In 2005 a dozen morel hungry Montanans found their way to Tok, Alaska, site of a major forest fire the year before. For the month of June, from ten to 14 people slept in our camp and hiked out to find the morels in the forest beyond the bog.

Using bicycles, ATVs, rafts, and power boats we sought to penetrate the roadless backcountry.

Brian and Dennison heading upriver.

There were amazing fruitings of morels in patches of burned habitat. Some specimens were literally the size of a football.

We frequently saw moose, and ate lots of moose meat. Moose meat stuffed into a big morel and grilled on the fire is the epitome of Alaskan outback cookery.

Our team set up drying racks and preserved, well, lots of morels. Alaska is a quirky place, and morel hunters are quirky, so we got along well with everyone.

Ari LeVaux prepares to hike out with the day's pickings.