What is the essence of a mountain lion?
Ghostwalker: Tracking a Mountain Lion’s Soul through Science and Story attempts to answer this very question. When Leslie Patten encounters their ethereal presence on the snowy landscape near her home outside Yellowstone Park— their tracks, sign, and trail camera images— she was left to ponder where they were and what they were up to. To understand an animal no one ever sees, Patten conducted over fifty interviews with biologists,
Conservation groups, state wildlife managers, houndsmen and professional trackers. Ghostwalker gradually took shape as a tracking tale. The track in the snow became the lion itself. Just as a tracker views track sign from every angle—from ground level, from a standing view, in different light, and by walking around the print—Patten followed the crumb trail over every substrate. Slowly, a more complete picture of the lion’s illusive nature emerged.
Ghostwalker is a book for the general public, relying heavily on compelling teaching stories told by professionals, along with the author’s personal tales.
History, lore, science, are all seamlessly combined to unclothe the mysteries of America’s most elusive, secretive predator.
Join us at Barjons for a booksigning and presentation with author Leslie Patten
Saturday, November 3rd at 1pm
