From: donteven@bother.com   
      
   On 3/11/2012 12:13 PM, riburr wrote:   
   > Nelly W wrote:   
   >> riburr wrote:   
   >>> Steve Peek wrote:   
   >>>> 1 small black one found today!!!!!   
   >>>>   
   >>>   
   >>> Unbelievable! Worrisomely early... I was riding around in the National   
   >>> Forest. Not really looking for anything edible. (It was to gather   
   >>> creeksand to make some seed-starting soil mix.) Actually saw where   
   >>> someone spray painted pictures of mushrooms on a big rock. I guess it   
   >>> was to mark a good spot, but they could've been more subtle about it.   
   >>   
   >> Guess they couldn't afford a GPS. Since I moved back east I'd been   
   >> filling mine with entries through end of November. I haven't been   
   >> looking yet this year but last week I did see a dead birch covered in   
   >> Auricularia, and some witches' butter. It sure is great to finally be   
   >> back in mushroom territory. Now to get unpacked & find my gear...   
   >>   
   >   
   > GPS? That's ***so*** cheating! GPS can remember a good location, but you   
   > still have to time it right. Mushroom schedule is a combination of   
   > season, temperature and precipitation. And, as far as the morel picking   
   > goes, everyone and his brother seem to know the hot spots, or can guess   
   > where they may be based on terrain and tree species present. I'm still   
   > searching for the mother load, as yet unfound by others, and so unlogged   
   > into any GPS memory. The unknown mushroom hotspots are the ones that get   
   > me excited.   
   >   
   > Getting lost in the woods is not something I worry about, as I just   
   > follow the creeks to the one big creek that drains the valley where I   
   > usually forage. A road *usually* follows the main drainage creek of its   
   > respective valley. Usually, I'm never more than a few miles from a road.   
   > Sun position and mountain ranges give me a general idea of compass   
   > direction. Loss of bearings is actually a little exciting, but   
   > temporary, as I've always been able to find a road, or fire break, or   
   > hiking trail in short order.   
      
   Nah, it's not cheating. I use it to mark perennials; patches are (for   
   me) very easy to remember. Certainly wouldn't need one to find morels,   
   which I don't often bother hunting much anymore.   
      
   I actually got lost last fall wandering around Lum's Pond, thinking I'd   
   get my bearings like I always do. Instead wound up walking around the   
   pond for about 8 miles and at my age & having arthritis it was not a   
   good thing. I also wouldn't go wandering around the several-hundred acre   
   retreat a property of mine abuts without a GPS, either.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)