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Catskills North / Mountain Lakes Foraging Conditions — ForageIQ

Catskills North / Mountain Lakes

Northern Catskills around Phoenicia, Tannersville, and the Slide Mountain Wilderness. Northern hardwoods (sugar maple, beech, yellow birch) at mid-elevation transitioning to red spruce-fir on the high peaks (Slide, Hunter, Cornell, Wittenberg). Cool, wet microclimate driven by orographic lift off the Hudson Valley. Spring morels in tulip poplar / disturbed valley flats; chanterelles, black trumpets, and lobster mushroom abundant in summer; chicken-of-the-woods, hen-of-the-woods, and lion's mane on hardwoods through fall; matsutake-candidate Tricholoma magnivelare in spruce-hemlock duff at elevation.

Trees:Sugar Maple Yellow Birch Red Spruce

Updated Aug 27, 4:23 AM MT

AI Conditions Report

AI-generated · verify in field

# Catskills North / Mountain Lakes — S Tier | 27 Aug 2026 You're looking at a near-perfect setup: seven consecutive days of soil temps holding steady at threshold, volumetric water content locked at 0.21–0.22 across the window, and zero drought stress. This isn't a flash—it's a sustained moisture event, which is why the roster explodes to 90+ species across edibles, medicinals, and exotics. The Catskills' mixed hardwood and conifer matrix means your culinary gold (Hen, Chicken, Hedgehog, Chanterelles, Boletes) and medicinal heavyweights (Chaga on birches, Artist's Conk, Turkey Tail) are all firing simultaneously. There's no limiting factor here—this is peak late-summer flush territory. Black Trumpet is the only mild miss (soil barely 1°F under minimum), but everything else clears the bar cleanly. Watch the next 48–72 hours for fruit maturity windows. At 58.6°F soil and this moisture profile, primordia are moving fast; you're in the sweet spot before any rain (which would trigger simultaneous massive flushes and competition). **Hot tip:** Hunt north-facing ravines and seeps where soil stays cooler and moisture persists longest—your Chaga and medicinal polypores prefer those microclimates and will fruit ahead of the exposed ridge systems.

Generated by Claude (Anthropic) from the structured weather, soil, and phenology data on this page. The LLM can misread edge cases — treat this as a starting hypothesis, not a guarantee. Always verify conditions on the ground before committing to a long drive.

Foraging Potential95/100

✅Moisture

✅Soil Temp

✅No Freeze

✅No Drought

Precip 7d

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Viable Species

Confidence × Primordia state

HIGHPrimed

Chicken of the WoodsLaetiporus sulphureus

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Hen of the WoodsGrifola frondosa

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

MODERATEActivating

Black TrumpetCraterellus cornucopioides

soil temp marginal (59°F vs 62°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained

HIGHPrimed

Frost's BoleteBoletus frostii

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Death CapAmanita phalloides

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Hedgehog MushroomHydnum repandum

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Shaggy ManeCoprinus comatus

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Wine CapStropharia rugosoannulata

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Giant PuffballCalvatia gigantea

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Beefsteak PolyporeFistulina hepatica

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Turkey TailTrametes versicolor

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Witch's ButterTremella mesenterica

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Jack-o-LanternOmphalotus olearius

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Aspen BoleteLeccinum insigne

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Indigo Milk CapLactarius indigo

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

ChagaInonotus obliquus

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Bear's Head ToothHericium americanum

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Crown-Tipped CoralArtomyces pyxidatus

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Jelly EarAuricularia auricula-judae

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Orange Peel FungusAleuria aurantia

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Dead Man's FingersXylaria polymorpha

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Birch BoleteLeccinum scabrum

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Parasol MushroomMacrolepiota procera

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Shaggy ParasolChlorophyllum rhacodes

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fairy Ring ChampignonMarasmius oreades

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Meadow MushroomAgaricus campestris

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Artist's ConkGanoderma applanatum

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Birch PolyporeFomitopsis betulina

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Tinder FungusFomes fomentarius

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Bird's Nest FungusCyathus striatus

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Cinnabar ChanterelleCantharellus cinnabarinus

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Violet CoralClavaria zollingeri

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Berkeley's PolyporeBondarzewia berkeleyi

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Red-Capped Scaber StalkLeccinum aurantiacum

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Old Man of the WoodsStrobilomyces strobilaceus

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Horse MushroomAgaricus arvensis

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Pear-Shaped PuffballLycoperdon pyriforme

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Mica CapCoprinellus micaceus

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Shrimp of the WoodsEntoloma abortivum

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Two-Colored BoleteBoletus bicolor

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Smooth ChanterelleCantharellus lateritius

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Caesar's AmanitaAmanita jacksonii

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Golden SpindlesClavulinopsis fusiformis

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Weeping Milk CapLactifluus volemus

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Green-Gill LepiotaChlorophyllum molybdites

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Bitter BoleteTylopilus felleus

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Green Cracked RussulaRussula virescens

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Peppery Milk CapLactarius piperatus

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Woolly Milk CapLactarius torminosus

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Oak Milk CapLactarius quietus

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Coker's AmanitaAmanita cokeri

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Alcohol InkyCoprinopsis atramentaria

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fairy InkcapCoprinellus disseminatus

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Magpie InkyCoprinopsis picacea

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Yellow-StainerAgaricus xanthodermus

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Red-Belted ConkFomitopsis pinicola

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Thin-Walled Maze PolyporeDaedaleopsis confragosa

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Mossy Maze PolyporeCerrena unicolor

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

False Turkey TailStereum ostrea

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Coral ToothHericium coralloides

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Northern ToothClimacodon septentrionalis

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Snow FungusTremella fuciformis

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Wood EarAuricularia americana

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Jelly AntlerCalocera viscosa

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Green ElfcupChlorociboria aeruginascens

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Ivory FunnelClitocybe dealbata

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Brown Roll-RimPaxillus involutus

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Angel WingsPleurocybella porrigens

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Aspen OysterPleurotus populinus

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Wolf's Milk SlimeLycogala epidendrum

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Dog Vomit Slime MoldFuligo septica

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fluted Bird's NestCrucibulum laeve

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

King Alfred's CakesDaldinia concentrica

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Yellow Fly AgaricAmanita muscaria var. guessowii

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Parrot WaxcapGliophorus psittacinus

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Dung Bird's NestCyathus stercoreus

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Amethyst DeceiverLaccaria amethystina

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Oak MazegillDaedalea quercina

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Amanita Muscaria

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Blue-Foot PsilocybePsilocybe caerulipes

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Yellow-Gilled GymGymnopilus luteofolius

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Willow ShieldPluteus salicinus

All conditions met (soil 59°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

MODERATEActivating

Ravenel's Stinkhorn

soil temp marginal (59°F vs 60°F min, 1/7 days above), today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained

MODERATEActivating

Elegant StinkhornMutinus elegans

soil temp marginal (59°F vs 60°F min, 1/7 days above), today 0.21 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained

Primordia readiness: Cold = mycelium dormant. Activating = soil warming, primordia building. Primed = 5+ sustained warm days at species threshold; fruiting imminent if moisture cooperates. Based on Schmidt 1983 / Mihail 2007.

Catskills North / Mountain Lakes

AI Conditions Report

Found something?

Conditions History

Viable Species