I saw this Pinus Ponderosa tree growing in the wild on top of some extremely large granite boulders.  The tree is a testament of its toughness and its will to survive no matter what mother nature did to it. Who knows what tales it could tell if it could only speak to us. Mother nature is still attacking the tree, even the dead branches keep on getting attacked by wind and snow. I can imagine a Mountain Lion using the large gnarly curly branch as a scouting perch to hunt Deer, Elk and heaven forbid me. This tree is a good example for large dominant branches (3) and fine thinner branches high up in the crown of the tree where no Mountain Lion could ever reach them. More  photos on its own page.

Pinus Ponderosa Yamadori Tree