Snow Leopard, Chicham, Spiti Valley, May/Jun 2022

[rameshtahlan]

Finally with hot breakfast and tea,
we were on the road to Chandratal.

15 Km away from Chicham we got a call from the guide.
Guess what,
Leopard sighing
WE TURNED BACK.

Went to homestay, got lunch packed,
guide caught up with us.
and off we went,
had to drive around 10 km, park the SUV, now the trek started.
I DONT DO TREKS.
but for Snow Leopard I will do anything.

So we just about started the trek, and my guide had to go back over one mountains side to get my zoom lens.
he was also carrying my oxygen tank, 673 litres.

 

[rameshtahlan]

After about 1.5 hours were got a bit close to the general location,
that rock outcrop you see is somewhere the leopard is sitting.
So we still have some distance to go.

 

[rameshtahlan]

getting closer,

 

[rameshtahlan]

The leopard is in those rocks in the shadows.
the guide and tracker can see it,
I still cannot.

 

[rameshtahlan]

we took up position.
three hours over and my hand is aching
only the leopards face is visible,
waiting for him to move and change location.

 

[rameshtahlan]

So this is what I clicked. The first image out of the camera,
Canon R5, Canon RF 100-500m at 500mm

Can you spot the leopard ?

 

[rameshtahlan]

I know you cannot spot the leopard

So here is the heavily cropped image and Post Processed so you can see the leopard.
just his head, and he sure is looking at us and must be laughing.

 

[rameshtahlan]

My eyes were glued to the leopard,
I dare not blink in case I dont see him when I open my eyes.

Suddenly I felt I saw some movement.

this is that image.

 

[rameshtahlan]

Ah , he was yawning. Sure getting bored looking at us.

 

[rameshtahlan]

After 4 hours he finally got up and moved to another location behind a huge rock

I got just 10 sec to shoot his movement,
but I got it.