Archive for the ‘General Information’ Category

(Photograph taken by The Mad Backpacker ‘Daniel Albin’)

Well I can tell you that the reason for the season in the springtime in Michigan is the elusive morel mushroom.  One of my favorite pastimes to do while out hiking is to keep an eye out for them.  This is mostly because if you’ve ever eaten a wild morel in any dish, it tastes similar to a heavenly angel open-mouth kissing you in front of all of your friends.

Well let us start out by a basic education on wild morels and a few tips on how to find them:

• The Morchella genus contains many different types of morels.  Most morels that you will see in Michigan around the spring is the Black Morel (Morchella elata).

• Morels can be found in most forests, although there is a reason that they are “hunted”… they’re not very easy to find, and they are extremely camouflaged.

• Start looking for them mid-April.  Typically they will start showing up after a week of a few warm nights, and a couple of good rains.  When the bugs start coming out, then the mushrooms will too.

• Here’s the important thing, so write this one down…  there are many signs to try to find morels.  Here’s a few that I use.  Use these as guidelines only!  Remember, what works for some, perhaps won’t work for others.

• Look for a carpet of Elm leaves on the ground.  You want at least 70% or more of elm leaves all around you.

• Check your horizon for Elms.  When you see quite a few, make a note of that.

• If you find elms, look for lots of downed wood on the ground.  The more decayed the better.  Remember, morels are the “zombies” of the woods, and eat dead things (and brains)

• Large hills tend to spread the spores via gravity and water flow.  If you find a large hill with elms on it, you’re on the right track.  Always start checking hills from the bottom to the top.  This way you can see the morels at eye level, and will save your neck later.

• If you find one morel, stop and squat down to your knees.  Very seldom is there just a single morel.  By squatting down you will be able to “3D Map” the area around you and see the mushrooms stick out better.

• Always carry mesh sacks (onion bags, potato sacks, ect) to carry your morels in.  This allows the spores to fall out as you’re out hunting, so you’re spreading the seeds for the next crop of morels.

Please note:  There are “fake” morels that grow just as well as the real ones.  One simple way to identify a fake morel is check under the “cap”.  If the cap connects to the stem, then you have a good morel.  If the “cap” does NOT connect to the stem, then it’s a fake, and poisonous.  Just remember that if the mushroom is “wearing a dress” it’s not a true morel, and leave it in the woods.

Well I can’t give away all of my secrets, but this should be enough information to make you dangerous out there.  If you have any questions, you can always email me at themadbackpacker@gmail.com or contact me through this site’s Contact Me page.

Enjoy your hunt, and good luck!

Share on Facebook

Today I launched this site in an effort to help other hikers and backpackers in their quests for information. I know that when I first started to hike, I scoured the Internet on a daily basis trying to find the “perfect” pack, or the “most efficient” stove. As with anything else in life, there are times in which you have to leave things to experience and chance. Some days those experiences are good, some days they are bad. This site will act as a journal, as well as post information from my own personal experiences to try to better inform those people just starting out. Keep checking back for more news, information, and updates as I get this site rolling.

Share on Facebook