The bear decided to climb this dead tree, possibly to get a better view or out of curiosity. The bear climbed a little higher, looked around and then decended the tree, rear first, and wandered off into the sagebrush.
This is the rhyolite stone fireplace in the Old Faithful Inn. The Inn was built in 1903-1904 using a lot of local materials including the rhyolite for the fireplace and Lodgepole pines for the beams. The curved pieces of wood were specially chosen by architect Robert C. Reamer. The chairs in front of the fireplace are a great place to sit on a cool Rocky Mountain evening and enjoy your favorite drink.
Photo opportunities can arise anytime; sometimes unexpectedly. In this case, this American Pine Marten walked up to my front window. I just happened to have my camera sitting on my desk and was able to snap some photos through the front window before it wandered off into the woods surrounding our building. American Pine Martens live in mature coniferous or mixed forests throughout Canada, the Western US, Alaska, the Rocky Mountains, and New England. American Martens are opportunistic predators with their food sources depending on what is available.
