Lots of ceps!

However, let me not get ahead of myself.

The trip started with finding a beautiful specimen of edible Amanita rubescens (or possibly deadly poisonous Amanita pantherina). I left it alone as the gamble wasn't worth it, but there was immediately a good feeling about the trip, as the emergence of this fungus usually means that ceps are in season.

Delicious or deadly? If unsure, leave it be

Right next to it, some small boletes - also a sign of bigger things to come. I took a few for spore prints and positive ID, although I very much doubt they offer much in terms of edibility.

Edible, possibly - but why bother?

And then, some beautiful false chanterelles. Contrary to popular belief, they are not poisonous, but merely inedible. I still love them dearly, because, like the two encounters above, they are a definite indicator that deeper in the forest, something big awaits.

False chanterelle - note the strictly bifurcating true gills distinguishing it from its true namesake

Some wild sorrel - I picked a bunch to put into my salad.

Tender leaves with delicate sour taste, excellent in salads with pickles

And then, finally, the big ones. Meet Boletus luridiformis - hideous on the outside, delicious on the inside (or so most reference books are telling me anyway). I have never seen or picked these before, and the plan is to cook them tomorrow. The largest cap is currently resting over a white paper napkin for a spore print, but I am absolutely positive of its identification already: its appearance is unmistakable. Provided I survive sampling the dish (don't see why not), I'll post its species highlight tomorrow, as it is a most remarkable fungus.

Beautiful and deadly... no, just beautiful (and its seven brothers nearby, too)

Turning the corner... and words fail me. Spirits of the forest have smiled on me (even though, as everybody knows, they don't exist). Just LOOK at the size of these fungi!

...! ...! ...!

Here is the final image, after which I'll leave you in peace: the total haul of the day. This is the reason why mushroom hunters love their pursuit so much: you never know what you are going to get. One week it's a handful of chanterelles, and then the next - this. 3 kilograms of finest mushrooms! Today, life is good!

Mostly ceps, but also lurid boletes, larch boletes, chanterelles and false saffron milk caps