WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:03.680 Greetings, fellow seekers of the unknown. It's Brian and I'm 2 00:00:03.680 --> 00:00:06.480 here today to share something truly extraordinary with all of you. 3 00:00:06.919 --> 00:00:09.279 As you know, my journey to uncover the truth of 4 00:00:09.320 --> 00:00:12.080 all things strange has taken me on a wild ride 5 00:00:12.160 --> 00:00:15.599 filled with incredible experiences and encounters with the unseen, and 6 00:00:15.679 --> 00:00:18.039 today I want to share that journey with all of 7 00:00:18.079 --> 00:00:21.440 you by introducing you to Hanger one Publishing. Hanger one 8 00:00:21.480 --> 00:00:24.519 Publishing is the premier destination for books on all things 9 00:00:24.559 --> 00:00:29.079 strange and mysterious, from Bigfoot to Cryptid's UFOs and the paranormal. 10 00:00:29.359 --> 00:00:31.760 They cover it all, and let me tell you, the 11 00:00:31.760 --> 00:00:34.840 books in their catalog are simply amazing. 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And 41 00:02:08.560 --> 00:02:11.280 the best part, you can find their entire book catalog 42 00:02:11.319 --> 00:02:14.199 and Hanger one Publishing dot com. So what are you 43 00:02:14.240 --> 00:02:17.840 waiting for? Visit Hanger one Publishing dot com today and 44 00:02:17.919 --> 00:02:19.159 let the journey begin. 45 00:02:19.439 --> 00:02:22.360 Now are you reporting? Ah? I got a screen going 46 00:02:22.400 --> 00:02:25.520 on here. Something just kidding my dog? Something killed your dog? 47 00:02:26.240 --> 00:02:28.479 My dog. We're applying through here over the trade. I 48 00:02:28.479 --> 00:02:33.240 don't know how it did it? Okay, damn, I'm really 49 00:02:33.280 --> 00:02:35.520 confused now. All I thought was my dog coming over 50 00:02:35.560 --> 00:02:36.919 the fence and they would have dead. And when you 51 00:02:37.039 --> 00:02:39.439 hit the ground, I entertaining cars. All I thought was 52 00:02:39.439 --> 00:02:59.719 my dog coming over the fence. Reporting. We got some 53 00:03:00.080 --> 00:03:10.840 understuffing brawling around out here. Did you see what it was? 54 00:03:12.520 --> 00:03:14.080 I'm out here, look, I'm near the one noow now 55 00:03:14.080 --> 00:03:16.080 and I don't need anything. I don't want to go outside. 56 00:03:17.599 --> 00:03:24.479 He is quite Hello, hit the boddy out here? What 57 00:03:24.680 --> 00:03:26.360 quin on out there? I thought of a bit of 58 00:03:26.439 --> 00:03:29.840 about text nine. I don't know you see announce there? Yeah, 59 00:03:29.919 --> 00:03:31.159 I'm walking right heady. 60 00:03:31.680 --> 00:03:35.280 Hey there, and thanks for joining me for the show. Today, 61 00:03:35.520 --> 00:03:40.080 I'm sharing several incredible encounter stories from Alaska. These stories 62 00:03:40.080 --> 00:03:44.280 originally come from Fred of the Subarctic Alaskan Sasquatch YouTube channel, 63 00:03:44.719 --> 00:03:47.159 and I think it's important to address why I'm choosing 64 00:03:47.199 --> 00:03:51.439 to narrate these myself today. Fred's episodes have sparked quite 65 00:03:51.439 --> 00:03:54.960 the reaction. While many of you have appreciated hearing these raw, 66 00:03:55.080 --> 00:03:58.639 fascinating tales, I've also received more than my share of 67 00:03:58.759 --> 00:04:02.520 nasty emails and one star reviews about featuring them. Let 68 00:04:02.520 --> 00:04:05.240 me be clear, I believe it's vital for Fred's voice 69 00:04:05.240 --> 00:04:10.159 and these incredible stories, especially those involving indigenous perspectives, to 70 00:04:10.240 --> 00:04:14.159 be heard. That's why I've shared his content before. However, 71 00:04:14.439 --> 00:04:16.399 I've reached a point where I no longer care to 72 00:04:16.439 --> 00:04:20.000 sift through the negativity. Because of that, I'm choosing