Quiet hunting in the forests of Skhidnytsia: mushroom season with Phoenix
Ukrainians have a habit that is difficult to explain to a foreigner: early in the morning, still in the fog, silently walking through the forest and peering into the leaf litter, peeking out at their hats. This is quiet hunting, mushroom picking, only without a gun and without unnecessary words. Some consider it meditation, some excitement, and some simply a way to return from the forest with a full basket and an excuse for missing the alarm clock.
The season in the Carpathians lasts a long time, from the end of summer until the first persistent frosts, but mushroom pickers consider September and October to be the most generous months. Nighttime cooling, moist soil, and still warm earth are the perfect combination for the mycelium to awaken en masse, rather than in isolated finds.
[PHOTO PLACE: basket with wild mushrooms against the backdrop of a pine forest]
Why Skhidnytsia Forest?
Phoenix Medical Resort is surrounded by 50 hectares of protected pine forest, and around the village of Skhidnytsia there are also beech and mixed massifs, which the Carpathian region is famous for among mushroom pickers. The humid Carpathian climate, temperature drops, and perennial litter of needles and leaves together create conditions in which mushrooms grow willingly, especially after warm rains in late summer and autumn.
The Carpathian forests are generally generous in diversity: in addition to white mushrooms, there are chanterelles, aspen mushrooms, boletus mushrooms and honey mushrooms, each season in its own way. However, it is the white mushrooms, boletus, that remain the main trophy and the main star of the local cuisine, no wonder they are used to prepare both risotto and cream soup at the Phoenix restaurant.
Mushroom expedition with a guide, not at random
Of course, no one forbids wandering through the forest on your own with a basket. But without many years of experience, it is easy to confuse an edible mushroom with its dangerous counterpart, and this is not a risk worth joking about. That is why Phoenix organized its own quiet hunting with a professional guide.
The group is led by Mr. Oles, a local guide with forty years of experience, who knows the forest trails and clearings around Skhidnytsia better than any navigator. Forty years in this forest mean concrete things: Mr. Oles knows how mushrooms behave depending on the weather, which tree to stay on after the rain, and where the litter is still wet when the sun has dried everything around. No mobile map of mushroom places will give you such experience.
Groups are small, from 2 to 10 people, so it's more like a walk with an experienced friend than a formal, scheduled excursion. The format is also well-suited for families: children from 12 years old are eligible to participate as adults, and spending a morning in the forest together instead of another shopping trip is a good alternative for family leisure.
How is a quiet hunting day going?
Departure is early, at 6:00, just when the mushrooms are still fresh and haven't had time to dry in the sun. Groups return around 1:00 PM, so you'll definitely have time for lunch.
The price includes everything you need for a comfortable hunt:
- transfer to the forest and back;
- guide support throughout the entire route;
- full equipment: a basket, a special knife for mushrooms, boots if necessary and a raincoat that you keep as a souvenir;
- a lunch box right in the forest so you don't get hungry in the middle of the route;
- gala lunch upon return, from 12:00 to 13:00: appetizer “Mushroomer's Basket”, cream of mushroom soup and risotto with porcini mushrooms;
- drying the harvested crop on site and packing it into convenient bags to take home.
You're taking home not only memories, but also a bag of dried mushrooms from your own collection. All that's left to do is figure out what to cook with them for the winter holidays.
All you need is comfortable clothing for the weather and a good mood, the rest is provided on the spot. Mornings in the mountains at this time of year are cool, so a sweater or light jacket in your backpack will definitely not hurt, even if it gets warmer during the day.
How much does it cost and when to book?
For Phoenix guests, participation costs 2500 UAH per person, for guests from outside, 3000 UAH. Children from 12 years old pay at the adult rate. Reservations are required in advance, by phone or in Telegram: groups are small, and places are taken quickly, especially on weekends, when there are the most people who want to stay in the forest.
When compared to the cost of an independent mushroom picking trip, transfer, equipment rental, and then cooking everything at home yourself, the format with a guide and a prepared lunch seems completely justified, especially when your own safety is at stake, not just the hryvnia you save.
And if you just want to take a walk in the woods
Not everyone needs a full-on tour with a guide and risotto. If your goal is to simply breathe in the forest air without the intention of collecting a full basket, a regular walk will do just fine. along the forest path to the mineral springs in the area, the level of difficulty is easy, and along the way you will also come across squirrels who want a treat. And when you feel like trying something more serious and returning with results, not just impressions, a quiet hunt with Mr. Oles will be waiting.
After a few hours in the forest, your feet usually remind you of yourself, and here it is just right Aura Spa & Lounge with a sauna, hammam and massage. Mushroom hunting leaves you with a full basket and a completely legitimate tiredness in your legs, which is nice to relieve before dinner.
More details about all activities can be found on the page leisure Phoenix Medical Resort, and book your accommodation at booking page.
