I was sketching this hefty orange mushroom when a guy came along the trail and told me it was a Russula species, probably Russula cremoricolor. He’d taken a little nibble from it when he had passed earlier. Allegedly, for this genus, if it doesn’t taste spicy, it’s edible. I didn’t try it myself.

At the end of the hike, there he was again at the trailhead, sitting in a camp chair by his car, enjoying a snack. He pulled out a big bag of chanterelles that he had gathered on the trail, and offered me a couple to bring home, which I gladly did. He offered advice on how to clean and cook them, which I’m about to do now. Mmmmmmushrooms.