Re: Testing

[Bertha Adamson <badamson@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dirk Wright wrote:
> 
> >Was shocked to hear that 63,270 acres of the Sequoia National Forest,
> >near Ridgecrest on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada (120 miles
> >north of LA) have been destroyed by fire.
> >
> 
> The ecology of the region depends on fires to clear out the dead plant litter
> on the ground in order for seed roots to be able to extend down far enough to
> grow in real soil. The charcoal from the fire is "activated", thus making it
> an excellent water filter. So, when it rains, with an acidic pH and full of
> pollution, the charcoal tree remains will make the water pure with a neutral
> pH. The streams will then better support aquatic life.
> 
> Only people think that fire is bad.
> 
> --
> Be Seeing You.
> Dirk Wright
> ... at least I thought I was dancing, 'til somebody stepped on my hand.
>                 -- J. B. White


Very true. Some fires now are so bad because the area was not allowed to
burn for decades and the debris build-up was huge. The tricky part is
letting it burn while keeping it under control so that it does not
endanger life and property.

This is not completely off-topic. I just drove from Orange, California
to Denver, Colorado as part of my relocation back to Colorado. I stopped
at several places on the way, including Mesa Verde National Park in SW
Colo (the one with the awesome cliff dwellings). Since Mesa Verde means
Green table, I shot Color IR. One or two days after I went through, a
lightning strike caused a fire that eventually burned 23,000 of the
52,000 acres. (It was, of course, closed during this time.) I wonder how
much of the greenery I shot is still there. I know it will take a while
to recover as the scars were still very visible from a fire a few years
ago. If you were planning to visit, do not let this put you off. They
assure us that the main sites were not damaged, and even the minor sites
are worth visiting. Check on accessibility as roads and campgrounds were
damaged.

Unfortunately, I did not bracket enough, so several shots are slightly
overexposed, but I have some interesting ones that I hope to put up in a
few weeks. My website needs a massive update but I can't do that until
the rest of my stuff arrives and I move into my new place.

It is still very hazy here in Denver, which the news meterologists
assure us is due to smoke from all the fires.

Bertha
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