COMA MUSHROOM WALKS

Mycology is Mushrooming!

Connecticut-Westchester Mycological Association
Club Website comafungi.org

Walk Schedule for 2008. Walks begin 9:30 a.m. Directions and walk leaders are listed below. Handy equipment includes a basket, wax paper and/or wax paper bags, a small knife, a whistle, a magnifying lens, and an insect repellent containing DEET for tick protection. The walks are followed by a communal lunch and a mushroom identification session. Bring your lunch (and maybe something to share) and a mushroom manual to help with the identification of our finds. (COMA cannot be responsible for mushroom identification.)

Sunday, April 27

WESTCHESTER WILDERNESS WALK- Pound Ridge, NY
Leader: Roger Willson (914) 764-8171

Sunday, May 4

CALIFORNIA HILL- Putnam County, NY
Leader: Morrs Palmer (914) 225-3721 or (718) 636-6348

Saturday, May 10

GOOSE POND STATE PARK- Monroe, NY
Leader: J.J. Murphy (845) 238-2357

Sunday May 11

TALLMAN STATE?PARK- Piermont, NY
Leader: George Johanson (914) 337-9340

Saturday, May 17

BLUE MOUNTIAN RESERVATION- Peekskill, NY
Leader: Kathy Americo (914) 737-1021

Sunday, May 18

SAUGATUCK TRAIL- Westport, CT
Leader: Don Shernoff (914) 761-0332

Sunday, May 25

WESTMORELAND SANCTUARY- Bedford, NY
Leader: Damon Brunette (917) 628-0719

Saturday, May 31

CALIFORNIA HILL MULTIPLE USE AREA- Putnam County, NY
Leader: Morrs Palmer (914) 225-3721 or (718) 636-6348

Saturday, June 7

WONDERLAKE STATE PARK- Putnam County, NY
Leader: Lou Tartaro (845) 225-9029

Sunday, June 8

MIANUS RIVER PARK- Stamford, CT
Leader: Carol Levine (203) 322-2051

Saturday, June 14

WESTMORELAND SANCTUARY- Bedford, NY
Leader: Dave Rose (914) 738-0847

Sunday, June 22

WARD POUND RIDGE RESERVATION- Pound Ridge, NY
Leader: Don Shernoff (914) 761-0332

Saturday, June 28

BABCOCK PROPERTY- Greenwich, CT
Leader: Zaac Chavez (203) 571-8866

Saturday, July 5

SYLVAN GLEN - Yorktown, NY
Leader: Steve Rock (845) 621-2373

Sunday, July 6

WALTER G. MERRITT CONSERVATION- Putnam, NY
Leader: Lou Tartaro (845) 225-9029

Sunday, July 13

WESTMORELAND SANCTUARY- Bedford, NY
Leader: Dave Rose (914) 738-0847

Saturday, July 19

PUTNAM MEMORIAL STATE PARK- Redding, CT
Leaders: Joe & Kathy Brandt (203) 544-9622

Sunday, July 20

MOUNTAIN LAKES CAMP- North Salem, NY
Leader: Santo Curro (914) 232-6946

Sunday, July 27

HARRIMAN "LONG PATH"
Leader: J.J. Murphy (845) 238-2357

Sunday, August 3

TURKEY MOUNTAIN- Yorktown, NY
Leader: Dianna Smith (914) 271-5209

Saturday, August 9

GREENBURGH NATURE CENTER- Scarsdale, NY
Leader: Lisa Solomon (914) 639-2640

Saturday, August 16

SYLVAN GLEN - Yorktown, NY
Leader: Steve Rock (845) 621-2373

Thursday-Sunday
August 21-24

COMA 's CLARK ROGERSON FORAY- Cave Hill Resort in Moodus, Connecticut

DON T MISS THE COMA FORAY!

Sunday, August 31

PUTNAM MEMORIAL STATE PARK- Redding, CT
Leaders: Joe & Kathy Brandt (203) 544-9622

Saturday, September 6
10:30 start time!!

NYMS-COMA JOINT FORAY AND PICNIC AT PELTON POND IN
FAHNESTOCK STATE PARK
- Carmel, NY
Leader: Morrs Palmer (914) 225-3721 or (718) 636-6348.

