N E W Y O R K C H A P T E R
Mushroom Walk:
Clarence Fahnestock State Park, N.Y.
Sunday, September 20, 2009 at 11am
The New York Chapter invites all to participate in a Mushroom Walk guide by Mushroom Expert, Steve Rock in the Clarence Fahnestock State Park, N.Y. The weather is still warm and the woods are teeming with mushrooms. Steve will provide the participant the art and the science of finding and picking mushrooms, an intergral part of every Rusyn cuisine. Whether you are knowledgeable or new to mushrooms, you will find this a pleasant and learning experience.
We will meet at Clarence Fahnestock State Park, which is conveniently located just off the Taconic State Parkway on Route 301 between Carmel and Cold Springs, N.Y. This is a beautiful state park with many hiking trails of varying degrees of difficulty. Seeing as we are hunting for mushrooms, we will stick to the simpler and less hilly terrain - nothing very strenuous. Unless, of course, you are carrying pounds of mushrooms - if so I'm sure that there will be plenty of offers to lighten your load.
We will plan to spend 60-90 minutes collecting wild mushrooms depending on weather and other conditions. We will re-convene to discuss what we've found. Light refreshments will be available. We can decide on the length of time that we will be mushroom hunting before we start. The mushroom season in the northeast peaks between late August and late September. The days are cooler and the bugs are far fewer. It's a great time to be out in the woods.
You should wear comfortable (and preferably waterproof) shoes or hiking boots with high socks that can be pulled up over the bottom of your pants leg to prevent bugs from going up your legs. Your clothes should be light-colored, comfortable, and not your Sunday best. Regardless of temperature, long pants and a long sleeved shirt is recommend. It is always a good idea to use a bandana/babushka and/or a hat to cover your head.
What should you bring? Bug spray is always wise. Having a basket, a bucket or sturdy paper (not plastic) bags for carrying your mushrooms leaves your hands free for other things. A pocket knife makes harvesting mushrooms clean and efficient. A whistle will help you to alert someone that you've gone astray. A 10X magnifier lens is very useful for examining mushrooms. A walking stick is handy for support, for turning over leaves and moving twigs or bushes. Friends are fun to bring along. A keen eye makes for a more enjoyable hunt. A curious and open mind and a willingness to learn make the whole adventure much more worthwhile.
How do I get there? To get to where we will meet, take the Taconic State Parkway north to the exit for Route 301. Go west on Route 301, past the entrance to the camping area (on your left) to Pelton Pond Parking lot on the left. Park there and look for Rusyns.
Steve Rock is a member of the Connecticut-Westchester Mycological Association for over 10 years and a lifetime member of the North American Mycological Association. He's led many mushroom walks, given a number of lectures, and eaten dozens of mushroom species and lived to tell about them. He believes in exercising extreme caution. But most important Steve is a Rusyn and a member of C-RS. His interest came from his grandfather which was passed to his father. His Rusyn grandfather emigrated from Wola Cieklinska, Jaslo County Poland in 1892.
Good Hunting Everyone!
Please call 609-882-4872 or email for additional information. If the area is too dry for mushrooms the walk will be cancelled. Please call or email saturday afternoon to confirm the mushroom walk is still taking place.
