See Beautiful

Every month when "See Beautiful" Day comes around, I am reminded of how much seeing the beauty of the world is a state of mind. Despite tumultuous winds, I saw nothing but beautiful during my hike up above treeline with Shyla this week.

Someday, she and I will climb that beautiful peak behind her but the wind was too strong the other day. We would have been blown off of it!

We're approaching the end of leaf season here at our elevation but I spotted this gorgeous medley of leaves.

As fall is starting to give way to winter, the animal patterns are changing. I've photographed very few bears recently but I was thrilled to capture this big fat bear twice in one night. This beautiful bear rubbed all over the tree but never went up on his hind legs. I have a video of him marking a tree that I'll post in the next few days. Autumn tree-marking is a slow-motion dance compared to the frenzied dances of the mating season.

Miles away, he passed through a notch in a hogback that I've staked out with a camera. He showed us his huge rump.

A mountain lion who was intrigued with my cameras passed several of them. He climbed up on a log to look at one.

He peeked at another with a beautiful gold eye.

Then, he contemplated the camera. He is beautiful to me.

There is so much beauty that we miss every day... so I love be reminded to notice it!