Special Issue, October 11-12, 2003
Yuba Pass Foray
By Herman Brown, Greenville, CA

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Over the weekend of October 11-12, Cecelia, I, and Norm Andresen hosted a mushroom foray at Yuba Pass, which is just above the Bassets Store on Highway 49.  We all were pleasantly surprised by the turn-out as well as the large number of different species we found. Some of the mushrooms we spotted were dried left-overs from the earlier part of the season, but many more were fresh enough for the table.

After meeting at the Chapman Creek Campground and planning the rest of the day, we all searched around the campground and piled our bounty on the collection table.  Next we went to a new area that Norm had found the previous evening close to the top of the pass. We did pretty good there. After lunch, we went to a seepage area at the top of the pass and again did pretty good.  We then went back to the campground to look at the finds for the day and prepare for the evening feast.  At the collection table, Fred Stevens identified and talked about most of the species while Norm and I tried to point out some of the distinctive characteristics of some of the mushrooms.

The finds for that day included many edibles, including some Gypsy Mushrooms (Rozites caparatus), a few Matsutake (Armariella ponderosa), a Golden Chanterelle (Cantharellus formosus), Honey Mushrooms (Armillariella mellea), many Shrimp Russulas (Russula xerampelina, most of these were dry), lots of Hawks Wings (Sarcondon imbricatum), and several of a few different species of Suillus.

The Matsutake and the Golden Chanterelle were quite a surprise to those of us that had been to the same area in the past.

The feast that evening included Norm's delicious Split Pea Soup with King Boletes from his own stash of dried mushrooms, and Cecelia's equally delicious Cream of Potato Soup with some of our dried Marasmius oreades. Several other spectacular dishes were prepared by volunteers, and the meal included many different types of wine from all over the world plus a bottle of fresh pressed apple juice, courtesy of Bill and Pat, two of our new MSSF members. After the feast, I cooked up some samples of the Sarcondon imbricatum and passed them out among the group.  I think everyone felt that there was a good taste there and worth repeating.  I had planned to cook up more species for tasting, but it was getting pretty late.

On Saturday, after an understandably late start, we searched around the campground again, did pretty good again, and then went up the pass to two of the seepage areas up Weber Lake Road. We seemed to do pretty good there also.

So, over the weekend and at every spot we searched, we found lots of different species. In one area alone, we found about 30 lbs of Sarcondon imbricatum.  We also saw plenty ripe red gooseberries, blue huckleberries, and red currents.

I'd say it was a great weekend!

At home on the following Monday, I made two sets of scrambled eggs, one using some Rozites and the other using some Honey Mushrooms.  I thought that the taste and texture of both was very enjoyable.

Below is the species list, as best we could put together.  If any of those that came to the foray can remember any other mushrooms not listed, please let me know so I can update the list. (Updated 11/21/03 by Norm Andresen)

  1. Albatrellus flettii
  2. Albatrellus sp. (ovinus?)
  3. Albatrellus sp. (piolida?)
  4. Armillaria ponderosa
  5. Armillariella mellea
  6. Boletopsis subsquamosus
  7. Boletus edulis
  8. Boletus calopus
  9. Boletus regius
  10. Boletus rubripes
  11. Boletus zelleri
  12. Calbovista subsculpta
  13. Cantharellus formosus
  14. Cantharellus subalbidus
  15. Chroogomphus vinicolor
  16. Coprinus comatus
  17. Fomitopsis pinicola
  18. Ganoderma applanatum
  19. Ganoderma oregonense
  20. Gardenia-smelling mushroom
  21. Gomphus bonari
  22. Gomphus floccosus
  23. Gomphus kauffmanii
  24. Gyromitra infula
  25. Hebeloma sp.
  26. Helvella crispa
  27. Helvella lacunosa
  28. Hygrophorus hypothejus
  29. Lactarius deliciosus
  30. Laetiporus sulphureus (real old group)
  31. Lycoperdon molle
  32. Lyophyllum decastes
  33. Mycena sps. (2)
  34. Naematoloma capnoides
  35. Naematoloma fasciculare
  36. Thaxterogaster pinque
  37. Nolanea holoconiota, normally a spring species
  38. Phaeolus schweinitzii
  39. Pholiota aurivella
  40. Pholiota flavida var. flavida
  41. Pholiota terrestris
  42. Pholiota sp. (smooth cap)
  43. Pluteus cervinus
  44. Psilocybe coprophila
  45. Ramaria sp.
  46. Rhizopogon(s) several?
  47. Rozites caparatus
  48. Russula pelargonia
  49. Russula brevipes
  50. Russula cremoricolor
  51. Russula densifolia (?)
  52. Russula dissimulans
    53.
  53. Russula xerampelina
  54. Tricholoma flavovirens
  55. Tricholoma saponaceum
  56. Tricholoma zelleri
  57. Tyromyces leucospongia
  58. Sarcondon imbricatum
  59. Sarcondon sp. (black cap, grey cracks)
  60. Sarcondon sp. (2) (maybe scabrosum?)
  61. Scutellinia scutellata
  62. Strobilurus albipilatus
  63. Suillus brevipes
  64. Suillus riparius
  65. Suillus tomentosus
  66. Suillus umbonatus
  67. Xeromphalina sp.
  68. Soft, fuzzy shelf mushroom
  69. Nolanea sp.  (Fresh corn tortilla-smelling mushroom)


Cecelia waiting for the first campers Friday afternoon


Cecelia sitting along side of Norm, 
both trying to get warm

A Boletus rubripes
Matsutakes!

Weird company

The results of the first hunt
There was plenty of ripe gooseberries all around

Hygrophorus hypothejus

A nice patch of Sarcondon imbricatum
Some very large but fresh Suillus

After the last hunt on Saturday

Artist at work
The feast Saturday night

A couple of beautiful mushrooms found on Sunday
All tired and ready to go home!

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