I think fall is the best time of year for hiking. Almost exclusively due to my mushroom obsession, which is easy to fall into! There are few things more satisfying than a fresh, firm “Steinie” (what mushroom lovers call the much-sought-after Boletus) found on the moss-covered forest floor. Here is a crash course for beginners and mushroom enthusiasts. 1. Get a mushroom book in which all the identification features are well described. There are apps, but there’s no internet in the forest. 2. Baskets allow the mushrooms to breathe and stay fresh until your journey home. Plastic bags fit well in your rucksack but are an absolute no-no. 3. Only take as much with you as you can eat, and limit yourself to the varieties you are sure about. We chose the southern outskirts of Brandenburg for our mushroom hike; the train connections are quite good, and the population decreases significantly after Königswusterhausen — meaning fewer locals with a local time advantage who may have gone foraging early in the morning. Our tour rewards us with a wonderful panorama along the lake’s southern shore, old oak trees, and a sea of hay bales.

We start in the small village of Halbe. It takes less than an hour on the RE7 regional express train. From there, we head straight into a pine forest, which is perfect for finding mushrooms thanks to its acidic, moss-covered soil. Once you arrive in Teurow, you are halfway through the tour. After a few minutes, you arrive at Lake Oderin. There are a few small bays here, perfect for a picnic or a quick dip for those brave enough. Along the left side of Lake Oderin, there are plenty of paths leading into the forest, which offers the best conditions for chestnuts and porcini mushrooms. Parasol mushrooms can be found at the end of the lake, in the fields, and along the roadsides. These are particularly good as delicious vegetarian cutlets. My goal is always to complete a hiking tour of 15–25 kilometers; anything else falls into the walking category. This time the tour is a little shorter, but that allows you to lose yourself in the forest and have enough time for picking, because with the fall, the days are getting shorter, and yes, mushroom fever can lead to a distorted sense of time — so better bring a companion to hold your hand! Mushroom picking is more fun with the company anyway… That would be my fourth and final tip.

Text & photos: Laura Iriondo

You can find the entire tour here. 

@fortuna.forest