Trail Tales-The Mysterious Mushroom

Artist Conk on Graves Creek

At some moment during a challenging solo backpacking trip, the high miles and physical exertion sometimes equal a funny situation. During my 107 mile Black Bear Traverse in the Olympics, I had a two fer, the first was as descended into Home Sweet Home. I walked behind some old hiker gorging on huckleberries, when he finally saw me he held his purple hands high in the sky and stuck his tongue out at me, we laughed for a few minutes as I got my berry on too. The other funny situation happened on the last day after a tough traverse of the Six Ridge Way Trail and a delightful night near McGravey Lake. I was coming down from Sundown Pass, when I spotted this Artist Coch Mushroom on the side of the tread, I picked it up and read its inscription. I thought “why would someone leave this out here miles from any trail head?” Finally, I put it down and made my way to the end of the journey, basking in my accomplishment. The jury is still out on that mushroom!