Get ready… we will be climbing the highest of heights under the punishing June Arizona sun in search of rare fungi that grows along the edges of shrinking mountain snow patches.

We are looking to find and document the uncommon and ephemeral snowbank fungi! Snowbank fungi are known from high elevation western conifer forests, and unique to these areas from the Canadian Rockies to the lower Sangre de Cristos of New Mexico. They do not grow in Europe or other regions where there are large snow beds of the arctic, alpine habitat, or glaciers. The snowbank fungi are specifically associated with Engelmann spruce in areas with dwindling snowbanks adjacent to dense spruce forests with plenty of downed trees and litter.

In Arizona, we are lucky  to have a few vestige snowbank fungi populations in the highest elevations most years. While it is unlikely any of the fungi we find will be edible, this foray will be a unique opportunity to discover, document, and learn more about the rare phenomenon of snowbank fungi in the desert southwest. We will also be recording any snowbank fungi we find using the iNaturalist app, which will allow us to contribute to the broader scientific understanding of the range of various snowbank fungi species.

Due to the extreme habitat of snowbank fungi we will need to climb very steep slopes at very high elevations to get to the last melting snows of winter. Please only register if you are in good health and feel comfortable with physical exertion at elevations above 10,000 feet.