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This is still a somewhat helpful field guide for East Coasters, but you might also be interested in the National Audubon Society Mushroom Field Guide, which covers all of North America.
A list of pictures is not enough. You need a comprehensive resource that will also tell you which ones have no inedible lookalikes and how the inedible lookalikes differ if they do exist.
The closest thing to what you are looking for is probably this. And, even then, go out with an experienced mushroom hunter the first few hundred times.
Mushrooms of the Northeast is my go to field guide for New England. I take that little book on every hike. At home I keep the National Audubon Society Guide. The Audubon Guide is a bit more in depth and has a lot more species listed. Just be cautious because the more extensive guide is not focused on New England.
r/shroomid
Edit: I also have the National Audubon Society Field Guide to Mushrooms which has almost 1000 pages of how to ID specific mushrooms with pictures. I think it’s on Amazon :) happy hunting!
National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mushrooms (National Audubon Society Field Guides) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0394519922/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_8xXOFb7VDBG94?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
This is the one I use. It’s pretty complete and not too expensive.
National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mushrooms (National Audubon Society Field Guides) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0394519922/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_kWQQBbB92MYGP
Nice work... reminded me of Secrets of a Devon Wood by Jo Brown, which I had to buy because it has some of the greatest field journal illustrations I've ever seen.
Keep it up and I just might have to buy yours one day too!
Field guide for your area (https://www.amazon.com/National-Audubon-Society-American-Mushrooms/dp/0394519922)
Merlin Sheldrake’s recent book is also fantastic (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/566795/entangled-life-by-merlin-sheldrake/)
Welcome! I'm assuming you paid for them. These are not crystals but "massive" forms of the minerals that have been tumbled to polish them. What is important though is that they bring you joy.
Here are some additional resources:
Educational:
Worlds biggest mineral specimen database with a big message board.
National Audubon Society Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals: North America (National Audubon Society Field Guides) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0394502698/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apan_i_4N64V1G5AEX6B3GPSJ43
r/rockhounds
Places to buy mineral specimens
eBay: Look under collectibles. There is a rocks and minerals category.
Etsy
Various dealer websites.
Rock shops and metaphysical shops.
Gem and mineral shows.
Rockhounding.
my favorite: National Audubon Society Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals: North America (National Audubon Society Field Guides) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0394502698/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_YMJ54BXJMH8Y5KR8QEA9
Your journal is so inspiring. Have you ever heard of this book called "secrets of a Devon wood"? You might like it, check it out. Amazing nature drawings - life goals for me.
Secrets of a Devon Wood: My Nature Journal https://www.amazon.com/dp/1780724373/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apan_glt_i_V0V71NZ9VR97A2H9N7Y9
Not sure where you live, but for general mushrooming in North America: National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mushrooms (National Audubon Society Field Guides) https://smile.amazon.com/dp/0394519922/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_FEFRG6TAF35T4HZW5BHR
And for magics specifically: Psilocybin Mushrooms of the World: An Identification Guide https://smile.amazon.com/dp/0898158397/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_PVVM6WDNMP9V9W75EYPA
Do you have a field guide ?! If not, you should really get one. I use this... National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mushrooms (National Audubon Society Field Guides) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0394519922/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_3R33PJ3K8H8FPBMMD13Y?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Huh, I can't help you with mushrooms that grow in your area as I don't have a guide that goes by location. But if you go out to trails out in woods a day or two (even up to 5 days) after a big rain, you'll find plenty of mushrooms by the side of the trails, sometimes even in the middle of a trail, sitting there all by itself like it's trying to say "You shall not pass!"
Take a bag you can hang over you shoulder and in there put a paper bag. Collect the mushrooms, take them home and the use thig guide to try to ID them: https://www.amazon.com/National-Audubon-Society-American-Mushrooms/dp/0394519922
it's 14 bucks new and it is worth every penny.
Don't bother trying to identify them while you're out looking for them. You'll waste time and will only be able to identify 3 or 4 before a hour or so went by.
Don't grab any and then poke it all over. Be gentle with them. If you start to physically molest them, you might later get an itchy eye and you don't want to rub anything that might irritate your eyes while you're out there.
Look for them in shady spots. They're usually not on higher ground. Downed trees and logs are good spots too.
Good hunting.
I got this one off of Amazon. Was quick and cheap. Idk much if anything though so there could be other ones.
