Clustered 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.
Ready 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.
Me 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.
Close 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 out my truck at Oregon Caves NM
After being plowed out…
Resource cabin with lab at Oregon Caves NM
…and finishing my project, I decided to head south for a month to thaw out.
Me 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.