to 73 00:04:20.040 --> 00:04:23.399 do the extra work of narrating these stories myself. I 74 00:04:23.439 --> 00:04:25.800 want to ensure these encounters are told with the care 75 00:04:25.839 --> 00:04:29.639 and attention they deserve, while also sparing myself the frustration 76 00:04:29.759 --> 00:04:34.439 of fielding criticism that misses the point entirely. These stories 77 00:04:34.480 --> 00:04:37.560 are as important, if not more so, than many of 78 00:04:37.600 --> 00:04:41.319 the others I've shared. They offer perspectives and experiences we 79 00:04:41.439 --> 00:04:45.639 rarely hear, and I'm committed to bringing them to you. Ultimately, 80 00:04:45.920 --> 00:04:49.920 I'm just a podcaster, but I care deeply about this subject, 81 00:04:50.279 --> 00:04:53.439 and like many of you, I've had experiences I can't explain. 82 00:04:54.240 --> 00:04:57.519 I'm seeking answers, and stories like these from Alaska are 83 00:04:57.560 --> 00:05:01.600 a critical part of that search. Narration takes time, so 84 00:05:01.680 --> 00:05:04.079 I ask for your patients as I continue to bring 85 00:05:04.120 --> 00:05:07.519 these encounters to life. For those who've taken the time 86 00:05:07.560 --> 00:05:10.680 to send angry emails or leave harsh reviews about Fred, 87 00:05:11.480 --> 00:05:13.839 I challenge you to ask yourself what drives you to 88 00:05:13.839 --> 00:05:17.959 put others down? Is it truly helping? My goal has 89 00:05:18.000 --> 00:05:20.879 always been to make this podcast as fresh and innovative 90 00:05:20.920 --> 00:05:24.639 as possible. I work tirelessly to bring you something meaningful 91 00:05:24.680 --> 00:05:29.040 each week, whether it's eyewitness interviews, articles of interest, or 92 00:05:29.120 --> 00:05:33.360 chapters from my book, Born Wild Coda's Odyssey. And to 93 00:05:33.399 --> 00:05:36.439 everyone else, if you enjoy what you hear, I'd appreciate 94 00:05:36.480 --> 00:05:39.920 it if you could reflect that in your ratings and reviews. Now, 95 00:05:40.000 --> 00:05:42.759 let's talk about reviews for a moment. It's rare that 96 00:05:42.800 --> 00:05:45.800 someone takes the time to tell a podcaster or any 97 00:05:45.800 --> 00:05:48.600 business for that matter how much they enjoy the show 98 00:05:48.680 --> 00:05:52.519 or product. Statistically, people are far more likely to leave 99 00:05:52.560 --> 00:05:56.519 a review when they're unhappy than when they're satisfied. Research 100 00:05:56.560 --> 00:05:59.720 shows that negative reviews outnumber positive ones by up to 101 00:05:59.800 --> 00:06:04.279 three to one on most platforms. Look, I get it, 102 00:06:04.279 --> 00:06:09.199 it's human nature to vent frustration, but appreciation often goes unspoken. 103 00:06:10.160 --> 00:06:12.480 As a creator who pours heart and soul into this 104 00:06:12.600 --> 00:06:16.519 podcast every week, it's always refreshing to hear kind words. 105 00:06:17.319 --> 00:06:20.759 To quote Maya Angelo, people will forget what you said, 106 00:06:21.319 --> 00:06:24.000 people will forget what you did, but people will never 107 00:06:24.079 --> 00:06:27.240 forget how you made them feel. When someone takes a 108 00:06:27.279 --> 00:06:30.240 moment to leave a thoughtful review or a kind message, 109 00:06:30.399 --> 00:06:33.959 it's a reminder of why I do this To everyone 110 00:06:34.000 --> 00:06:36.439 who has reached out to share what this podcast means 111 00:06:36.519 --> 00:06:40.800 to you. Thank you. You keep me going Right now, 112 00:06:41.079 --> 00:06:43.560 tens of thousands of you are listening to this podcast 113 00:06:43.639 --> 00:06:46.680 on Apple or Spotify, but there are only eight hundred 114 00:06:46.720 --> 00:06:49.439 and fifty three reviews on Apple and six hundred ten 115 00:06:49.519 --> 00:06:52.839 on Spotify. That's less than one percent of the total 116 00:06:52.920 --> 00:06:55.079 number of you that listened to this show each month. 