Wednesday, July 15, 10:30 am Safeway parking lot in Idaho Springs https://maps.app.goo.gl/s8Hu79qdPfgBXK1s8. Please account for potential rock blasting operations along I-70 that can lead to delays of 45+ minutes (see https://www.codot.gov/projects/i70floydhill for more info).
Description:
This foray offers participants a chance to look for mushrooms in an unique habitat: the alpine! While most CMS forays tend to be at lower elevations among towering spruce, fir, pine, and aspen trees, this foray will focus on finding uncommon species that occur at high elevations above the treeline.
Expectations:
The alpine habitat of the Rocky Mountains is an unexpected source of fungal diversity, much of which is under-documented. We are unlikely to find edible species, and most of the mushrooms we find will be small. The habitat is delicate and sensitive, and this foray is best suited for those interested in small, rare mushrooms and making scientific collections (prior to the foray I will demonstrate how to make such collections). The habitat also offers a chance to view beautiful wildflowers and wildlife uncommon at lower elevations.
Gear/Other:
Since we will be at 12,000+ ft with little to no shade, a hat and sunscreen are essential. At this altitude, air is thin and it’s easy to become dehydrated and exhausted, so this foray is probably best for folks who are relatively fit. There are few established trails at this location so we will be bushwhacking through willow, but the terrain itself shouldn’t be too difficult, and we’ll be moving slowly because the mushrooms are small.
Other gear: bring plenty of water and snacks, tackle box(es) (helpful for collecting small mushrooms), jeweler’s loupe, pocketknife, sturdy waterproof footwear, rain gear, and other standard hiking gear.
Alex Merryman is an experienced foray leader with the Colorado Mycological Society. Having lived in Colorado for much of his life, he is well-versed in Rocky Mountain fungi, trees, and terrain. Alex is a contributor to Falcon Guides’ Foraging Mushrooms of the Rocky Mountains, published in 2024. He helped organize a group to advance Agaricus julius (the Emperor Mushroom) as Colorado’s official state mushroom; it was signed into law in 2025.
