Beware the Chinquapin!

Chinquapin is a common name in the Yosemite area as it refers to an old junction area at west end of Glacier Point Road if I recall correctly. I didn't know that it also refers to a shrub with spiney nut cases.

As I slipped into a stream, I placed my open hand right on top of a collecton of "fuzzy" chestnut like seed pods and found out that they are quite sharp. Strongly advise against doing that:

see picture

http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?query_src=photos_flora_com&enlarge=9092+3191+3542+0108

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The cure for a fallacious argument is a better argument, not the suppression of ideas.
-- Carl Sagan

I was driving around Lake Tahoe recently, when I noticed the sign for this place:

http://www.chinquapin.com