Cortinarius aurora is one of the noteworthy collections from the 2011 Yosemite fall campaign. For one I was finally glad to see what it looks like cause the original authors couldn't care less to leave us with a quality image to aid the work of future researchers. Second, the species was described originally from Wyoming, but it is present in California too â" not an uncommon phenomenon in the dry Western NA mountains. Third, this species is also a bit heavy on the veil and shows secotioid tendencies. And finally, it has somewhat of an orange universal veil that prompted Moser & Ammirati to erect a section around it â" Aurantiovelati. This species actually is very, very close to Cortinarius aureopulverulentus...