117 00:06:55.879 --> 00:06:58.079 It takes just a few seconds to leave a rating 118 00:06:58.639 --> 00:07:01.800 or maybe a minute to write a review, but that 119 00:07:01.920 --> 00:07:04.560 minute means the world to me and makes a huge 120 00:07:04.600 --> 00:07:08.160 difference for the show. So thank you for sticking with me. 121 00:07:08.800 --> 00:07:11.560 These stories are important and I'll keep bringing them to 122 00:07:11.600 --> 00:07:15.120 you because they matter. Now, let's dive into this week's 123 00:07:15.199 --> 00:07:18.639 encounters from North of the Border, haunting tales that deserve 124 00:07:18.720 --> 00:07:22.199 to be heard. This story comes from Thomas and Molly, 125 00:07:22.480 --> 00:07:25.079 not their real names, and it's set in a small 126 00:07:25.160 --> 00:07:28.480 village along the Couscokwim River. We'll leave it at that 127 00:07:28.560 --> 00:07:31.839 for privacy. In this village, there is still a strong 128 00:07:31.879 --> 00:07:35.680 belief in the supernatural, including entities like the Hairy Man, 129 00:07:36.000 --> 00:07:40.399 the Little People, and other cryptids. These beliefs, deeply rooted 130 00:07:40.399 --> 00:07:44.279 in the culture, are hard to overcome. Thomas inherited a 131 00:07:44.279 --> 00:07:46.600 piece of property from his grandfather near the edge of 132 00:07:46.639 --> 00:07:49.600 the village. For five or six years, he and Molly 133 00:07:49.639 --> 00:07:53.319 worked on the property, making small improvements whenever time allowed. 134 00:07:54.240 --> 00:07:56.959 The land was about one hundred yards from the tree line, 135 00:07:57.079 --> 00:07:59.720 and their progress was slow because they could only work 136 00:07:59.759 --> 00:08:03.519 in the after hunting season. They weren't wealthy, but they 137 00:08:03.560 --> 00:08:06.399 did what they could, bit by bit to prepare for 138 00:08:06.439 --> 00:08:09.959 building a house. One day after working on the floor 139 00:08:10.000 --> 00:08:12.240 of the house, they decided to head out and pick 140 00:08:12.279 --> 00:08:15.680 berries behind the property. They walked through a dense cluster 141 00:08:15.759 --> 00:08:20.000 of trees about four hundred yards thick, before emerging on 142 00:08:20.040 --> 00:08:24.199 the other side, where there were plenty of blackberries, low bush, blueberries, 143 00:08:24.240 --> 00:08:27.600 and more. It was a beautiful spot and they were 144 00:08:27.639 --> 00:08:32.320 in good spirits, laughing, joking, and enjoying the day. Thomas 145 00:08:32.320 --> 00:08:35.279 carried his thirty ought six rifle for safety because bears 146 00:08:35.320 --> 00:08:37.759 and moose were still active in the area during that 147 00:08:37.840 --> 00:08:41.600 time of year. As they were picking berries, Molly noticed 148 00:08:41.639 --> 00:08:46.399 something unusual. It's really quiet, she said. They stopped to listen, 149 00:08:46.720 --> 00:08:50.840 realizing just how silent it was. The usual background noise 150 00:08:50.879 --> 00:08:55.639 of birds, insects, and other wildlife was gone. An oppressive 151 00:08:55.639 --> 00:08:58.960 feeling hung over the area. When I later asked Thomas 152 00:08:59.000 --> 00:09:01.960 to describe it, he said it felt sinister, as if 153 00:09:02.000 --> 00:09:05.000 something was projecting a sense of danger directly on to him. 154 00:09:05.639 --> 00:09:09.159 He'd never felt anything like it before, this overwhelming sense 155 00:09:09.159 --> 00:09:13.360 of panic and dread. Despite the uneasy silence, they continued 156 00:09:13.399 --> 00:09:16.840 picking berries. Thomas was kneeling on a tuft of tundra 157 00:09:17.120 --> 00:09:20.000 with the tree line at their backs and open marshland 158 00:09:20.080 --> 00:09:22.879 