Out-Doors
by Elizabeth Bassett,
November 17, 2011, page 14.....

‘Shrooms and Huntin’

Mushroom caveat
You may have noticed an abundance of mushrooms in our woods this fall. And you probably recall there was lots of rain. One day this fall, after many rainy days, I counted 11 types during a walk in the woods. But I didn’t dare touch them.
Robert Resnik, reference librarian at Fletcher Free Library in Burlington, is a mycophile, not to be confused with a mycologist, says he. “A mycologist is a professional; I am merely one who loves mushrooms and knows enough to stay safe.” Resnik does share his knowledge, however, and this fall taught classes at the UVM Horticultural Farm in South Burlington, uvm.edu/~hortfarm, and at Green Mountain Audubon in Huntington, vt.audubon.org/centers.html. Next year I’ll be looking for these offerings.
“The secrets to longevity,” Resnik says, “are humility, have no question about identification, and always run mushrooms by knowledgeable people, those who really know.” “Beware of b.s.,” he adds. A good rule in life as well as mushrooms.

Safe walks during hunting season
In addition to mushrooms, ‘tis the season for hunting game. If you want to be outdoors during rifle season use your head: wear orange or other bright colors (no white gloves, please, that might be mistaken for a deer’s tail) and go to places that are posted.
A beautiful place to walk in any season, Shelburne Farms is safe during hunting season. Trails on 1,600 acres snake over hills, through woods and across open fields. Please check in at the Welcome Center, open between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Dogs on leashes are permitted through the end of March.
A new trail follows the main drive from the Welcome Center to the lake. The final link is being constructed this fall. Visit the website for more information at ShelburneFarms.org.
In the midst of hunting country, Green Mountain Audubon in Huntington posts 255 acres of hills and river valley. Five miles of trails wind through a range of natural communities, from hemlock swamp to northern hardwood forest. Beavers are active on the property and can make trail maps obsolete in the course of a season.
While Tropical Storm Irene spared Audubon, last December 80 mph winds tore through the property. The Brook Trail is closed, and the Sensory Trail, designed for those with visual impairments, suffered damage in the white pine grove on the hillside. Sections of the Sensory Trail in the field remain intact. But there are miles of beautiful trails available for hunting-season walks. Fee: $2. Donations welcome.
Red Rocks Park in South Burlington hugs the shoreline and bluffs above Lake Champlain. Four miles of trails (no bikes allowed) thread through hemlock and pine forest and are open to spectacular views of Shelburne Bay, the broad lake and the Adirondacks. To get there from Shelburne Road just south of I-189, turn west onto Queen City Parkway. In 0.5 miles, turn left on Central Avenue. Parking and entrance are on the right.
Winooski Valley Park District (wvpd.org) manages 16 parks in seven area towns. Many include great walking trails, and all properties are posted. The district’s excellent website lists its parks at wvpd.org/Parks.htm. Each listing includes description, driving directions and a map. Parks are open from dawn until dusk with parking in lots or on nearby roads. Gates are locked at night, so don’t dally after dark. In the far northern reaches of Colchester, a 2.5-mile trail encircles Colchester Pond. The 182-acre preserve is forested and contiguous to protected land in Essex. Closer to home, Burlington’s Ethan Allen Homestead hosts nearly three miles of walking in the Winooski River delta, including boardwalks through wetlands and riverside trails. Ellie Denton at WVPD cautions, “A section of trail along the Winooski was damaged during Irene, but the closure only involves a small detour.” Dogs must be leashed at all WVPD properties. Always clean up after pets.
UVM Natural Areas (uvm.edu/~envprog/?Page=naturalareas/default.html) dot the map of northwest Vermont and include Pease Mountain in Charlotte, Shelburne Pond, East Woods in South Burlington and Colchester Bog. Properties are posted and dogs on leash are permitted.
East Woods, on Swift Street in South Burlington, makes a nice detour enroute to town. A one-mile, un-blazed trail rolls up and down through mixed hardwood and conifer forest to the banks of the Potash Brook. In the late 19th century, two rail lines briefly crossed in these woods. Today, even as hemlocks, white pines, and hardwoods tower overhead, the rush of traffic is constant on nearby routes I-189 and 7.
A spectacular UVM Natural Area is Colchester Bog. The walk itself is short, over floating boardwalks, but bog scenery is unusual and worth a look. A bog evolves where no fresh water flows. With high lake levels this past spring, the bog no doubt got an infusion of nutrients, giving traditional plants an advantage over those that traditionally thrive on suspended mats of peat, like the carnivorous pitcher plants. If you find yourself in Colchester, detour to the bog, adjacent to Airport Park.
A new trail now winds through the woods behind Charlotte Central School on Pease Mountain. The Charlotte Trails Committee rerouted the trail because of a residential development on the lower flanks of the hillside. There are new markings and signage.
Remember, wear orange and get out-doors!

Resources
Local Motion’s Trail Finder at localmotion.org/trails/index.php
Places to Walk, Paddle, and Explore in Vermont, The Nature Conservancy, nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/vermont
Nature Walks in Northwest Vermont and the Champlain Valley, by Elizabeth Bassett, Full Circle Press. Available at Little Garden Market, Old Brick Store, Flying Pig, Shelburne Farms and area bookstores. Also at the Charlotte Library.
The Walker’s Guide to Vermont, Green Mountain Club, greenmountainclub.org