Condition Report
San Juan Mountains
Southern Colorado
2600 m (8500 ft)
25-28 May, 2007
Conditions:
  • There doesn't appear to be much snow left below 3500 m (11,500 ft). Runoff is moderate. There seems to have been adequate precipitation during the last month to keep the ground moist.

    Fungi:

  • The freshest and most abundant specimens were Verpa bohemica in a habitat heavily drained and thick with willows.
  • Morchella elata/angusticeps (EMC 36) were still fruiting, although all specimens were at the end of--or beyond--their prime.
  • We found a few Pezizas and a nice pair of Discina perlata specimens.
  • We also encountered a surprising number of agarics: a couple of Inocybes, Coprinus micaceous, and a whole bunch of what I think is a Cortinarius.
  • The big surprise was the discovery of Morchella esculenta fruiting in White Fir needle duff--a habitat which also produced M. elata.

    Critters:

  • Mule Deer were abundant to put it mildly. We saw dozens: a few young bucks, but mostly does and yearlings. We saw no spotted fawns, but the hundreds of tracks included some pretty petite hoofprints.
  • Although we saw no bears, there was plenty of sign, including a very fresh track which we photographed Monday morning. (The knife included for scale is 8.5 inches.)
  • We saw no elk, but did encounter a few fresh prints. They're most likely on their way to the higher elevations.
    Photo of Discina perlata - click for larger image
    Discina perlata

  • 2007 Hikes, Field Trips, & Condition Reports
    www.mycowest.org/outings/2007/fr~75w.htm
    dmw . 2007-05-28
    		•             Verpa bohemica - click for larger image
    Verpa bohemica

    Photo of Morchella esculenta, M.elata, and robin egg - click for larger image
    Morchella esculenta, Robin Egg, and M. elata

    Photo of Black Bear footprint - click for larger image
    Don't Forget Your Fellow Foragers