stretching out in front of them. The area they were 159 00:09:22.919 --> 00:09:25.840 in was a large circular clearing with rolling hills in 160 00:09:25.879 --> 00:09:29.799 the distance. While scanning the landscape, Thomas noticed a dark 161 00:09:29.840 --> 00:09:32.759 speck moving on the far hills. At first, it was 162 00:09:32.799 --> 00:09:35.720 hard to pinpoint, appearing in one spot and then another, 163 00:09:36.480 --> 00:09:40.120 the dark figure seemed to be moving closer. Alarm, Thomas 164 00:09:40.159 --> 00:09:43.600 asked Molly to grab the binoculars from their backpack. As 165 00:09:43.639 --> 00:09:47.320 soon as he held them, the panicky feeling intensified. He 166 00:09:47.399 --> 00:09:50.960 scanned the hills but saw no movement. Turning his attention 167 00:09:51.039 --> 00:09:53.960 to the foreground, he began searching the wide open area 168 00:09:54.000 --> 00:09:56.879 ahead of them. The clearing was about three hundred to 169 00:09:56.919 --> 00:10:00.559 four hundred yards across, with small islands of black spruce 170 00:10:00.600 --> 00:10:04.360 and willows dotting the landscape. Finally, he spotted the dark 171 00:10:04.399 --> 00:10:07.799 figure again. It was low to the ground, moving closer 172 00:10:07.840 --> 00:10:11.039 but still at a distance, disappearing and reappearing as it 173 00:10:11.080 --> 00:10:14.600 moved through the uneven tundra. That's when the fight or 174 00:10:14.639 --> 00:10:19.320 flight instinct kicked in. Pack up, Thomas told Molly, we're going. 175 00:10:20.120 --> 00:10:22.480 They quickly gathered their things and headed back through the 176 00:10:22.519 --> 00:10:25.919 trees toward the property. Thomas initially thought it might be 177 00:10:25.960 --> 00:10:28.639 a grizzly bear heading for the town dump, so he 178 00:10:28.679 --> 00:10:31.320 figured the best thing to do was to avoid it entirely. 179 00:10:32.200 --> 00:10:34.879 When they reached the gravel pad on the property, a 180 00:10:34.919 --> 00:10:38.039 cleared area where a bulldozer had exposed the surface dirt, 181 00:10:38.639 --> 00:10:42.120 Thomas felt a brief sense of relief. However, as they 182 00:10:42.159 --> 00:10:44.440 prepared to leave on the four wheeler, they heard a 183 00:10:44.480 --> 00:10:47.960 chilling noise from the trees. It was a low, growling 184 00:10:48.039 --> 00:10:52.000 scream that lasted about ten seconds. Thomas described it as 185 00:10:52.000 --> 00:10:54.919 a mix between a pig squeal and a bear's growl. 186 00:10:55.720 --> 00:10:58.159 He assumed it was an injured bear and decided it 187 00:10:58.200 --> 00:11:01.120 was best to leave. As they rode back to the village, 188 00:11:01.360 --> 00:11:04.399 Molly noticed movement in the trees to their left. She 189 00:11:04.519 --> 00:11:07.960 pointed it out and Thomas slowed the fore wheeler. He 190 00:11:08.000 --> 00:11:11.639 saw a dark figure about eighty yards away, partially obscured 191 00:11:11.639 --> 00:11:14.919 by the trees. Grabbing his rifle, he looked through the 192 00:11:14.960 --> 00:11:18.080 scope and saw the figure moving away. He assumed it 193 00:11:18.120 --> 00:11:21.879 was the same bear, now retreating after possibly catching their scent. 194 00:11:23.000 --> 00:11:25.720 A week later, Thomas returned to the property with fresh 195 00:11:25.759 --> 00:11:28.799 supplies to work on the house. He had just finished 196 00:11:28.799 --> 00:11:31.120 part of the floor and was sitting on it sipping 197 00:11:31.159 --> 00:11:33.759 coffee when he noticed movement on the berm at the 198 00:11:33.759 --> 00:11:37.159 back of the property. Grabbing his rifle, he climbed onto 199 00:11:37.200 --> 00:11:40.320 the four wheeler for a better view. He saw a wide, 200 00:11:40.399 --> 00:11:43.720 brown figure moving through the trees. Assuming it was the 201 00:11:43.759 --> 00:11:46.080 same