Describe Cole's first encounter with what appears to be the spirit bear?

Cole's energy reserves are shot. He is exhausted. He sees an image, "He squinted and the image cleared, A bear. A white bear." The Bear pretty much minds its own business. He stands "patiently, proud, nose forward..." Cole gets angry, as he usually does, and throws a rock at him. The bear seems to stare into Cole's soul which Cole does not like; it makes him feel vulnerable. The bear runs off into the woods.