UPDATE: All members may now register for this event. To do so, you need to be logged in to the site and be a member in good standing. A waiting list will be automatically kept. Please cancel your registration if you cannot come, so one of your fellow members can attend.
After a long, dry 3 weeks in the middle of our monsoon season, Arizona has finally received a decent amount of long-awaited late August rainfall yesterday and today, primarily in the White Mountains. Therefore we are planning to offer a short-notice "snap foray" on Labor Day, Monday Sep. 2. Your foray captain will be former AMS President Chris May, a.k.a. "Chuck Barrows" on our Facebook page.
We will begin by offering priority registration to all AMS members who have not yet been able to attend any of our FREE forays this year. Each of these persons will receive an email with a special code for registration. If you are one of these people and don't see an AMS event announcement e-mail in your inbox, check your junk mail folder.
Registration for those with the priority code will not open until 7:00 PM on Thursday, Aug. 29. They will have 24 hours to sign up. Any AMS member can register for the remaining spaces beginning on Friday, Aug. 30 at 7:00 PM.
Registrants can include no more than 3 additional guests from their household. Remember that you have legal responsibility for making sure that any adult guests are informed of the AMS Liability Waiver and agree to be bound by its terms. Children may attend and must be under supervision of their parent at all times. Dogs must be well-behaved and under constant control during the event. We strongly recommend they be on a leash so they do not chase wild animals.
This event includes hiking at high elevation, sometimes in areas with heavy downed logs and debris, which can be difficult for children, dogs, and many of us as well!
Summer forays are a valuable opportunity to learn about our local mycoflora, and while edibles are likely to be found it is not the goal of the foray. If you are interested in learning about local mushrooms, and haven't had an opportunity to register for an AMS event this year, here is a chance for you.
Please be sure to come to the event prepared for summer monsoon season in the high mountains. You will need hiking boots, sunscreen, water, rain gear, and basic first aid supplies. Please be sure to bring a trusty knife and mesh bags or baskets for collecting mushrooms.
FORAY DATE/TIME: 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM, Monday, Sep. 2
FORAY DESTINATION: We will be hunting the White Mountains of Arizona in the general vicinity of Greer. Please meet at the Sunrise General Store, on AZ-273 about 3 miles south of AZ-260. If you are coming up early the same day, allow about 3.5 hours driving time from Phoenix.
FORAY CAPTAIN: Chris May
- Phone/Text: 480-326-6863
- Email: ccmaymd@gmail.com
- Vehicle: 2013 Toyota Tacoma Dual Cab w/ Camper Shell, Brown, AZ license XRAYDOC
MYCOLOGY SKILL LEVEL: All. Novices are especially welcomed.
THEME: General Education/ID, Harvest/Preservation of familiar edibles
PHYSICAL FITNESS LEVEL: Moderate. You should be able to walk 2 miles and 300 vertical feet at 9000 feet elevation.
VEHICLE REQUIREMENTS: Any vehicle should be OK, but low-slung passenger cars could get stuck due to recent rains. We suggest you use the Arizona Mushroom Forum group page on Facebook to arrange carpools.
COST: Free to AMS members.
EXPECTED WEATHER: Scattered thunderstorms. 40% chance of rain. High 74, low 50. Prepare for rain and be aware that the event may be delayed or canceled in case of adverse weather, especially lightning.
LODGING: There are a few hotels with rooms remaining in Springerville and Pinetop, but they are filling fast due to the Labor Day weekend. There are many Forest Service campgrounds in the area but they are mostly full as well. There is always plenty of camping at Sunrise Park Resort, and it's close to where we will be hunting. You can also look for dispersed camping at many locations on the forest if you are self-sufficient.
OTHER INFO: Remember that the White Mountain Apache Reservation is off-limits to mushroom hunting by those who are not members of the tribe.