bear, he resolved to deal with it if it 202 00:11:46.120 --> 00:11:49.519 came back. Later that day, Thomas heard the sound of 203 00:11:49.559 --> 00:11:52.919 breaking trees. He grabbed his rifle and scanned the area, 204 00:11:52.960 --> 00:11:56.399 but didn't see anything. Immediately, as he approached the area 205 00:11:56.440 --> 00:11:59.039 where the noise had come from, he felt that same 206 00:11:59.080 --> 00:12:03.919 oppressive sense atmosphere. He spotted movement in the trees, a 207 00:12:03.960 --> 00:12:07.960 broad shouldered figure with no neck, partially obscured by shadows. 208 00:12:08.559 --> 00:12:11.639 It duck down when it noticed his rifle. The ringing 209 00:12:11.679 --> 00:12:14.879 in his ears grew unbearable, and he decided to back off. 210 00:12:15.759 --> 00:12:18.720 Molly arrived later on a four wheeler with their oldest child. 211 00:12:19.279 --> 00:12:22.279 As they approached the property, she noticed the figure standing 212 00:12:22.320 --> 00:12:25.200 near the trees. It threw a tree in their direction, 213 00:12:25.679 --> 00:12:29.080 landing it in a ditch beside the road. Molly turned 214 00:12:29.080 --> 00:12:31.720 the four wheeler around and sped back to the village. 215 00:12:32.159 --> 00:12:35.279 When Thomas returned home, Molly described what she had seen 216 00:12:36.159 --> 00:12:40.679 a large, hairy figure standing upright. The village elders advised 217 00:12:40.679 --> 00:12:43.320 Thomas not to engage with the creature or disturb the 218 00:12:43.360 --> 00:12:46.720 property until it moved on. He paused construction for a 219 00:12:46.759 --> 00:12:49.720 couple of seasons, but eventually he had to resume work 220 00:12:49.799 --> 00:12:52.799 due to their growing family. With help from friends, he 221 00:12:52.840 --> 00:12:56.879 brought supplies to the property. One day. While unloading materials, 222 00:12:57.200 --> 00:13:00.159 they spotted the creature again. It stood behind them the 223 00:13:00.159 --> 00:13:04.320 berm swaying back and forth. When Thomas yelled, it dropped 224 00:13:04.360 --> 00:13:07.720 to all fours, leaped over the berm, and disappeared into 225 00:13:07.759 --> 00:13:11.840 the trees. Despite seeing bear tracks in the area, Thomas 226 00:13:11.879 --> 00:13:14.200 and his friends were certain the creature wasn't a bear. 227 00:13:15.200 --> 00:13:18.600 Taking the elder's advice, Thomas performed a ritual to protect 228 00:13:18.600 --> 00:13:21.720 the property. He walked a large circle around the land, 229 00:13:22.080 --> 00:13:26.039 saying prayers for protection. He repeated the ritual several times 230 00:13:26.080 --> 00:13:29.480 over a few days, and the oppressive atmosphere seemed to lift. 231 00:13:30.360 --> 00:13:34.159 The construction continued without further incidents, and the family eventually 232 00:13:34.200 --> 00:13:38.279 moved into the house. However, things took another turn when 233 00:13:38.279 --> 00:13:41.639 they allowed a troubled relative to stay with them. This 234 00:13:41.799 --> 00:13:45.799 relative's behavior caused tension in the household, and Thomas believed 235 00:13:45.840 --> 00:13:49.960 it may have undone the protective prayers. The sinister presence 236 00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:53.559 returned and the creature began approaching the house, peering through 237 00:13:53.639 --> 00:13:57.799 windows and lingering near the porch. Thomas repeated the prayer 238 00:13:57.919 --> 00:14:02.559 ritual and the activity eventually stuck. Since then, Thomas has 239 00:14:02.600 --> 00:14:05.799 performed the ritual every spring to insure his family's safety. 