Chaga Hunt and Rotten Snow

Got into the low 40s today! T-shirt weather even if we do still have a couple feet of snow on the ground.

I wanted to do some chaga hunting and grab some fresh air so with the snowshoes strapped on, sled in tow and Ace in front of me we set out for a area where I usually find some.

While this old monarch had a couple chaga growths they were small and nearly out of reach so I passed on them.

Deeper in the wood I found what I was after. Spot it in the distance? Since so few things are pitch black in the woods and chaga is only found on Birch trees it makes it a little easier.

It was a sizable chunk, and yielded nearly three pounds.

Once back to the sled I figured lunch was in order.

What ya call waitin' on the bacon!

Post lunch I had a smoke and Ace enjoyed the sun and the bacon euphoria.

The trudge back was uneventful. Snow is rotten, slushy mess.

I hung the chaga I'd collected to dry and broke out a batch that had been drying for close or slightly more than a year now.

Using the saw in the Huntsman I reduce the chunks to smaller and smaller pieces, sometimes carving out slices, then grinding in the mortar to a moderately fine powder.

In this case I slipped a waxed paper bag into a leather pouch, this package is going to a friend. 

I packed the the pouch full, using the pestle to compress the chaga.

With another pouch to fill I cut and ground some more.

Even after filling the bigger final pouch I still had quite a bit left for storage. Chaga is one of those things that I've found very useful and very enjoyable. As a woodsman's tea goes I've found nothing better.

Thanks for taking a look.