
Most of the Morels I was finding were fresh and of good size. This one being on the larger end.
by Brady Raymond
We started high, around 4000ft. and that is where we stumbled across the first few Morels of the day, just off the trail among the grass and leaves. They were still young and fresh. I wondered if maybe this was the last hoorah and worried that it might just be the tail end of the season, I prayed to the Mushroom Gods, that they lead me to nature’s bounty and deliver me from my fungal hunger, a hunger that has been gnawing deep inside after the long winter, with no dried reserves of the fungus left.
Do you Morel? I Moreled my butt off Saturday, well as much as I could with two young children and a geriatric dog. The rain seemed to scare off a lot of folks over the holiday weekend but many, including myself, were gallivanting around eastern Cascade forests in search of one of the most delectable treasures nature has to offer, the Morel. It is also in my opinion, the best mushroom, and one worth bragging about, even if just a little bit.
Now there are some who would argue my assessment of this, finding Porcini to be the best of the west, the springtime variant of the Cep being superior to what the fall has to offer. Yet, others will proclaim Matsutake or Lobsters to be their mushroom of choice. But I will always adore the spongy fungi known as the Morel.
Pits, pores, veins or gills, whatever your fancy, you have to make the most of it when the getting is good. Right now is the time for Morels here in Central Washington, so get out there, they won’t last long.

First Morel of the day.
As the weather warmed this spring and the snow melted things seemed right on track, then it got hot and the landscape dried out. Not the best recipe for a banner Morel year. My season seemed like it was going to stall with an all-time low of only two Morels. But then it happened, the weather cooled and the rains rolled in, soaking the mountains over the last week.
There was ample moisture but I was worried the temperatures were just too low, I still had hope though. The Morels took to this second spring and erupted from the soil and a couple pounds of which I was lucky enough to find. I cradled in my hands the first Morel of the day and rejoiced in its splendor. This is Morel hunting in Washington, and I’m living right now. Are You?
Usually when we’re hunting in the spring things are dry, at least on the surface, they are downright soggy this year. It is certainly annoying to be wet, although the Morels really seemed to pop in the moisture-laden landscape. My eyes scanned the ground and with little strain and I spotted one after another and yet another.

My first truly wet Morel hunt in Washington. It seemed more like fall than spring weather wise.
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