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Sumter NF (Andrew Pickens) Foraging Conditions — ForageIQ

Sumter NF (Andrew Pickens)

Excellent

Sumter NF Andrew Pickens RD — Blue Ridge edge in northwest SC. Mixed mesophytic forest with tulip poplar, white oak, hickory, and rosebay rhododendron. Spring morels in cove forests; chanterelles, black trumpets, and lobster mushroom in summer. Chattooga River corridor.

Trees:Tulip Poplar White Oak Hickory

Updated Oct 11, 5:12 AM MT

AI Conditions Report

AI-generated · verify in field

Sumter NF's Andrew Pickens district (800-3,500 ft) is rated Excellent. Soil is sitting at about 64.6°F, right on the threshold for nearly everything in the dataset, and it has held there for 7 of the last 7 days. Moisture is sustained (0.37 VWC today against a 0.28 seven-day average) and the trigger is met, with no drought and no snowpack to factor in. Nothing is limiting, so the main fall guilds are all viable at high confidence: chanterelles, black trumpets, hedgehogs, and oak milk caps on the mycorrhizal side, plus hen of the woods, chicken of the woods, lion's mane, oysters, honey mushrooms, and jack-o-lanterns on the wood-decay side. Disturbed ground and lawn edges should produce shaggy manes, wine caps, meadow mushrooms, and puffballs. The only marginal calls are the warm-weather, dung-and-grass-loving species, where soil temp is right at the minimum and only 4 of 7 days cleared it. The 0.96" over 14 days is modest, so the sustained soil moisture is doing the heavy lifting. A dry stretch or a cold snap dropping soil below 65°F is the thing to watch, as it would cut the marginal species first and slow everything else. Hot tip: Work the lower-elevation hardwood drainages and north-facing toe slopes, where moisture holds longest, and hit chanterelle and black trumpet flushes under oak and beech first before the soil cools.

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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Nearby Camping

Within(23)

Camp Chatuga

developed

~2.2 mi from centerFee required/night

Licklog Falls Campground

backcountry

~2.6 mi from centerFree/night

Licklog Falls Campsite

developed

~2.7 mi from center

Cherry Hill Recreation Area

developed

USFS~3 mi from centerFee required/night

Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests

Reserve →

Sandy Beach Campsite

backcountry

~3.1 mi from center

Simms Field

backcountry

~3.2 mi from center

Burrells Ford Campground

backcountry

~4.8 mi from center

Reserve →

Burrells Ford

developed

USFS~4.9 mi from center

Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests

Reserve →

Long Bottom Ford

developed

USFS~4.9 mi from center

Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests

Reserve →

Space for a single tent

developed

~5 mi from center

west fork 10$

developed

~6.6 mi from center

Fish Hatchery Camp

backcountry

~6.8 mi from center

West Fork Campground

developed

USFS~6.8 mi from centerFee required/night

Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest

Reserve →

WILLIS KNOB HORSE CAMP

developed

USFS~6.9 mi from center

Reserve →

Grapevine

developed

USFS~7 mi from center

Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests

Reserve →

Willis Knob Horse Camp

developed

USFS~7 mi from centerFee required/night

Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest

Reserve →

Whetstone Horse Camp

developed

USFS~7.5 mi from centerFee required/night

Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests

Reserve →

TWIN LAKES DAY USE AREA

developed

BOR~8.2 mi from center

Reserve →

Ammons Branch Campground

developed

~8.8 mi from center

Sarah’s creek $

developed

~9.4 mi from center

Sarah's Creek Campground

developed

USFS~9.5 mi from centerFee required/night

Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest

Reserve →

Round Mountain Campsite

backcountry

~9.7 mi from centerFree/night

Cassidy Bridge Hunt Camp

developed

USFS~10 mi from centerFee required/night

Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests

Reserve →

⚠ Road Access Notice

Always verify road access is public before following GPS directions to mountain areas. Many forest roads are seasonal, gated, or require 4WD. Dispersed camping follows USFS/BLM rules (typically 14-day limit). Check ranger district offices for current road and campground conditions.

