As the fall of 2003 approached my summer job as a seasonal Park Ranger was over and I decided to stay at Oregon Caves National Monument as a volunteer in Resource Management instead of hitting the gypsy life road. I kind of dislike that term as I believe that the resource=environment manages quite well by itself. Yet I had an opportunity to help with the mycology inventory because I’m an amateur edible mushroom collector.

Clustered Coral fungi Oregon Caves National Monument OregonClustered Coral (Ramaria botrytis) growing on down Douglas fir measured about 18×10 inches

I walked the trails photographing the found fungi and then collected specimens.

Cut fungi Oregon Caves National Monument OregonReady for the dryer

Once back in the lab, I took more photos, tried to identify, then cut, dried and packaged for a mycologist in Portland.

Gaelyn in the lab Oregon Caves National Monument OregonMe in the lab

I also went to Seattle’s Cascade Grotto (cave club) with a slide presentation to ask for their volunteer assistance with many projects. The cave needs to be cleaned regularly. LOL! Cleaned? Yes. Every person that walks through the cave leaves a little of themselves behind. This includes hair, skin, and many pounds of lint a year. It’s tedious yet gratifying work. I encourage you to volunteer. And the Grotto has participated in many projects since then.

Lint on cave formation Oregon Caves National Monument OregonClose up of lint on cave formations in Paradise Lost

Winter 2004 came in with a vengeance and in three days Carson and I were buried under 30 inches of snow in my RV.

DOT plowing 30 inches of snow Oregon Caves National Monument OregonDOT plowing out my truck at Oregon Caves NM

After being plowed out…

Snowy trail to Resource office Oregon Caves National Monument OregonResource cabin with lab at Oregon Caves NM

…and finishing my project, I decided to head south for a month to thaw out.

Gaelyn at Joshua Tree National Park CaliforniaMe at Joshua Tree NP

I crawled around in Joshua Tree National Park. Then as spring began to bloom in the desert I needed to return to work.