Central Pennsylvania Mushroom Club

Having attended two of the three days of the second annual Central Pennsylvania Mushroom Club foray, I feel compelled to say Hip, Hip, Hurray for the Foray.  What a fantastic opportunity it was to be able to get together with such nice, hospitable people to talk about mushrooms, their forest habitat, and a million other related and unrelated topics.  I could compile a long list of observations from the foray but one of the things that struck me the most is the generosity of mushroom enthusiasts, particularly their willingness to give freely of their time and wisdom.  I heard our experts asked once more some of the questions I'm sure they have been asked a thousand times over a period of years.  And I heard them answer those questions with such patience and enthusiasm you would think it was the very first time they had been posed those questions.  And it wasn't just the top level experts.  Many, many times throughout the weekend I saw people relating their experiences and sharing their knowledge with others.  That's a great thing, folks. 

And the mushroom hunting, great food, pleasant weather, and the beautiful surroundings of the Sieg Center all added to the experience.  There were mixed opinions regarding the volume of mushrooms found, but given the dry weather we've had in much of the area I thought the finds were quite good.  I don't know the exact count but one tally I heard produced a rough estimate of 100 species.  That's certainly enough to turn up some attractive, fascinating, and unusual mushrooms.  The food was great and the hospitality outstanding.  And the facilities, atmosphere, and visual beauty of the Sieg Center were fantastic.  What a great site for a foray.  Many thanks to the folks at Lock Haven University for allowing us to use it.  And after weeks of brutal heat, even the weatherman was generous in providing a comfortable weekend for tramping through the woods.  All in all, it was a most relaxing and enjoyable weekend. 

I can not complete this blog without a big word of thanks to the people who worked so hard in advance and behind the scenes to make the foray a success.  Great job.  And thanks also to everyone who supported the foray financially and donated and bought items from the auction.  And finally, thanks to all who attended and participated.  The level of enthusiasm was great and that reflects on everyone in attendance.  Thanks everyone for a great event. 

Dave