Mushroom Hunt and Cook in the Pacific Northwest!

Come along for a forage and cook in the Pacific Northwest. Matsutake, chanterelle, and lobster mushrooms! Plus stayed tuned for the second half of the video, where I cook up a fresh picked lobster mushroom, jerk style!

[@livingintheforest3963]

Good for you you are a resilient strong woman and quite the camper and forager! I can tell you from the city by the way you’re dressed I live here in the forest and you know more about the mushroom foraging than I do I’m just getting started I want to take a class. Thank you for doing this wonderful video it’s fantastic! And you are amazing!

[@BackcountryWahine]

haha aww thank you, thats so sweet! I started mushrooming on my own and then took a class, and that just gave me the confidence I needed. I was on the right path, and that reassured it. So I highly recommend it! Besides its so much fun and nice to meet others with the same interest! Thank you for all your kind comments!

[@Dubmajicks]

Wonderful video Wahine! TY for taking this time to show us just getting started with interest in this most awesome subject of earths precious fungi!!

[@BackcountryWahine]

Thanks for watching! Fungi really are fascinating arent they?😊

[@aaronray6691]

It's awesome that someone comes here just to pick our mushrooms. I'm feeling blessed

[@BackcountryWahine]

You definitely are. WA sparked my curiosity and love for mushrooms. Its like my second home. Such a special place to me. 💜

[@offgridal]

Nice seeing how to cooked the Lobster Mushrooms jerk Style. I live in the PNW, but the High Desert area. The west was my grow up area and yes this back packing burners are hot. I like to steam wild grain In a steamer and bring along an EcoFlow Battery to run the steamer. I know not video worthy, but It works so well.

[@unowhotravelchannel]

Awesome video my friend, fascinating knowledge about mushrooms! We love tastily cooked mushrooms, amazing! Thanks for sharing😎👍💕

[@BackcountryWahine]

thank you so much for watching! Im glad to help spread the mush love and knowledge 😁

[@rosiecarter4207]

Love seeing your magical hunt for deliciousness! Can’t wait to see the next one!

[@BackcountryWahine]

🥰 thank you thank you!!

[@jhowardsupporter]

Magical indeed. Isn't there bears in your American forest? Like don't you need a firearm with you at all times. If I go out there I'll probs have a friend on bear and cougar patrol while I search for mushrooms. I don't want to ice a cat and feel like we could come to an understanding with just a warning shot but I still wouldn't want to lose myself in the hunt. Here in Australia we got snakes which during the winter don't really want to waste energy biting you. So you just need to know where the snakes might live and not mess around with logs and rocks and stuff. There is also spiders. Crocodiles as well in other parts.

[@pnwriverfisher]

@@jhowardsupporter black bears are usually the only bears found in the PNW/ United States, but are almost never a threat even when you run into them. I occasionally carry as I fish in the wilderness a lot but I’ve ran into 10+ bears without a gun on me, and yelling will scare them off almost immediately. Cougars also typically avoid people, I’ve lived in the Pacific Northwest for 25 years and only ever seen one. I’d say the spiders and snakes you got are probably a lot more dangerous than our big predators.

[@jhowardsupporter]

@@pnwriverfisher Let your racism shine

[@pnwriverfisher]

@@jhowardsupporter lmao

[@Ken-ty7sw]

Great video!! Love learning about the shrooms 😋

[@BackcountryWahine]

thanks Ken! You guys have to join the next time!

[@Virago_XV]

Great info Leilani! Loved the knowledge about the Lobster mushroom :)

[@BackcountryWahine]

thanks for always supporting Greg! Next time youre home you gotta go collect some! 😋

[@Virago_XV]

@@BackcountryWahine Absolutely! Keep educating us :)

[@lovethemack]

that was fun! I watched it while cleaning my chanterelle haul. You are delightful adventurous and witty, thanks for the entertainment!

[@BackcountryWahine]

Aww thats so kind of you, thank you! And im glad I got to be there in while you cleaned your chanterelle haul! 😆whats your favorite way to prepare them?

[@lovethemack]

@@BackcountryWahine dry saute, cover with onions peppers an egg, tortilla shell and plate. when egg almost solid, flip over onto plate, add Aji brand hot sauce Burn level heat. serve with chips n salsa, hashbrowns and farmer sausage, sliced fruit or anything~

[@BackcountryWahine]

@@lovethemack sounds amazing!! Ill have to give it a go!

[@katrinak33na8]

Thank You, this video was awesome and very informative! I just found my first lobster mushroom, and this made me so excited to use it!

[@BackcountryWahine]

Aww that is fantastic! Let me know what ya end up making!

