Well, in the last week or so, some very undramatic finds. A handful of small, dried blacks. A few greys today. Smallish. Dried. However, this is record early for me to find anything. Still scouting, expanding my range. Getting ready for a great rain and some warmer nights, in that combination.

wellcome

hi mountaineer,

i am from eskymo land also been next to nothing the weather looks good after the snow. try the river rd. from powers to labranche lots of state/plum creek land wish ya luck ya know...........................

Well, haven't posted my finds in a while, but I have been avidly scouting and collecting. The rain in the Iron Mountain area has helped tremendously to bring a flush of shrooms to the woods. I have added lobster mushrooms, fairy ring mushrooms (after careful analysis from a series of sources on line and in my field guides), black trumpets and hedgehog (sweet tooth to the pan in the last few weeks)...really really excited that all had merit in the roasting or frying pan with various noodle, rizotto, in soup, or just plain sauted...Have had so many chanterelles...still see many in my haunts...

New frontier: the bolete. Found plenty of them. I have a smaller version of a king in my yard coming up. No dangerous staining. Not bitter. Rough, not slimy top...can the king come in versions smaller than those you see on line? Pores cream colored no bruising...stem not solid...pithy. Thought maybe chestnut bolete...no scabber stalk to speak of...looked at summer bolete, pine, etc. Just not sure, so not eating them...not sure what to expect in the UP and haven't found a website specific to our environs...all in good time.

If the stem is pithy and what else you described I'd almost bet they're chestnuts, but would have to see a pic to confirm it. I have yet to find a bolete in Michigan that has a pithy stem that is not a variety of chestnut, but, I've never hunted the UP and it certainly is possible. There is a dark capped and light capped version of the chestnut, both with different latin names. To me they taste identical. I've found them growing in all habitats except a wide open field or underwater. LOL! I have found them growing in fields, but always in association with some type of tree.

I think you are right about the chestnut bolete...we don't have a chestnut tree around, but oh well. Someone just posted a really informative thread about kings...it helped clarify some things for me. That being said and eliminating the dangerous boletes as possibilities, I did cook and sample this mushroom. Delicious. Great texture, flavor.

I haven't been able to post pics, even with resizing as recommended. Not sure what the problem is...it could be because I am somewhat technologically challenged... :-)