[pct-l] Chaparral

[CMountainDave at aol.com (CMountainDave@xxxxxxx)]

I remember hiking through what seemed like an endless sea of the stuff. I 
also remember those on shore rushes -- about 10 of them -- when the wind would 
whip at furious speed from the West. I can't imagine a fire in that wind
 What an insidious clever, determined ecosystem the Chaparral is. It has 
found its niche and is seeking to expand using fire as its catalyst. Imagine: 
enabling itself to self immolate as an evolutionary tactic, using fire instead of 
fighting it both defensively and offensively. Defensively by ridding itself of 
those who have dared to encroach upon its territory. Offensively by getting 
fire to burn inroads for it in other ecosystems or communities, be they forests 
or towns. 5 years from now the Chaparral will have recovered. The forests 
will not have
   A more than worthy adversary for man