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        • Pipe Springs National Monument
        • Prescott
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Tag: volunteer

30 August 2010

Mycology at National Parks

Gaelyn with Lobster mushroom at Eagles Cliff Washington

Lobster mushroom – Eagles Cliff, Washington – November 1998

I am not a mycologist. I am a generalologist. Yet when I lived in the Pacific Northwest I learned to confidently gather about 14 species of wild edible mushrooms. And let me tell you, they are delish. I enjoy learning about all the plants wherever I am, but especially the edibles. You just never know.

Gaelyn deydrating mushrooms Oregon Caves National Monument Oregon

Dehydrating at Oregon Caves

In between seasons leading cave tours at Oregon Caves National Monument I volunteered one winter and helped with their mycology inventory. It’s a job I’d never been hired to do, but then you can volunteer to do a lot of things you’re not qualified for.

(all following images taken along the Widforss trail Grand Canyon National Park, North Rim)

Unknown mushroom Widforss trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona 

I’d walk trails hunting mushrooms, take photos on site, give each one a number, carefully pop it out of the ground and take more photos, then gently pack it in a box and go on to another mushroom.

Unknown mushroom Widforss trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona 

I built a lab in an abandoned building for the next step which included filling out a form with as much description as possible, photographing again, whole and cut in half, then put them in the dehydrator.

Unknown mushroom Widforss trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona 

Once dry, I’d package them in plastic bags and put them in the freezer to await shipping to the real mycologist in Portland. When I found choice edibles I was allowed to gather enough to eat, plus some for my supervisor.

Unknown mushroom Widforss trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona 

When I discovered such a variety of mushrooms hiking the Widforss Trail, including a choice Oyster, I emailed our Science division and asked about their mycology inventory.

Unknown mushroom Widforss trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona 

After about six people that couldn’t tell me a thing I was finally sent a list of the North Rim inventory, taken back in the 1950s. And by the looks of it, whoever found the mushrooms around our Administration offices didn’t know any more about mushrooms than I do.

Maybe Russula mushroom Widforss trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona 

I was invited to help out. I mentioned the need for a dehydrator so samples could be added to the Park’s herbarium. Maybe next year I was told.

Maybe Russula mushroom Widforss trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona 

Two weeks later I returned to the Widforss trail to look for mushrooms, taking more photos with identification in mind.

Widforss trailhead North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

Barely 100 yards (91 m) from the trailhead I spotted a variety of species so sat down with my notebook, camera and knife.

Unknown mushroom Widforss trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona 

After eight species my pen ran out of ink.

Gem-studded Puffball Widforss trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona 

So I continued my hike just taking more photos and looking for the Oyster choice edibles but they were past their prime.

Unknown mushroom Widforss trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona 

Then when I got home I discovered the choice Shaggy Manes growing under my 5th-wheel.

Poisonous Fly Agaric mushrom Widforss trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona 

So, I’ll just keep on looking at mushrooms in the meantime and hoping for some more choice edibles.

 

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Arizona, Grand Canyon National Park North Rim, National Parks and Monuments, Oregon, Oregon Caves National Monument Arizona, Grand Canyon National Park, mushrooms, mycology, North Rim, Oregon Caves National Monument, volunteer 28 Comments
12 January 2009

The gypsy life of a seasonal park ranger – Fall 2003 and winter 2004

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.

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My gypsy life, Oregon, Oregon Caves National Monument cave cleaning, mycology, volunteer 25 Comments

Hi, I’m Gaelyn, the Geogypsy

I retired after 29 summer seasons as a Park Ranger, traveling solo for 40+ years. My passions include travel, connecting to nature, photography, and sharing stories.

I started exploring US National Parks in 1977 and 20 years later became a seasonal Park Ranger.  I’ve lived full-time in a RV for 30 years working summers and playing winters.  I’m still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow old, other than grow up.

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