[@katrinak33na8]

It ended up not being good enough to eat. But I'm still looking for them, hopefully I'll find some good ones soon. It's supposed to rain soon here in Oregon.

[@BackcountryWahine]

@@katrinak33na8 oh shoot! still exciting to find them though. And yay for rain! also, october is usually a great time and thats just around the corner!

[@lifeofeels8271]

I just discovered your video. Omg, i wish i could just fly to another state to go mushroom foraging haha... you're so awesome, i love it! I also love your excitement when you find your mushrooms :) ... subscribed

[@BackcountryWahine]

Haha yes a very lucky perk that Im so grateful for 😄And thank you so much! lol thats pretty much how I react everytime! 😆🤓 Its like finding treasure! Thanks for the commenting and subscribing 😊

[@GrimwoodHollow]

Aw, so sad, all those poor homeless Smurfs! How could you!! Haha JK! Awesome stuff Lei, and what a beautiful area, I LOVE all the moss! Your videos are always such a therapeutic escape, thank you!!😍👍

[@BackcountryWahine]

hahaha I left some for the smurfs dont worry! 😆 and yes the moss is one of my favorite things about the forests there! its like a comfy cozy natural carpet. hehe 🤗 thanks for always supporting guys!!

[@SamuelHaiyupis-jt8uh]

That looks so good, I'm going to have to try the lobster mushrooms. I have probably seen them but didn't know that they are edible.

[@fattymcbastard6536]

Probably the most important feature of a matsutake to keep in mind is the tapered stem with the grey podzolic soil at the tip. Amanitas all grow from a volva in the humous layer. As long as you're sure there's no volva, you've eliminated the possibility that it's an amanita. There are other "false matsutakes" that more closely resemble the real thing, but they're not dangerous; perhaps bitter, or inferior in flavour, but the smell of the real thing is distinctive. If it doesn't smell like a matsutake, discard it. Mock Matsutake (Catathelasma ventricosa) is one to watch for; they're inferior but good, and require thorough cooking. Brown matsutake (T. caligatum) is uncommon in the PNW, and sometimes bitter. If not bitter, it's as good as the whites.

[@BackcountryWahine]

All very good points! thanks for your expertise input! 😊

[@fattymcbastard6536]

@@BackcountryWahine was just out today & found that someone picked out one of my pine patches recently! Missed one for me to find though. That was a low elevation spot too. They're starting to come up now, get out there!

[@BackcountryWahine]

@@fattymcbastard6536 ooh so good to hear! hoping to plan another PNW trip sometime in Oct. 🤞

[@DADventurerNW]

Great video. Love your excitement!

[@BackcountryWahine]

Thanks so much! What can I say, mushrooms make me so happy! 😆

[@DADventurerNW]

@@BackcountryWahine , I know that feeling well. It’s one of my favorite things to do in the PNW. Love the mixing backpacking with mushroom hunting. Can’t wait for spring mushrooms to start poppin!

[@BackcountryWahine]

@@DADventurerNW I know!! Me too!! Ive been in Colorado the last few months, so been waiting for it to warm up for them morels to start poppin! Currently back in hawaii rn though for a few weeks, and getting my mushroom fix in with a few wood ears and turkey tails. 😛

[@macmckulis7440]

Good job very interesting video well done. Cooking outdoors after harvesting mushrooms is a good idea I love it...

[@macmckulis7440]

Plus your spoon is the best.

[@BackcountryWahine]

Thank you! and yeah, theres nothing like cooking a meal outdoors right? Seems to taste better doesnt it? 😆

[@CascadeBackcountry]

That looked like a perfect mushroom hunting forest! Quite the score :)

[@BackcountryWahine]

Oh man such a score! Went back almost the same time this year and i only harvested a few chanterelles. Still grateful though! 😄

[@roryfundell4528]

Very informative!

[@chriscaudill7326]

I would've loved to have been out there hunting with you. Looked like you had a blast. Keep the cool videos coming. Very enjoyable content.

[@BackcountryWahine]

Aw thank you so much! Really appreciate that! Went back to the same spot this year and was not nearly as abundant, but still always happy to get out!

[@nikolaipanaiotov5439]

beautiful forest beautiful mushrooms

[@jasonreed9429]

thank you for posting, now i gotta try'm !

[@BackcountryWahine]

🤙yee!

[@Geardog361]

Your knowledge of wild edible mushrooms is awesome ! Maybe someday I can make you an awesome portobello burger! :)

[@BackcountryWahine]

Ooh yummo! and thank you, Im a just a amateur, but man do I really love the mush world! I cant get enough! They are so so fascinating. The more you find out about them, the more they draw you in!