Viable Species

Confidence × Primordia state

HIGHPrimed

Oyster MushroomPleurotus ostreatus

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

ChanterelleCantharellus cibarius

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Chicken of the WoodsLaetiporus sulphureus

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Hen of the WoodsGrifola frondosa

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Lion's ManeHericium erinaceus

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Black TrumpetCraterellus cornucopioides

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Honey MushroomArmillaria mellea

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Death CapAmanita phalloides

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Hedgehog MushroomHydnum repandum

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Shaggy ManeCoprinus comatus

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Wine CapStropharia rugosoannulata

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Giant PuffballCalvatia gigantea

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Beefsteak PolyporeFistulina hepatica

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Liberty CapPsilocybe semilanceata

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Turkey TailTrametes versicolor

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Witch's ButterTremella mesenterica

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Jack-o-LanternOmphalotus olearius

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Bear's Head ToothHericium americanum

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Jelly EarAuricularia auricula-judae

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Sulphur TuftHypholoma fasciculare

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Orange Peel FungusAleuria aurantia

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Dead Man's FingersXylaria polymorpha

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Parasol MushroomMacrolepiota procera

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Shaggy ParasolChlorophyllum rhacodes

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fairy Ring ChampignonMarasmius oreades

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Meadow MushroomAgaricus campestris

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Artist's ConkGanoderma applanatum

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Birch PolyporeFomitopsis betulina

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Tinder FungusFomes fomentarius

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Bird's Nest FungusCyathus striatus

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Scarlet WaxcapHygrocybe coccinea

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Violet CoralClavaria zollingeri

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Old Man of the WoodsStrobilomyces strobilaceus

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Horse MushroomAgaricus arvensis

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Pear-Shaped PuffballLycoperdon pyriforme

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Mica CapCoprinellus micaceus

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Shrimp of the WoodsEntoloma abortivum

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Smooth ChanterelleCantharellus lateritius

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Golden SpindlesClavulinopsis fusiformis

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Green-Gill LepiotaChlorophyllum molybdites

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Oak Milk CapLactarius quietus

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Alcohol InkyCoprinopsis atramentaria

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fairy InkcapCoprinellus disseminatus

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Magpie InkyCoprinopsis picacea

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Yellow-StainerAgaricus xanthodermus

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Red-Belted ConkFomitopsis pinicola

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Winter PolyporePolyporus brumalis

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Thin-Walled Maze PolyporeDaedaleopsis confragosa

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Mossy Maze PolyporeCerrena unicolor

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

False Turkey TailStereum ostrea

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Coral ToothHericium coralloides

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Snow FungusTremella fuciformis

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Wood EarAuricularia americana

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Tooth JellyPseudohydnum gelatinosum

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Jelly AntlerCalocera viscosa

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Green ElfcupChlorociboria aeruginascens

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Ivory FunnelClitocybe dealbata

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Angel WingsPleurocybella porrigens

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Aspen OysterPleurotus populinus

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Elm OysterHypsizygus ulmarius

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Wolf's Milk SlimeLycogala epidendrum

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fluted Bird's NestCrucibulum laeve

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Devil's CigarChorioactis geaster

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

King Alfred's CakesDaldinia concentrica

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Winter Mushroom / Wild EnokiFlammulina velutipes

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Snowy WaxcapCuphophyllus virgineus

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Parrot WaxcapGliophorus psittacinus

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Dung Bird's NestCyathus stercoreus

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Oak MazegillDaedalea quercina

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

MODERATEActivating

Golden TeacherPsilocybe cubensis

soil temp marginal (65°F vs 65°F min, 4/7 days above), today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained

MODERATEActivating

Blue MeaniesPanaeolus cyanescens

soil temp marginal (65°F vs 65°F min, 4/7 days above), today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained

HIGHPrimed

Yellow-Gilled GymGymnopilus luteofolius

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Ravenel's Stinkhorn

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Elegant StinkhornMutinus elegans

All conditions met (soil 65°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.37 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — 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.

Sumter NF (Andrew Pickens)

AI Conditions Report

Found something?

Nearby Camping

Camp Chatuga

Licklog Falls Campground

Licklog Falls Campsite

Cherry Hill Recreation Area

Sandy Beach Campsite

Simms Field

Burrells Ford Campground

Burrells Ford

Long Bottom Ford

Space for a single tent

west fork 10$

Fish Hatchery Camp

West Fork Campground

WILLIS KNOB HORSE CAMP

Grapevine

Willis Knob Horse Camp

Whetstone Horse Camp

TWIN LAKES DAY USE AREA

Ammons Branch Campground

Sarah’s creek $

Sarah's Creek Campground

Round Mountain Campsite

Cassidy Bridge Hunt Camp

Conditions History

Viable Species