By Maureen Fellinger

“Do you have your pepper spray?” is a question I often receive from my husband. He bought me pepper spray a few years ago when I began my adventures in mushroom foraging, as I often have solo ventures out in the woods. I have never had to use it, and (knock on wood) hopefully I will never have to use it.

I began doing things alone in my mid-20s. I recall when punk rock laureate Patti Smith was coming to town, and the tickets for her show were expensive. I couldn't imagine asking anyone to go with me because of the cost, so I purchased a ticket for myself. That was one of the best shows I have ever been to. Another highlight in solitary memories was my spontaneous, solo trip to Colorado. There were certain moments of vulnerability during that trip, but confidence grew from those moments.

Last month, I had the opportunity to have a solo weekend as my partner was going to be out of town for his bourbon trail bachelor party. So I planned a trip to Athens, OH, which included staying in a charming bed and breakfast, a ghost tour hike of Zaleski State Forest featuring the Moonville Tunnel, and my first mushroom foray. A mushroom foray is an organized group of enthusiasts and experts who gather to collect specimens and celebrate fungi's beauty and diversity. This specific foray was organized by online community members from Ohio Mushroom Enthusiasts.

The morning of the foray was rainy, cold, and grey. I drove about an hour from the bed and breakfast to Perry County and used specific GPS coordinates as the foray took place on one of the member’s 300 acres of land. I got lost and became frustrated on my way there, and there was a brief moment when I considered giving up. The weather was not ideal, I felt nervous about arriving late, and my introverted self was trying to talk myself out of going as I began to imagine how awkward it would be to arrive alone to a group foray where I didn’t know anyone. But my desire to be present and learn helped me overcome some of those uncertain emotions. After regrouping my mind and looking over Google Maps, I was back on track. I was relieved when I saw a handpainted amanita muscaria mushroom sign at the end of a long, winding driveway. Finally, I arrived at my destination!

After parking, I grabbed my basket and joined a group of about 30 people who were about to split up to cover as much of the property as they could. I hopped on the back of a trailer that was being hauled by a gator and made small talk with the other folks. We were dropped off at the bottom of a hilly wooded area, and we had about an hour to explore before regrouping. Traversing unfamiliar territory alone was so exciting as, at this point, I knew the forests near my home so well that that all felt like friends. There is a unique feeling tied to being alone in public vs. private. In public, uncomfortable emotions may arise when you start thinking too hard about how you may appear to others. In private, all parts of yourself relax and are able to simply be. The property I was on for the foray felt incredibly private and quiet, and I was able to just exist in the moment.

Being alone in nature is one of the most stimulating activities that a person can experience. Without the distraction of social interaction, your senses are all become heightened. That day, the leaves on the ground sounded crunchier. It started to drizzle lightly at one point, so I welcomed the soft raindrops on my skin. And, of course, I felt more visually keyed into the forest floor as I searched for mushrooms. I gathered familiar specimens, such as Shrimp of the Woods and Enoki, but I also collected mushrooms I had never seen before. There were some stragglers in my group, so after an hour, one of the ladies and I decided to walk back to the central meeting point instead of waiting for our gator ride back.

When we reached the rest of the foray-ers, we laid our findings on white plates on tables as one of the group leaders went through each specimen to identify them and occasionally gave lengthier explanations on some rare or unusual specimens. (I proudly brought an Elm Oyster to the table, which is relatively widespread but is not common in the eastern United States.) My personal highlights from other people’s findings were Cordyceps and Big Laughing Gym specimens, both of which I had never seen in person before. Everyone eagerly listened in to the impressive identifications by the knowledgeable group expert and was especially intrigued by the mushrooms that reacted to her special flashlight that showed which species were bioluminescent.

For my first mushroom foray, it was such a positive experience. It is wild to think about the fact that there was a moment when I nearly chickened out of going. There’s something to be said about doing things out of your comfort zone, especially by one’s lonesome. Doing things you enjoy with others can be fun, but doing things alone is grounding and highly affirming. Take time for some solitary activities and reflection, especially in nature.

*The writer is Agraria’s Education Administrator and Media Specialist.