Sunday, September 7

WESTCHESTER WILDERNESS WALK- Pound Ridge, NY
Leader: Roger Willson (914) 764-8171

Saturday, September 13

SILVERMINE SKI TOW- Harriman State Park
Leader: Damon Brunette (917) 628-0719

Sunday, September 14

SOUTHFORD FALLS STATE PARK- Oxford, CT
Leader: Morrs Palmer (914) 225-3721 or (718) 636-6348

Saturday, September 20 CRANBERRY LAKE PRESERVE- White Plains
Leader: Taro Ietaka (914) 428-1005
Sunday, September 21 SYLVAN GLEN- Yorktown, NY
Leader: Steve Rock (845) 621-2373
Sunday, September 28 GREENBURGH NATURE CENTER- Scarsdale, NY
Leader: Don Shernoff (914) 761-0332
Saturday, October 4 TALLMAN?STATE?PARK- Piermont, NY
Leader: George Johanson (914) 337-9340
Saturday, October 11 JOINT CVMS ED BOSMAN MEMORIAL WALK- Southbury, CT
Leader: Morrs Palmer (914) 225-3721 or (718) 636-6348
Saturday, October 18 CRANBERRY LAKE PRESERVE- White Plains
Leader: Taro Ietaka (914) 428-1005
Sunday, October 19 MIANUS RIVER PARK- Stamford, CT
Leader: Carol Levine (203) 322-2051
Saturday, October 25 WESTMORELAND SANCTUARY- Bedford, NY
Leader: Dave Rose (914) 738-0847
Sunday, October 26 BLUE MOUNTIAN RESERVATION- Peekskill, NY
Leader: Dianna Smith (914) 271-5209
Saturday, November 1 TWIN LAKES- New Rochelle, NY
Leader: Damon Brunette (917) 628-0719
Sunday, November 9 SYLVAN GLEN- Yorktown, NY
Leader: Dianna Smith (914) 271-5209

COMA schedules mushroom walks from spring (morel walks) through fall. Most walks are scheduled on either Saturday or Sunday, and begin at 9:30 a.m.   Since COMA is primarily an educational club, we encourage members and friends to use guided walks as an opportunity to ask questions and assist us in the important work of surveying, recording and identifying the variety of fungal life exhibited at scheduled walk venues during different times of the year.

COMA walks enable our club members to get together and enjoy the great outdoors, our hobby, and each other’s company. An average walk takes 1½ to 2 hours for the guided walk, and another hour or so for the identification workshop, where we learn from our club mycologists (and each other) how to identify our mushrooms. Many of us bring brown bag lunches to enjoy while we expand our mycological expertise. You can never have too many identification guides for looking up the mushrooms we find, so bring along your favorite books, too! Paper and pen will help you to remember all of the mushroom names you learn! Mushroom photography is encouraged!

Rain is a mushroom’s best friend, so walks are never cancelled due to rain! You might consider bringing along a poncho, hat or umbrella if the forecast calls for showers. Some walks will take you up and down hills, and might include crossing a stream or walking through wet ground, so consider waterproof hiking boots for your comfort as well. Temperatures may vary considerably from the start to the end of a walk – you might want to dress in layers and use a backpack to carry the clothing you shed along the way (as well as something to drink).

Other handy equipment to bring along includes a basket, wax paper and/or wax paper bags, a small knife, a whistle, a magnifying lens, long-sleeved pants, shirt, and an insect repellent containing DEET for tick protection. When visiting walk sites that do not permit mushroom picking, please bring along a mirror and your magnifying lens. This way you can still observe hidden details of mushrooms.  ‘Capture’ your finds with your camera! Don’t forget to bring lunch and a mushroom manual for the identification session! Most mushroom guides contain information about collecting mushrooms for identification. You might want to peruse this literature before going on your first walk.

We encourage you to become a member of COMA.  Your support enables us to provide the public with educational programs featuring some of the world’s top mycologists.  COMA members receive our quarterly newsletter, Spores Illustrated, which contains our walk schedule (as well as lots of other club and mycology information). New members will receive the latest issue and a complete list of (and directions to) our walks upon receipt of their paid membership.

