Date: 2016-06-15
From: Cooper Lodge Shelter, Mount Kiilington

To: Kent Pond, Killington...then Carol's
Miles today: 10.2
Weather: broken clouds

Hiked just a bit over 10 miles today from the top of Mount Killington to Mountain Meadows Lodge where I had re-supplies awaiting from Kim and incredible goodies from my sisters. Was suppose to stay the night but a business associate and friend from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (Carol Haraden) has offered to put me up for a few nites in her nearby home and help slack-pack me a few days. The Lodge is allowing me to use their facilities for six hours until Carol arrives and asked for just $5 from me to use one of their rooms to shower. How cool is that. They even opened the bar for me so I could have a beer - one that Chip Dean recently told me about called Green Blaze IPA...their motto, "Take a Hike"! I have been taking pictures of mushrooms lately as it seemed the right thing to do with all the rain and mushy conditions. Am currently having challenges uploading them and will try again tomorrow. A little Wikipedia on these creatures follows. Let's call this piece the Fungus Among-us!fungus (/'f??g?s/; plural: fungi[3] or funguses[4]) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes unicellular microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as multicellular fungi that produce familiar fruiting forms such as mushrooms. Similar to animals, fungi are heterotrophs, that is, they acquire their food by absorbing dissolved molecules, typically by secreting digestive enzymes into their environment. Growth is their means of mobility, except for spores, which may travel through the air or water (a few of which are flagellated). Fungi are principal decomposers and are genetically more closely related to animals than to plants.Abundant worldwide, most fungi are inconspicuous because of the small size of their structures, and their cryptic lifestyles in soil, on dead matter. They are both symbionts of plants, animals, or other fungi and also parasites. They may become noticeable when fruiting, either as mushrooms or as molds. Fungi perform an essential role in the decomposition of organic matter and have fundamental roles in nutrient cycling and exchange in the environment. They have long been used as a direct source of food, in the form of mushrooms and truffles, as a leavening agent for bread, in the fermentation of various food products, such as wine, beer, and soy sauce. Since the 1940s, fungi have been used for the production of antibiotics, and, more recently, various enzymes produced by fungi are used industrially and in detergents. Fungi are also used as biological pesticides to control weeds, plant diseases and insect pests. Many species produce bioactive compounds called mycotoxins, such as alkaloids and polyketides, that are toxic to animals including humans. The fruiting structures of a few species contain psychotropic compounds and are consumed recreationally or in traditional spiritual ceremonies. Fungi can break down manufactured materials and buildings, and become significant pathogens of humans and other animals. Losses of crops due to fungal diseases (e.g., rice blast disease) or food spoilage can have a large impact on human food supplies and local economies.