This gnarly tree and those behind it are the few left standing in one spot along the East Entrance road to Yellowstone National Park. Black and white helps to add some drama to the image.
Wildfires have at different times scorched much of the land in the park (most notably in 1988) and these trees served as a reminder of the devastation they leave in their wake. However, fires are an important part of the life cycle of a forest helping to renew the ecosystem.