[@PaddlingTramp]

It looks delicious!

[@BackcountryWahine]

thank you! you should give it a try!

[@RosserRuns]

I just found and subbed. I look forward to supporting your content.

[@BackcountryWahine]

thank you! Looks like youve got some great content as well! Ill have to check it all out!

[@adrianasivera1337]

commenting on this cuz more people should see it

[@BackcountryWahine]

aww thank you so much for the help! that means a lot!

[@Bernurban]

So cool!

[@BackcountryWahine]

thanks Bern! 😄

[@pinzgauernorcal]

i like how you cooked them right away

[@BackcountryWahine]

Thank ya! Aint nothin like dinner in the forest! 😄

[@pnwriverfisher]

Awesome forage and cook video. I am just starting mushroom hunting and have a couple good outings. Do you usually like to forage in higher altitudes like 3-4000 feet? I’ve spend most of my time around 1000 but here in WA it seems the higher forests have better open mossy cover and bigger trees.

[@BackcountryWahine]

Thats wonderful! Welcome to mushrooming!😄 Well, it actually depends on what mushroom youre going for (and of course your region.) For instance in CO ive found that King Boletes tend to grow around 8000-10000 ft elevation range, and its quite different in WA (cant remember exactly at the moment cause I dont have my journal 😆, but I want to 3k-5k) What I do is I keep a mushroom journal, and mark the elevations at which youre seeing certain species that way itll help you keep track in the future. Glad youre finding stuff already though! Happy hunting!

[@BackcountryWahine]

@@pnwlife8593 We all are desperate on where to start, its tough at first! but when you first find that spot, you know how hard you worked to find it! Then you understand and respect why people keep it a secret. Its part of the mushroom game!

[@Stefkatube1970]

Bardzo przyjemne grzybobranie 🤗 Potrawa wygląda smakowicie 😋 Serdeczne pozdrowienia z Polski 😀☀🍄🌲❤🍀👋

[@BackcountryWahine]

thank you!

[@richardsaagan417]

Nice. GD picking here pine(n more) Sept, Northern BC.

[@mushroomsislife280]

Wow nice find

[@BackcountryWahine]

thank ya!

[@TheArtisticGardener777]

Great mushroom finds!

[@BackcountryWahine]

thank you! It was a good year thats for sure!

[@TheArtisticGardener777]

@@BackcountryWahine would love to find lobster mushroom, but I’m not sure they’re here on the east coast…jealous of your west coast forests😊

[@BackcountryWahine]

@@TheArtisticGardener777 oh yeah im not really familiar with the east coast forest, but I thought they grew all over north america, maybe just easier to find in the old growths out in the Pacific Northwest. I hope you find some someday! They really are quite and interesting mushroom!

[@TheArtisticGardener777]

@@BackcountryWahine ❤️

[@stevejonas1153]

Thank you for that lovely and inspiring video. Really enjoyed seeing the variety of mushrooms you were able to forage, as well as you cooking them in the forest. What was the time of year of your forage, and what elevation were you at? Thanks again.

[@BackcountryWahine]

Thank you so much! This was October. My most favorite time of the year for foraging there! 😉 And I believe it was around 5000 ft. Ps. I appreciate the "proper" mushroom spot questions😆 Thank you. And good luck out there!

[@stevejonas1153]

@@BackcountryWahine Thank you so much for answering my questions. Good luck to you! Waiting for some rain here in the PNW. Some mushrooms out there, but really need some rain. Take care.

[@BackcountryWahine]

@@stevejonas1153 🤞 Im actually in TN now and its been raining, so went out today and got lucky with a couple of chantys. Im sure theyll start poppin off real soon for you!

[@stevejonas1153]

@@BackcountryWahine Yup, rain sure brings them out. Super dry here yet in Oregon with no measurable rain in over two months. Can't wait for that rain to arrive. Best to you in TN!

[@arbythepainter]

does the matsutake grow on the cascade mountain foothills in washington?

[@MatthewDwyer2367]

Excellent video, Love it, but you forgot Country Peppa :-)

[@BackcountryWahine]

Im not familiar with Country Peppa but sounds like I should find out what it is! and thank you!! I really appreciate it!🥰

[@duckwacker8720]

We found tons of lobster 5 minutes from our house. The chanterelles popped up a little later in our area.

[@BackcountryWahine]

how lucky that its right there in your backyard!

[@oceanaxim]

Thank you for taking us on the mushroom hunt and dinner with you! Spent this morning identifying Boletes have you tried them? Did you visit again this year? Stay awesome!