If you have an interest in mushrooms and are considering becoming a part of our club and want join us on a walk, we’d love to have you join us! If this is to be your first walk, please plan to arrive a little early and introduce yourself to us. We’ll be easy to spot - just look for the happy group with the baskets. COMA’s 2008 Walk Schedule is listed below followed by directions to each site.  If you have further questions just contact our walk coordinator, Damon Brunette at damonbrunette@yahoo.com or Dianna Smith at diannasmith@optonline.net (before Friday for the weekend’s walk).

Alphabetical List of Directions to COMA Walks

BABCOCK PROPERTY - Greenwich, CT

Merritt Pkwy to Exit 31.  North 1/2 mile to entrance on left.

BLUE MOUNTAIN - Peekskill, NY

From South:  Route 9A to 9 north. Exit at Welcher Avenue: turn right and follow to park entrance.

From North:  Route 9 south. Exit at Welcher Avenue:turn left and follow to park entrance.

CALIFORNIA HILL MULTIPLE USE AREA - Putnam County, NY .

Meet at Leaders House: 1121 Peekskill Hollow Rd.

From southern Westchester and NYC: Taconic Pkwy north to Peekskill Hollow Rd exit. Right at stop sign; drive 2.3 miles.? Name and address on mailbox. Take long winding driveway uphill to house.? From eastern Westchester and Connecticut: Rte 684 north to Brewster/Rte 6/Rte through Carmel. Right on Rte 52 for 1 block, left onto Rte 301 about ap 5 miles to Peekskill Hollow Rd, approximately 1 mile (see above).

CRANBERRY LAKE PRESERVE-White Plains, NY

From 287 W: Take exit 7 towards Taconic. At light go Straight onto Broadway/Rte 22 N at light. Go 2.6 mi., make right onto Old Orchard St. Entrance on right. From 287 E: take exit 6, Rte 22. Left off exit onto N Broadway/ Rte 22. Bear right to stay on Rte 22 after Shell station. Go 2.1 to a right onto Old Orchard Street. Entrance on right.

FAHNESTOCK STATE PARK - Carmel, New York

Taconic State Pkwy to Rte 301. West on Rte 301, past camping area on left to Pelton Pond Parking lot on left.

GREENBURGH NATURE CENTER Dromore Road, Scarsdale, NY

HALLE RAVINE-

Pound Ridge NY

Bronx River Parkway to Exit 22 ( Westchester County Center). Turn right. Go straight across to Central Avenue (Route 100). Continue on Central Avenue for about 2 miles. Dromore Road is on the left, just past the Post Office and across from 455 Scarsdale Plaza.

From I684, Take exit 4. Go East (right) on RT 172 for 1.8 miles then left onto RT 22 for 1.2 miles. Turn right on Pound Ridge Road for 4 miles. Go north (lft) on route 124 about ½ mile. Turn right onto Trinity Pass. Go .7 mile, the preserve in on the right, just before the intersection with Donbrook Road.

GOOSE POND MNT STATE PARK - Monroe, NY

NY State Thruway to Route 6 &17 to exit 130. Take Rte 208 N 0.3 miles. Go onto Museum Village Rd. Continue straight after 4 way stop 0.7 miles to Rte 17m. Make a right and go 1.1 miles to the trail parking lot. There is a sight for Craigville Church near lot. If you pass Craigville Rd you?ve gone too far.

HARRIMAN ?LONG PATH? Harriman State Park, NY

Cross the Bear Mnt bridge and follow signs for Route 6W/ Central Valley 2.4 miles to exit 18, bear right around the circle following signs for 6
West/Central Valley. Follow Rte 6W 1.2 miles until you see a sign on right ?Long Path/Torrey Museum. Turn right down that road until you see the
forest fire danger info sign. Park on right or left side of road.

KETTLETON STATE PARK-Kettleton, CT

Take interstate 84 to exit 13 and (from west) make a half-right turn onto George?s Hill Rd and go south to Kettletown State Park.

MIANUS RIVER PARK -Stamford, CT

Merritt Pkwy North to Exit 33, Den Rd., go 1/8 mile to sharp right onto Rd.? Turn left onto Westover Rd.? Go 2 miles and turn right onto
Merriebrook Lane.? Near end is a driveway to red barn on the right. Park here. Merritt Pkwy South to Exit 33.? Bear left onto Bengall Rd. Take first left onto Westover Rd. Proceed as above.

