Marley offering class on identifying mushrooms

If you’ve ever wanted to learn about some plentiful forest fare, you may want to consider taking a class that will be offered by the Merryspring Nature Center in Rockport.

Greg Marley will again teach the popular “Identifying Wild Mushrooms” class. Students will meet on four Sundays – July 20, Aug. 17, Sept. 7 and Sept. 28 – for walks that will provide information about the summer and fall mushrooms of the midcoast. The classes run from 9-11:30 a.m.

Marley has three decades of mycological training and has hundreds of former students who have learned about mushrooms from him. Past students will say that they got more than their money’s worth of chanterelles, black trumpets, porcini, lobster mushrooms and other edible species.

In addition, students will learn to avoid inedible and poisonous species.

The course fee is $150 for Merrryspring members and $175 for nonmembers. The fee includes the price of Roger Phillips’ guidebook to North American mushrooms.

Participants should be adults who are able to walk over uneven ground. Classes will meet rain or shine. Preregistration is required by calling 236-2239. For more information, call Greg at 596-0558.

The course fills up quickly, and will be limited to 15 students.

Baxter opening delayed

Lingering snow from the winter and recent heavy rains have forced Baxter State Park officials to delay the opening of the park.

There have been washouts on the Park Tote Road, which provides access to campgrounds and Katahdin trailheads in the park.

According to a Baxter State Park press release, the Park Tote Road is now open from Togue Pond Gate to the foot of Abol Hill, and from Matagamon Gate to South Branch Pond Campground.

Trout Brook Farm and South Branch Pond campgrounds were scheduled to open Thursday, but the opening of most remaining roadside park campgrounds has been delayed until Monday. Roaring Brook Campground is scheduled to open May 23.

The opening of two backcountry campgrounds will be announced when trail access is possible and safe.

All trails to Baxter Peak are closed, according to park officials. Park staffers are evaluating trail conditions from west side trailheads (Abol, Katahdin Stream Campgrounds) to Baxter Peak and will open the trails as soon as conditions permit.