162: Hunting the Cantharellus Formosus

Show Notes: Episode 162

Today on the First 40 Miles, our family did something that exercised our risk muscle and prepared us for some interesting side trails on autumn and spring backpacking trips.  We went mushroom hunting without someone holding our hand!  Then we’ll review a sturdy piece of outdoor gear that will give you a place to organize mushrooms, do a little outdoor sketching and maybe some meal prep.

Opening

  • Our toe dip into family mushroom hunting
  • Went out with Joyce and Leah from the Oregon Mycological Society last week
  • Mushroom hunting is over when it freezes…starts up again in spring
  • Matsutaki mushroom hunting spot left in will
  • Audio from trip…

Top 6 Things We’re Glad We Brought on Our Mushroom Hunt

Audio from trip…

SUMMIT Gear Review™:  Helinox Table One Hard Top

Structure

  • Folding hard top camp table
  • Polyester top that feels like canvas—and it rolls/folds up for storage
  • Legs made of high quality aluminum poles

Utility

  • Single, short-corded pole structure sets up quickly
  • Comes with a carrying sack
  • Note: Not designed for use as a seat
  • Includes a storage sack with zipper closure and handles

Mass

  • Weighs 2 lbs. 1.6 oz.
  • Unfolded Dimensions: 24 x 16 x 15.4 inches
  • Folded Dimensions: 7 x 5 x 4.7 inches
  • Table sits at 16” height

Maintenance

  • Can’t set hot things on top
  • Sturdy and stable
  • Set up takes a couple minutes

Investment

  • $140

Trial

  • Sturdy
  • Borderline on backpackable weight
  • Novel to bring a table on a backpacking trip, so this is most often toted along by our children—and it came with us on our mushrooming
  • Good for journaling, sketching, food prep (you’ll need a cutting board)
  • Probably best for day trips and for camping, rather than backpacking

Backpack Hack of the Week™:  Vollkornbrot (Whole Grain Rye Bread)

4 cups dark rye flour
2 cups warm water
1 tsp yeast
1 tsp salt
1 cup raw sunflower seeds
2 Tbs millet

Mix water and yeast.  Let it sit for 3-5 minutes.  Add the rest of the ingredients and mix in a stand mixer until everything is incorporated.

Place dough in a parchment-lined loaf pan or make a free form loaf on a parchment-line baking sheet.  Let it sit for 1 hour in a warm place until the loaf is slightly puffed (NOTE: it may not look “risen” like a traditional whole wheat loaf, but that’s because rye flour is different than whole wheat flour.)

Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 1 hour

Slice thinly when cooled.

Long lasting, durable, dense, high fiber, strong flavor, add-ins, moist, forgiving.

Trail Wisdom

“For the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare; yea, I prepared all things, and have given unto the children of men to be agents unto themselves.”
Doctrine and Covenants