I use this... https://www.amazon.com/National-Audubon-Society-American-Mushrooms/dp/0394519922
There are apps that can do it for you much easier... but that book is great at helping you narrow down exactly what it is... best part is it has a "dangerous lookalikes" section for each mushroom... so if you aren't 100% sure you can investigate further to exclude the others...
Wow I love illustrations like this. The attention to detail and the educational aspect is great! You can get a copy of it on Amazon.
Secrets of a Devon Wood: My Nature Journal https://www.amazon.com/dp/1780724373/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_MMBRJ30QT2Q3BSACG5HN?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
I'd have to say this is the best basic field guide and a great place to start. You can get more detailed as you go. Also, find some youtube videos about the fungi in your area.
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National Audubon Society North American Mushrooms Field Guide
So this has 366 reviews so im not entering but its a book/educational journal. It’s called Secrets of a Devon Wood: by Jo Brown. ITS STUNNING, If you guys are in to nature, just take a peek. I don’t have it yet, but I plan to get it. Book
I have two recommendations:
- Pick up a copy of the Audubon Field Guide
- If you have to ask, don't eat it. Only eat wild mushrooms you can positively identify; you're gambling your internal organs on being right, so, you know, be smart.
[this pretty book about Devon wildlife I found recommended on a different sub here ](www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1780724373?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share)
Secrets of a Devon Wood: My Nature Journal Jo brown. Can’t get link to work
National Audubon Society Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals: North America.
Got it as a present when I was a kid, used it through college, still have it. Great reference book, and fits in a cargo pocket.
Audubon guides are good starter books. There are probably some geared toward professional geos that are better, but the Audubon books have great identification sections and decent, full color photos.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0394502698/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_q.APFbTYXVAKP?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
I have a few geology guide books, but by far my favorite is my Audubon society field guide to rocks and minerals. It encompasses many different kinds of rocks and minerals, and has clear pictures of each one along with more information about various characteristics of each one, how they are formed, how to identify them, etc... The Audubon society always does a great job with their field guides, and for someone interested in geology I guarantee it will not disappoint.
Here is the link to the guide on amazon. I know the book is geared toward North America but I imagine it will still work in Europe. Enjoy!
If you can get your hand on an Audubon's Guide, they're sort of the gold standard for identifying and harvesting in the PNW.
Here's a link to their mushroom guide
As Snowshoe Thompson said back in the 1800s, "There is no danger of getting lost in a narrow range of mountains like the Sierra, if a man has his wits about him." He had also commented that it was "unnecessary ever to remain so long in the mountains that one need be afraid of starving to death". However, the key part is the "has his wits about him" bit, as these days many people do not and thus require rescue.
Still, that's no reason not to look through a field guide, and one that comes to mind is The Laws Field Guide to the Sierra Nevada. Bushcraft is less common, in many areas the ecosystem is too delicate for such activity, and of course there's little need for it anyway.
(Pedantic note: Just as "deer" are not called "deers", the mountain range is simply the "Sierra")
I would recommend 2 to you. The National Audubon Society Field Guide to Weather and The Cloud Collector's Handbook.
The former has multiple pictures of the main cloud types and variants you may see, as well as how they form and what weather they bring. The Cloud Collector's Handbook is a pocket-sized book that can help you identify those clouds, as well as 'collect' them and earn 'points' for having collected those clouds. It has higher point values for more rare clouds. Points don't mean anything though, just as a way for you to track your collection.
The general rule of thumb is to call 1/3rd of your bodyweight a hard maximum for pack weight. At that point, the extra weight gets pretty hard on your joints (not to say I haven't seen some beastly men carrying 70+lb packs, but no one considers that situation ideal).
33lbs is on the light side. That's not a bad thing! As long as you've got your essentials, you should be all set. I'm assuming you have a stove and fuel -- there are no campfires permitted in Desolation, and frankly cooking on a fire is a huge pain in the ass. Your stove is also your emergency water supply is something happens to your filter (unlikely, but hey).
If you're on a solo trek, I suggest a novel and/or journal for the evenings. They can get lonely. If you're a curious human being, the John Muir Laws field guide to the Sierra is literally the greatest field guide I've ever encountered. I carry mine every trip into the mountains, and a pen. I write down where and when I get a positive ID on a new species of flower, bird, mammal, etc. It's a bit on the heavy side (maybe a pound?) making it a luxury for sure. Definitely not an essential for your first trip, but if you start getting curious, that's the best field guide ever.
It sounds like you're gonna do great! Have fun and be safe! If you happen to remember, report back when you get home safe! I'm going to spend the weekend wondering if I've killed a Redditor...