Mushroom in the Mountains

Often in the photographic search for the perfect landscape, we miss the smaller details which are equally as stunning. Glacial lakes, mountains, sunsets, sunrises, or wildlife all steal our gaze. I frequently stand accused in this case. I was happy to come across this pair of Amanita muscaria, commonly known as fly agaric, while backpacking in one of Whistler's nearby provincial parks. I set up my camera low and decided to take this image of these mushrooms due to their iconic red cap popping against the alpine greenery. These mushrooms are poisonous and contain psychoactive chemicals. Interestingly enough, it is hard to grow these mushrooms due to the biological relationship and dependency they have with pine trees, which is a true testament to the wide biodiversity found in the Coast Mountains. The mushrooms made me realize to slow down, and appreciate what tiny things lie in an area with large than life spectacles. I hope to see these again in the future while on another hike in the region.