The Whistler Naturalists would like to thank everyone who participated in another fun Fungus Among Us Mushroom Festival.

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Tons of fungi in the woods brought out an enthusiastic crowd of fungophiles for Friday talks, Saturday walks and the gourmet wild mushroom tasting. By Saturday afternoon the display tables at Myrtle Philip Community School were filled with species of mushrooms of all shapes and sizes that impressed the hundreds of people who viewed them.

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The total number of species (at least, there may be more as things shake out) from the weekend was 179. Of these, 23 have not been recorded before. As usual, we’re amazed by how much diversity is in the woods, how much it changes each year and how many new species the experts continue to find.

The total number of different species of fungi now known in Whistler is almost 900. We couldn’t run the festival without our 25 fabulous mushroom gurus who gave talks, led walks, and labelled and presided over the mushroom display.

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Special thanks to the presenters: Luke Mikler (Fungal Fotos), Kem Luther (Look ma! No gills!), Andy MacKinnon & Erin Feldman (Mushy Musings). Our popular gourmet wild mushroom tasting wouldn’t have been possible without the great expertise and wonderful creativity of chef Bruce Worden, Nesters Market and Milestones.

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Thanks also to the amazing group of volunteers who helped out and all the folks that came out to share their enthusiasm and wonder for all things fungal. Finally, the Whistler Naturalists would also like to thank our key sponsors: the Community Foundation of Whistler, AWARE and RMOW as well as Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Arts Whistler, Pasta Lupino and Avalanche Pizza.

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See you next year, as always, the weekend after Thanksgiving.

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