MOUNTAIN LAKE PARK- North Salem, NY

I-684 to exit 6, Katonah/Cross River. Route 35 east to Rte 121 North, a left at shell station. Take Rte 121 North about 5 miles to Grants corners. Turnb right onto Hawley Road and proceed to entrance on left, about 2 miles.

PUTNAM MEMORIAL

From Meritt North, take exit 42, Rte 136 north 5.2 miles. At Rte 58 north 8.8 to Putnam Memorial at the intersection of Rte 107 and 58.
From the West off I-84, take exit 5 to Rte 53 south for 3.4 miles to Rte 302. Take rte 302 East for 1.6 miles to Route 58 south for 2.8 miles. Putnam Memorial is at the intersection of Route 58 and 107.

SAUGATUCK TRAIL -Westport, CT

Merritt Pkwy to Exit 42. Meet in parking lot on the north side of the parkway.

SILVERMINE SKI TOW- Harriman, NY

From Bear Mountain Bridge: At traffic circle, take exit onto Palisades Pkwy S/ 6 West 2.6 miles. Take exit 18 1/3 mile to Central Valley/New Jersey. At traffic Circle, take second exit onto 7 Lakes Dr to Sloatsburg. Go about 1 ? mile and look for entrance on left for large parking lot.

SOUTHFORD FALLS STATE PARK - Oxford, CT

I-84 east to Exit 15 (Southbury/Seymour).? Take Rte 67 southeast 2.6 miles to Rte 188. Turn right on Rte 188 to Park entrance.

SYLVAN GLEN ? Yorktown, NY

Taconic Parkway to Route 202, Yorktown. Go west on 202 about 1 to 1.5 miles to Lexington Avenue, on right.? Go about ? mile to Morris Lane on right to Grant Avenue.? Straight to parking area.

TURKEY MOUNTAIN- Yorktown, NY

Taconic Parkway to Underhill Avenue. Go East to 118. Turn right on 118 going south 1.7 miles. Turn left across from Peter Pratt on right.
TALLMAN Mt. STATE PARK - Piermont, NY

Drive west on I-287.?Cross the Tappan Zee Bridge to Rte 9W South (Exit 10). Proceed approximately 4 miles to park entrance on left.

TWIN LAKES- New Rochelle, NY
(Nature Study Woods)

Hutchinson River Parkway South to Exit 16. Proceed straight onto Webster Avenue and go .9 mile to the entrance on the right. Parking is along the street. Hutchinson N to Eastchester Rd.? Right/left to Eastchester Rd, left at Webster to Nature Study Woods sign on left

WALTER MERRIT CONSERVATION AREA- Patterson, NY

I-684 to 22N.?Take 22N to East Havilland Hollow Road and take a right. Putnam county 68, and go 2.3 miles. Parking in on the left just before a small bridge as you enter a valley on East Havilland Hollow Road.

WARD POUND RIDGE RESERVATION-
Cross River, Nye

I-684 to exit 6. Take Rte 35 E 3.8 miles to Rte 121. Turn right, south, on Rte 121 And then make an immediate left into the Park entrance. Go ? mile to ticket booth. Proceed another ? miles straight to the Trailside Nature Museum, a stone building on the right.

WONDER LAKE STATE PARK-
Putnam County NY

Take I-84 to exit 18 Luddingtonville (2 exits west of the 684/84 exchange). Go north on Route 311 about ? mile to the Park and Ride at the intersection with Luddingtonville Rd.

WESTCHESTER WILDERNESS WALK-
Pound Ridge, NY
From I-684, exit 4, go east on Rte 172 to Rte 22. Left on Routes 22/172 – go 1 mile to Bedford Village, bear right to remain on 172. Right at light, Exon Station at Long Ridge Road, 2.5 miles to left on Upper Shad Road. Go ¼ mile, park on left. From Merritt Pkwy to Exit 34, Long Ridge, north, to right at Upper Shad Rd.

WESTMORELAND SANCTUARY- Bedford, NY

I-684 North to Exit 4.?Go west onto Rte 172.? Take first left up hill onto Chestnut Ridge Rd. Proceed for about a mile to entrance on left.

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