Blue Ridge fungi walk
A week of rain followed by three days of warm damp is a recipe. I’d come down for a visit with family and took a morning on a quiet Pisgah trail where I’ve had luck with fungi before. It delivered.
A cluster of Chanterelles along a streambed — I didn’t take any because I wasn’t sure about them and that’s fine, but they were gorgeous to photograph. A massive Black Trumpet colony under tulip poplars. A single striking Jack O’Lantern (which I was very sure about; do not eat). One cluster of Yellow Hedgehog mushrooms about the size of my fist.
The real surprise was a small Indian Pipe colony — they aren’t a fungus but they live off fungus and they photograph like fungus, so they count. Ghost white, bent over, like melting wax candles.
Beyond fungi: a Wood Thrush called from far down the ridge twice in an hour. A Red-shouldered Hawk flushed from a dead snag on the way out. Eastern Chipmunks were busier than I’ve seen them all fall — apparently the acorn crop is good this year.
Walked back to the trailhead with muddy knees and a full card. Fungi season is short and I always feel lucky to catch a good day.
