One thing I have wanted to do coming to the PNW is forage for wild mushrooms. And trust me, I have been on the lookout throughout many a hike around Washington and Oregon. Well I did find some oyster mushrooms probably three weeks ago. Oyster mushrooms are a bit different in that you know they are just that, an oyster mushroom, because it is growing on the side of a dead Alder tree or sometimes a Maple. Not some wannabe poisonous mushroom that only looks like something you want to eat. So I cooked them into a mushroom cream sauce and put them over fish and rice.
To forage morels, Alex was able to reach his friends who forage every spring to sell a big ole batch of them and we joined them for a two day expedition.
We drove 6 hours northeast to the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
where there was a big forest fire one year ago as well as area that went ablaze two years ago. The fire matters considering that morel mushrooms like a recent burn and grow best in those areas. 
After sleeping maybe 3 hours we awoke at 3:30am and headed out.
Upon arriving I gave big hugs to my new friends and said, "are you ready to do this thang?!"
They showed me what to look for. Basically the hardest part is finding one Morel amounts the pine needles and forest.
Once you spot the one and scoop down to pick it, you then survey the area because they grow in patches of 5 or more that are spread all around the first one you discover. 
The first trip out (after the 3 hours of sleep on top of a long ass drive) I found maybe a pound of mushrooms. 
I felt like I'd walk for twenty minutes sometimes without finding a patch. I'm not really sure if I just was in a bad spot for them or if my eyes just stopped working. I kept seeing all other different types of mushrooms but no morels or very limited morels. 
The second day we woke up refreshed and started our hunt in another area of a burn from two years ago and there were mushrooms galore!
I quickly filled a box that I was carrying then went on to find another couple pounds.
My score of the day!
When the four of us first got out of the car at the second days spot, I asked when should we meet back at the car. To which Megan replied, "oh we will all get burnt out at the same time."
It was so true! Once I had a box full along with another bag in the works, I was damn tired of bending over to collect mushrooms all day. We headed back to camp, chilled out and then wild harvested some arnica and mugwort before heading home.
We drove 6 hours northeast to the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
Upon arriving I gave big hugs to my new friends and said, "are you ready to do this thang?!"
They showed me what to look for. Basically the hardest part is finding one Morel amounts the pine needles and forest.
The second day we woke up refreshed and started our hunt in another area of a burn from two years ago and there were mushrooms galore!
When the four of us first got out of the car at the second days spot, I asked when should we meet back at the car. To which Megan replied, "oh we will all get burnt out at the same time."
It was so true! Once I had a box full along with another bag in the works, I was damn tired of bending over to collect mushrooms all day. We headed back to camp, chilled out and then wild harvested some arnica and mugwort before heading home.
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