off Photo taken on November 26, 2014 Mushroom(s) ... Previous Photo Back to Gallery Next Photo