Forayz Guide
Forayz includes a variety of environmental and data layers that mushroom foragers can use for choosing the best places and times to pick mushrooms. Below is a summary of each.
Data Layers
Past Burns
Use the past burns layer to locate forest fires from the past few years. Forest fires from last year are typically the most productive for burn morels, but earlier years can still be fruitful and are more often overlooked by foragers.
Forest Harvests
Similar to past burns, recent harvests or otherwise disturbed forests can be great places to search for morels and are often overlooked by foragers.
Areas of Interest
These include major towns/cities in the region as well as areas that have good foraging grounds nearby. Check these for updates on environmental conditions in the area, including recent rain, soil conditions, and days below freezing. Recent freezing or dry conditions typically mean the area may not be suitable for foraging.
Events
Salish Mushrooms forays, classes, and other events.
Environmental Layers
Soil Temperature
Mushrooms grow best in soil temperatures between 40 and 70°F. Use soil temperature maps in the spring to locate areas that are warming sufficiently for morels and other spring species. As the soil continues to warm into the summer, look for hot spots that indicate poor conditions. In the fall, use soil temperature maps to find areas that are likely too cold for mushroom fruiting.
Soil Moisture
Mushrooms require moisture to grow. Use soil moisture maps to find areas with a reasonable amount of moisture or to avoid areas that are likely too dry for mushroom fruiting.
Precipitation
The Forayz precipitation map shows the cumulative recent precipitation so users can find areas likely suitable for mushroom growth when conditions may be otherwise dry in the region. This layer is most useful during dry spells, especially during the dry summer months.
Snow Cover
Use snow cover in the spring to check when areas have recently melted out. These spots are typically the best for morel foragers as the snow has recently receded, soil moisture is high, and soil temperature is warming. Avoid areas with current snow cover. In the fall, this map can be helpful in tracking when higher-elevation areas are seeing the end of foraging season.
Ecoregions
Gain a greater understanding of the various ecoregions of the Pacific Northwest, which can be useful for correlating specific mushroom species or seasonality with broader areas.
Precipitation Normals
Find rainshadows, rainforests, and other unique areas based on average annual rainfall across the region. Gain a better understanding for the differences in vegetation and mushrooms throughout the region by the amount of rainfall.