Morels of the story

Wallowa County is in the midst of a mushroom frenzy. Servers in Hermiston crashed over the weekend due to all the Facebook posts bragging about the poundage of morel mushrooms in Oregon. You can do a census count of how many kitchen sinks there are in northeast Oregon right now because every one of them is online brimming with morels. Cows are sore from producing enough milk to make enough butter to saute’ all these shrooms. It’s madness. Whoever the governor of Oregon is these days had to declare a state of deliciousness.

Captain Morgan Jenkins has always been on the All-Star squad of morel hunting in Oregon, and the convergence of all this rain and morel mushroom growing conditions has put Mojo into high gear. I mean, look at this. I’m afraid his kitchen floor is going to collapse. I asked him where he found these and he said St. Louis.

Cap’n Todd and his lovely wife Tammy have also been chopping down huge wild morels. It’s not just abundance recently, it’s that these things are swelling to almost indecent proportions. Todd and Tammy had to use a cross-cut misery whip saw to fell this one.

If you don’t have a kitchen sink, Olaf pottery is the next best vessel for displaying foraged morels. Or maybe the other way around. If you don’t have Olaf pottery, call a carpenter and have a new shelf built in your kitchen because you’re going to be starting a collection. These ceramic wonder vessels are very Wallowa County, very awesome, made by a very awesome guy from Wallowa County. Here’s a link . Folgers crystals taste just like fine espresso when sipped from a Juve mug.

I don’t know what’s going on with this golden age of fungus right now, but I ain’t complaining. If we’re lucky, Morgan will preserve some of that bounty and slip some into the sauce for pasta night or into the skillet on farm-fresh egg morning . . . although that would elevate the already skyrocketingly-good Winding Waters meals into zero gravity and there’s not much research available on that. 

Maybe we can ask the instructors on the Wilderness Advanced Life Support trip in Hells Canyon in September what the taste bud threshold is for goodness. Speaking of Hells Canyon and mushroom madness, you might want to keep an eye out for river morels mushrooms along the way. This unique environment sometimes surprises foragers.

And don’t forget, morel season in Oregon can be a fleeting treasure. The prime time varies, but typically the morel mushroom growing season hits hardest in spring. If you're wondering when do morel mushrooms grow, the answer lies in soil temperature and recent rain. Ideal morel mushroom soil temperature hovers around 50°F, and you’ll find them near morel trees like dead elms, ash, and cottonwoods. Yes, these are the best trees for morels.

For anyone new to the game, wondering where to find morels in Oregon or how to find morel mushrooms, keep an eye out after a rain, look around burn site morels, and explore the edges of wooded areas.

Also, check out our Whitewater Raftings trips. They don’t just provide river thrills but also pass through wild terrain perfect for spotting morels in the fall or spring. We call it the splash-and-forage combo!

Meantime, peace out, y’all.

(photos and mushrooms courtesty of Tammy. Except that sink one. That’s all Mojo.)

Tips for Spotting and Storing Morels

• How to store a morel mushroom: Keep them dry in a paper bag in the fridge.
• Tips to find morel mushrooms: Follow rain, check soil temps, scout for the right trees.
• How fast do morel mushrooms grow? In just a few days under ideal conditions!
• Identifying a morel mushroom: Look for the honeycomb cap and hollow inside.

Ready to Explore Oregon’s Wild Side?

Whether you're mushroom foraging or planning riverside adventures, Winding Waters River Expeditions is your go-to guide. Book your Whitewater Rafting trip with us to combine outdoor thrills with nature’s tastiest treasures.

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