Mushrooms, guns, and $5

Fall in Western Oregon brings rain, flocks of migrating geese, and mushrooms. Chanterelles, one of the magical gifts of the natural world, erupt from the loam of the forest floor of Oregon’s hills and mountains. They are delicious sautéed with butter and salt and eaten with salmon or on pizza. Foraging for the mushrooms in Oregon is more difficult this year because of the climate change-fueled wildfires, which have burned more than one million acres, destroyed lives, and closed roads. Following the advice I often give my patients - to get out into nature to reduce stress and anxiety and to recharge - our family set out this past weekend to an unburned section of the Mt. Hood National Forest. We left our liberal Portland neighborhood, bedecked with progressive political signs, and, one hour later, found ourselves in a different universe.

As we approached the spot where we wanted to look for mushrooms, we came upon several men in what looked like tactical gear, milling around their cars and trucks, apparently preparing for target practice. They had hunting rifles and what looked like - and later sounded like - semi-automatic assault rifles. As we passed, a couple of them smiled and waved. We pulled off a couple of miles down the road from there, still hoping to look for chanterelles. But when we got out of the car and heard the rapid, powerful bangs of weapons of war echoing around the hills, which frightened us and reduced our dog to a shivering puddle, we decided that that piece of National Forest was not for us that day.

We were not naïve to the reality that the National Forest has many uses, including hunting and shooting. In fact, we had carefully checked the Oregon hunting season calendar to be sure we were not in the forest during deer hunting. We had also, in an abundance of caution, brought hunter orange clothing and a vest for our dog. But to be confronted with the sights and sounds of assault weapons - weapons like those that have been use in countless school shootings and other mass shootings - when we, with our two young kids, were hoping for a respite in nature….

I have since read up on the rules governing target shooting in the Mt. Hood National Forest. Provided certain safety and anti-littering rules are followed, it is allowed, without user fees, in nearly the entire forest. There are only a few small areas where it is forbidden. We were actually in one of those areas where we pulled off to look for chanterelles, but we were well within earshot of the semi-automatic gunfire.

Unlike the wildlife, we were able to get into our car and drive lividly to a state park. We paid a $5 user fee and went for a lovely walk through a woods full or Oregon White Oak and cedar trees, hummingbirds, blue jays, chickadees, chirruping frogs, a rough-skinned newt, mosses, lichens, epiphytic ferns, many and varied fungi, and a blessed absence of assault weapons fire. But no chanterelles. We replenished our souls and left behind only footprints.

Now I am back in the city, back to the 2020 news cycle, back in the pandemic, and back to work in pediatrics where I still counsel my patients daily to get out into nature. I just hope they can afford the user fee.