[@BackcountryWahine]

Hey why thank you for joining me! Oooh yes I actually got the mother load of boletes in CO but did not film! Did you find any good ones? Theyre one of my favorites. They just store so well and are super tasty! And yes actually I did visit again this year! I have the footage, but have not starting working on the video yet (comin to ya soon! 😜) Was not as plentiful as last year unfortunately. And back at ya on the awesomeness! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@oceanaxim]

@@BackcountryWahine In SW Washington and found quite a few King Boletes and Slippery Jack Boletes but none as big as some Colorado Kings I've seen in other videos.

[@BackcountryWahine]

@@oceanaxim yeah the boletes in WA ive found were typically a lot smaller than the chonkers I was finding in CO. They are a slightly different varietal in CO, the boletus rubriceps. But LOTS. Mondo ones. I did hear from a few locals though that they had never seen the mushrooms as abundant as they had this year, so maybe I got really lucky!

[@oceanaxim]

@@BackcountryWahine "Chonkers" that word had me giggling to myself all morning!

[@miewmiewminitinivimpikitch8157]

2:58 Nice 🍄🍄

[@miewmiewminitinivimpikitch8157]

9:55 Nice mushrooms 🍄🍄

[@lissawick2171]

If the veil is still intact, have the spores not been released ?

[@silv__ia_]

cool

[@roryfundell4528]

So pretty 🦋! I,d love to go mushroom hunting with you!!!

[@BackcountryWahine]

oh why thank you!

[@NaomiDollxoxo]

I'm really wanting to go find mushrooms. I live here in Washington and want to be sure I'm collecting correct mushrooms and where to find the goodies

[@christiang6932]

The mushrooms in this video are pretty much done for the season. But you can still find yellow foot, candy cap, and hedgehogs. If you're on the east side of the state, you will have morels coming in spring near you. Just guessing, but this video was probably the gifford pinchot forest area.

[@BackcountryWahine]

Washington has so many sources for finding mushrooms. I think the best way to go about it is to look for a mycological society in your area. Often times they will do forays, and theres loads of information to learn and share. Its so much fun. It will open a whole new world for you :)

[@stevepenney6459]

You are cool, young lady.

[@BackcountryWahine]

Why thank you!

[@alexanderhult484]

Hello! Im very interested in what kind of "white russula" that get attacked by fungus and evolves to Lobester mushroom? Sound really cool. In the forest closes to me (Reykjavik) its like thousands of white russulas that looks like those on the video but i have never seen a Lobster mushroom.

[@BackcountryWahine]

oh how cool! Not sure on lobsters being in your forests, but its possible! It commonly attacks russula brevipes, but also will attack several other species I believe. If youre not already doing so, maybe try connecting with your local mushroom groups and ask to see if theyve noticed any lobsters. Thats always a good way to learn about mushrooms in your area. Let me know if you find some!

[@alexanderhult484]

@@BackcountryWahine the White russula here is named Russula Delica so its sadly not the same. What do you mean with that i should try?

[@duckwacker8720]

Looks like Lewis falls

[@nike316]

Don't let a Sasquatch catch you taking all of the food out there, lol.

[@BackcountryWahine]

🤫😁

[@duckwacker8720]

Morel season is about it start in Washington.

[@BackcountryWahine]

Eeee I know!🤩ooh Im hoping I can get over there! 🤗all the fires last year may make for an amazing season!

[@LGZEE]

The cooking part of this video reminded me of hanging out with my friend that used to do too much coke every once in a while. She always had such great intentions and was always so nice. Last thing I would do is hang out with her when she was using propane and fire hahaha. Looks good though.

[@LGZEE]

@@pnwlife8593 hahaha, man I'm such an a hole haha. Forgot all about this comment. All in good fun.

[@spidermight8054]

Great video. I spent 2 decades commercially hunting mushrooms on the Southern Oregon coast. Those are definitely coastal matsutakes, no doubt. I’ve never known there to be an Amanita lookalike. There is a lookalike we called “cats paws” which are not toxic.

[@BackcountryWahine]

Thank you! And yeah when I first started mushrooming I went out with a group on a foray and she warned us about an amanita lookalike, but its easy to differentiate because of the stipe, and especially now that I know the two. But you know how it is when youre first learning, and when you find that mushroom for the first time. Youre extra cautious about it all! Ive never heard of the cats paws..I gotta look that one up! Thanks for the comments!

[@zchelo123]

👍👍👍👍👍😘

[@algorythemQ]

Why don't you just move here to the great north west... Great video. Thanks

[@BackcountryWahine]

Definitely have considered it! My husbands job makes it tough though. Very limited to where we can be...although, I was based there for 5 years (flying) so it was practically a second home for me, so that was nice.☺ Glad to have good friends who live there so I can visit often!

