Breitenbush Hot Springs

After dinner on Friday, I drove up to Breitenbush Hot Springs for the weekend. By the time we arrived, the sun was down and we realized we hadn't brought any flashlights. Luckily there was a full moon on Thursday so the forest floor was illuminated enough to stumble down the rocky trail and find our way to the infamous hot tubs. After gathering some wet sticks and moss, we lit a fire and soaked in the springs admiring the forest and clear sky (a stark contrast to the concrete wilderness we have in Salem). Although that night it was too dark to take in the flora and fauna of Jefferson Wilderness, the next morning we took off into the forest and spent the day wandering through Rhododendron bushes and Western Yews. While adventuring, we found (amidst many other fungi) three varieties I find particularly interesting. We found a type of Ramarias. This striking mushroom complex is very difficult to identify. It has many appendages that make it resemble a pink land coral. We also found a cluster of Gomphus floccosus also known as the Woolly Chanterelle. It looks like a cream colored funnel with an orange center. Underneath a large dead cedar we found three Russula cascadensis also known as Cascade Russulas. These giant white mushrooms had about a twelve inch diameter! However, the most exciting find was a large group of Golden Chanterelles growing underneath a Douglas Fir. This is the official Oregon state mushroom. This orange mushroom has distinctive depressed cap and ridges running down the stem. I harvested handfuls in my skirt and brought them back to camp where we relit a fire and cooked our prize. We feasted on mushrooms, and hazelnuts and apples taken from Goudy.