240 00:14:06.519 --> 00:14:08.639 He shared his story in hopes that it might help 241 00:14:08.679 --> 00:14:12.559 others dealing with similar situations. He also warned about the 242 00:14:12.559 --> 00:14:15.440 importance of being mindful of who you invite into your home, 243 00:14:15.960 --> 00:14:19.679 as it could disrupt any protective measures in place. This 244 00:14:19.799 --> 00:14:22.759 is a story that comes from Dwayne and Roger. They 245 00:14:22.759 --> 00:14:26.080 live in Anchorage, and about twenty years ago, these lifelong 246 00:14:26.120 --> 00:14:29.559 best friends decided they wanted to try commercial salmon fishing together. 247 00:14:30.360 --> 00:14:32.519 They reached out to some people they knew and eventually 248 00:14:32.639 --> 00:14:36.240 landed deckhand jobs in Bristol Bay. It's a great place 249 00:14:36.240 --> 00:14:39.840 for salmon fishing, being home to the largest salmon return 250 00:14:39.879 --> 00:14:42.720 in the world. At the end of their first season, 251 00:14:43.000 --> 00:14:45.879 the boat captain they were working for, a local Native 252 00:14:45.919 --> 00:14:49.279 man from Togiak, took them up the Togiak River to 253 00:14:49.360 --> 00:14:53.679 Togiak Lake. The area was stunning and the experience left 254 00:14:53.720 --> 00:14:57.720 a lasting impression on both of them. Unfortunately, the captain 255 00:14:57.759 --> 00:15:01.720 passed away a few years later and stay tuned for 256 00:15:01.799 --> 00:15:04.159 more sasquatch ot to see We'll be right back. After 257 00:15:04.200 --> 00:15:11.320 these messages, still, Dwayne and Roger couldn't shake the memory 258 00:15:11.320 --> 00:15:15.039 of that place and decided to revisit it. They reached 259 00:15:15.039 --> 00:15:18.440 out to the captain's daughter, who remembered them. She agreed 260 00:15:18.480 --> 00:15:20.320 to let them use her late father's house as a 261 00:15:20.360 --> 00:15:23.120 base camp, though they'd need to pay someone to take 262 00:15:23.120 --> 00:15:26.399 them up the river. Dwayne and Roger made arrangements with 263 00:15:26.440 --> 00:15:28.519 a young local man who agreed to take them to 264 00:15:28.519 --> 00:15:32.360 Togiak Lake, dropped them and their gear off, and returned 265 00:15:32.360 --> 00:15:35.240 to pick them up a week later. They even left 266 00:15:35.240 --> 00:15:38.360 one of their VHF radios with them to coordinate the pickup, 267 00:15:38.840 --> 00:15:42.000 knowing the signal would work once he was nearby. This 268 00:15:42.159 --> 00:15:45.120 was about fifteen to twenty years ago, so while GPS 269 00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:50.440 units existed, they were expensive and unreliable in remote areas. Instead, 270 00:15:50.799 --> 00:15:54.360 Dwayne and Roger relied on maps and compasses. Their plan 271 00:15:54.480 --> 00:15:57.159 was solid, spend a week or two in the back country, 272 00:15:57.639 --> 00:16:03.200 enjoy the Alaskan wilderness, and they didn't take unnecessary risks 273 00:16:03.600 --> 00:16:07.480 bringing firearms because of the abundance of bears. The first 274 00:16:07.480 --> 00:16:11.039 few days were uneventful. They camped near the lake, venturing 275 00:16:11.039 --> 00:16:15.039 out to explore, but staying relatively close. On the second day, 276 00:16:15.200 --> 00:16:17.919 concerned about the heavy bear activity along the lake shore, 277 00:16:18.279 --> 00:16:20.840 they decided to move their camp further up the valley. 278 00:16:21.559 --> 00:16:24.240 About five hundred yards away. They found a clear, open 279 00:16:24.279 --> 00:16:28.039 spot surrounded by thick brush and decided it felt safer 280 00:16:28.840 --> 00:16:31.720 despite the nearby bear trails, it was a better option 281 00:16:31.799 --> 00:16:34.720 than staying by the lake. By day four of their 282 00:16:34.759 --> 00:16:38.000 seven day adventure, they planned a hike deeper into the valley. 