Snow leopards are among the most enigmatic and iconic of the wild cats. They live in solitude, roaming vast and rugged mountain ranges across 12 countries in Central Asia. Rarely seen in the wild, they have rightly earned the title “Ghosts of the Mountains.” To me, they are also among the most beautiful of all cats. The Trans-Himalayan region of Ladakh, India, is shaped by a fragile and unique cold desert ecosystem. In winter, it offers the best chance to see this elusive and endangered predator, as the cats descend from the high mountains in pursuit of their primary prey—the blue sheep. I traveled there in the midst of a brutal winter, spending nearly three weeks searching for the “Ghost.” I was fortunate to encounter it briefly on three separate occasions. It was one of the most physically demanding wildlife expeditions I have ever undertaken—but also one of the most rewarding.