While hiking along the trail to the Los Alamos Reservoir around noon Friday, Los Alamos resident Noah Banks suddenly encountered this bear. A brief staring contest ensued before the bear lumbered off into the trees to parts unknown. Courtesy/Crystal Banks

Hiker Noah Banks experiences a tense and thankfully brief stare down with this bear Friday along the trail to the Los Alamos Reservoir before the bear lumbers off into the trees. Courtesy/Crystal Banks

Following a brief staring contest between hiker Noah Banks and this bear Friday during a chance encounter near the Los Alamos Reservoir, the bear lumbered off into the trees to parts unknown. Courtesy/Crystal Banks