Join us on a guided mushroom hunt to explore the wide diversity of wild mushrooms in the old growth forests of the Oregon Cascades.

We gather on the front deck of the historic lodge in the morning before the mushroom field trips. We divide into groups, which are led by mushroom experts.

Maps with designated mushroom-hunting spots are handed out prior to the field trips.

A group of hunters leave the Breintenbush grounds led by Dr. Thom Odell, second from left, a previous field mycologist for the Gathering.

It takes very keen eyes to find the prized matsutake, Tricholoma magnivelare, hidden under the forest duff.

Matsutake are a choice edible wild mushroom and you'll be this excited when you find them!

Collect small mushroom specimens in wax paper bags so they make it to the identification table intact.

Have your picture taken with the beautiful mushroom models.

A box of pristine matsutake waits patiently to be prepped for the afternoon cooking demonstration. Their cinnamon smell is irresistible!

See the many different mushrooms people bring in to the identification table. A giant cauliflower mushroom, Sparassis crispa, dwarfs the others.

Dr. Thom Odell, a previous field mycologist for the Gathering, makes sure every mushroom brought to the ID table gets labeled correctly.

Tour the identification tables with mycologists and learn interesting facts about each mushroom.

The lobster mushroom, Hypomyces lactifluorum, is a parasitic fungus that grows from its host mushroom, a Russula brevipes.

Bring in specimens of everything you find in the forest, including lichens, to have them identified by experts.

Cortinarius cyanites is a poisonous wild mushroom. Learn how to distinguish poisonous mushrooms from choice edible ones.

White chanterelles, Cantharellus subalbidus, stain yellow when handled and are considered a choice edible mushroom.

You'll want to stick close to the chef – plate in hand – during the cooking demonstration. Be ready to taste the fresh mushrooms found that day!

Children are welcome at the Mushroom Gathering. Bring them to forage with you in the forest and participate in workshops.

Everyone loves to eat mushrooms!

Many kinds of edible wild mushrooms are washed and prepared for the cooking demonstration.

A hot bowl of mushroom soup and dumplings on a cool autumn day.

Put on your favorite apron and dye wool yarn with the natural pigments of wild mushrooms.

Everyone loves mushrooms!

Just a few of the colors you can get from dyeing wool with wild mushrooms. In 2012, we will have a workshop to use the natural pigments in mushrooms to make paints.

In 2011, Russian artist Sasha Viazmensky led a workshop on painting mushrooms with watercolors.

Mushroom models sit waiting to be painted in the watercolor workshop.

Carrying bags full of mushrooms in the forest is a great way to spend a long weekend.