N E W   Y O R K   C H A P T E R

 

Mushroom Walk II

Sylvan Glen, Yorktown Heights, N.Y.
Sunday, August 29, 2010 at 11am
(alternative weather date Sunday, September 12, 2010 at 11am)
In view of the dryness the Mushroom Walk will take place on Sunday 29th August 2010 at 11am and the new alternative date is Sunday 12th September.

The New York chapter invites all to participate in the Second Annual Mushroom
Walk by Mushroom Expert, Steve Rock at Sylvan Glen, Yorktown Heights, N.Y.
The weather is warm and the woods are teeming with mushrooms. Steve will provide the participant the art and the science of finding and picking
mushrooms, an integral 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 Sylvan Glen, just west of Yorktown Heights off of the Taconic Parkway. This is a  woods which promises a wide variety of mushrooms. 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? On the Taconic Parkway take exit for US 202/35 (Yorktown Heights) and turn west at the bottom of the ramp onto US 202/35 (Crompond Road). Continue 1.8 miles and turn right at a traffic light onto Lexington Avenue. In 0.5 miles turn right onto Morris Lane and head downhill. It is 0.2 miles to the parking area at bottom of the hill and spot a bunch of Rusyns mushroom hunters.

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!

Yorktown Heights, NY
Link:
<http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=yorktown+heights,+ny&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=21.398656,42.099609&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Yorktown+Heights,+Westchester,+New+York&ll=41.312242,-73.829842&spn=0.061891,0.110035&z=13>

Please call 609-882-4872 or email for additional information. If the area is too dry for mushrooms the walk will be postponed to the alternative date.
If any walkers wish to explore the area on the 8th August, Steve Rock is willing to join and provide guidance. Email: steve_rock_0916@yahoo.com or phone 845-621-2373 before 7th August.

Please call or email Saturday afternoon to confirm the mushroom walk is still taking place.