GHOST

Words by Blake

Early on in my career as a wildlife photographer, I set out into the rugged mountains of Patagonia with one goal: to capture an unforgettable image of a mountain lion in the wild. After hours of tracking, I wasn’t expecting to be successful. But as I walked around a large boulder beneath a band of cliffs, I found myself just a dozen feet from this powerful creature—a very large male—far closer than I ever could have anticipated.

He had been hidden, asleep in the rocks, and I had unknowingly walked right into him. For a moment, the world seemed to freeze as we locked eyes. I was suddenly face to face with the most elusive animal in these mountains, the Ghost Cat of the Andes.

Quickly raising my camera, I captured this fleeting moment of raw power. As I did, I knew I had to step back carefully. My life depended on my next moves. While my heart was pounding, I showed no fear on the outside. My first few steps away, he proceeded to puff his chest out towards me, further telling me to leave his invaded space. As I backed up for what seemed like forever, our eyes remained locked. If I looked away, I was sure he would pounce on my neck.

Though I would go on to photograph many mountain lions in Patagonia, this encounter left a lasting mark on me. His raw power and strength, combined with his toughness, earned him the name "El Roca"—for his ability to blend into the rocky landscape and the battle scars that marked his survival. As I hiked back that day through the rain and darkened dusk twilight, I couldn’t help but reflect: I never wanted to have a close encounter with El Roca again.