[@philr3291]

@Backcountry Wahine I'm getting into mushroom hunting, what is this location ? Is it a campground area good for camping? Thanks!

[@BackcountryWahine]

Hey Phil! Thats a secret! haha 🤫🙈Im sorry. Its a well known thing to keep your mushroom spots a secret, however I do try to leave breadcrumbs in my videos that way if youre really interested you could do some investigating and it should at least point you in the right direction. My best suggestion, is to join a local mushroom club and theyll take you on a foray. Thats a great place to start. And yes, there is camping near by. 😉Thanks for understanding and happy mushrooming!

[@howardlashbrook1657]

they feel like sliced almonds

[@mimit4346]

Where do you go foraging？ i will fly to celebrate my 60th birthday next year ,go ‘wild’ in a way, I look at the map it‘s huge area in the west coast, can you give me a pointer？ thank you

[@BackcountryWahine]

Hi! where are you flying from? When you say west coast, do you mean the entire west coast of the united states? oregon and washington are great places to forage for mushrooms. just remember elevation is key depending on what youre looking for, so maybe make sure the places you plan on going to have the right elevation for the type of mushroom you are searching. That should help you narrow down your forests a bit.

[@TimCOD4]

What county is this? Looks like Mason.

[@jussanativeboy]

No doubt those are pine

[@boosalith2246]

Slice this Matsutakes up about 1/4in thick salt and pepper and throw them on a BBQ...Charcoal preferably .

[@BackcountryWahine]

Ooh that sounds good! Ill have to try it next time! thanks for the suggestion 😄

[@boosalith2246]

@@BackcountryWahine Matsutake is one of my favorite mushrooms that I wait and anticipate for every fall

[@BackcountryWahine]

@@boosalith2246 Yeah they are quite tasty, and they are just so fun to hunt! Fall is my fave too...so abundant in so many mushies!

[@ubhappy2lee27]

What month was it?

[@BackcountryWahine]

This was in October 😊

[@julieevanger9181]

Is the the rock slides Triangle lake

[@BackcountryWahine]

Hmm dont think Im familiar with Triangle lake so perhaps that answers your question 😅

[@jussanativeboy]

Aminita isn't even close to being a pine, pines break apart in strands

[@steveperry9505]

Pacific Giant Salamander "Dicamptodon Ambystomatidae

[@BackcountryWahine]

ah thank you! very cool!

[@duanebrower7896]

not only beautiful but also a bad ass girl in the woods

[@BackcountryWahine]

aww thank you so much!

[@kingfresh00]

you took an airplane ride to go mushroom hunting?!

[@BackcountryWahine]

so worth it. shouldve seen me going through TSA 😆

[@MatthewDwyer2367]

You're a mushroom sommelier!

[@BackcountryWahine]

😆 I wish I was that skilled!

[@TheTubejunky]

Why are alot of mushroom videos (FROM LAST YEAR) stating that they were posted only a few months ago? KZbin is up to something....

[@BackcountryWahine]

🤔

[@spidermight8054]

Lobster mushrooms don’t smell like seafood. They smell like cat piss. But taste good.

[@BackcountryWahine]

cat pee?! lol dont think ive heard that one..they really smell like seafood to me. Maybe if they smelled like cat pee to me I might be scared away! thats really funny though!

[@anonymous-cl8kv]

can you make hunt for the mushroom that make u high edition

[@BackcountryWahine]

😆Im not too familiar with those but Im sure you cant find a bunch of content online.

[@amputeescangardeen5409]

a plastick knife at the condiment section no excuse

[@BackcountryWahine]

😆

[@kalaradl2705]

Wea you stay? Ha

[@BackcountryWahine]

haha ho secrets cuz 🤫

[@nechir92jaf]

Girls : mushroom hunt and clean Boys : Hunt giant Bear ( catch clean and cook)

[@jonathanfox8206]

Solo and shady lol?

[@BackcountryWahine]

thats how I like my hikes, solo and shady 😏😆

[@canadianwoodlandsurvival1564]

I need me a girl like you

[@BackcountryWahine]

aww garsh 🙃 thank you for the lovely compliment!

[@lousassle5803]

Do you really not know how to cook rice.?

[@BackcountryWahine]

😆Well Im half asian and grew up in Hawaii, if i didnt know how to cook rice for real Id be disowned from my family. 🤣Have you ever tried cooking rice on a backpackers stove? Its a little different, especially when you dont have a lot of time.