283 00:16:38.679 --> 00:16:42.080 The weather was clear the visibility great, though the bugs 284 00:16:42.080 --> 00:16:45.559 were persistent. As they hiked, they decided to climb a 285 00:16:45.639 --> 00:16:48.840 hillside for a better view of the game below. After 286 00:16:48.879 --> 00:16:51.600 finding the vantage point wasn't as helpful as they'd hoped, 287 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:54.799 they crossed the valley to the opposite side, where the 288 00:16:54.879 --> 00:16:58.759 terrain was slightly more open. While walking along the edge 289 00:16:58.759 --> 00:17:02.200 of the valley, they heard a stre distant scream. It 290 00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:06.079 was unlike anything they'd ever heard before. Dwayne and Roger 291 00:17:06.119 --> 00:17:10.720 stopped in their tracks, Confused but curious. The sound was eerie, 292 00:17:10.920 --> 00:17:13.440 but it was far enough away not to deter them. 293 00:17:13.720 --> 00:17:17.759 They chambered their ammunition and continued cautiously, determined not to 294 00:17:17.839 --> 00:17:21.400 let a mysterious noise ruin their trip. Roughly half a 295 00:17:21.440 --> 00:17:25.160 mile further, they climbed to another vantage point. They scanned 296 00:17:25.160 --> 00:17:27.839 the area, trying to pinpoint the source of the noise, 297 00:17:28.240 --> 00:17:31.559 when they heard the scream again. This time they spotted 298 00:17:31.599 --> 00:17:35.039 something moving in the distance, a dark speck traveling across 299 00:17:35.119 --> 00:17:39.200 the valley at an incredible speed. What is that, Dwayne 300 00:17:39.240 --> 00:17:43.279 asked Roger, both of them watching in disbelief. The speck 301 00:17:43.359 --> 00:17:47.039 moved with an unnatural speed and purpose, maneuvering toward their 302 00:17:47.039 --> 00:17:52.359 general direction. Feeling uneasy, they decided to retreat. The hillside 303 00:17:52.440 --> 00:17:55.000 was rocky and loose, so they carefully made their way 304 00:17:55.039 --> 00:17:58.319 down to the treeline for better footing. As they moved, 305 00:17:58.359 --> 00:18:02.839 the scream echoed again, this time much closer. It seemed 306 00:18:02.880 --> 00:18:06.039 to be within three hundred yards across the small valley, 307 00:18:06.039 --> 00:18:10.519 but below them in the thick brush. They froze adrenaline surging, 308 00:18:11.319 --> 00:18:14.720 the sounds of something large moving through the underbrush became clear. 309 00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:18.559 Dwayne and Roger fell into a leap frog pattern, one 310 00:18:18.640 --> 00:18:22.079 keeping watch while the other moved ahead. Their rifles were 311 00:18:22.119 --> 00:18:25.799 ready and their senses were heightened. At one point, as 312 00:18:25.799 --> 00:18:28.359 they were nearing a section of the trail, they recognized 313 00:18:28.720 --> 00:18:32.400 they heard trees being pushed over. Not far ahead, a 314 00:18:32.440 --> 00:18:35.960 small black spruce fell onto their path, followed by another. 315 00:18:36.720 --> 00:18:40.319 These weren't massive trees, but they were being deliberately pushed down. 316 00:18:41.160 --> 00:18:46.640 Dwayne stopped, confused, why are we stopping? Roger whispered, there 317 00:18:46.640 --> 00:18:50.559 are trees being pushed over up ahead, Dwayne replied. As 318 00:18:50.559 --> 00:18:53.680 they listened, they heard grunting and snorting sounds, like a 319 00:18:53.720 --> 00:18:57.119 mix between a pig and a low growl. The noises 320 00:18:57.119 --> 00:19:01.039 circled them, moving clockwise, staying at a consistent distance of 321 00:19:01.039 --> 00:19:04.359 about one hundred yards. The sheer size and speed of 322 00:19:04.400 --> 00:19:08.200 whatever was making the sounds terrified them. As the noises 323 00:19:08.240 --> 00:19:11.839 began to fade, Dwayne and Roger pressed on, leap frogging 324 00:19:11.920 --> 00:19:15.119 their way forward. They passed the fallen trees and stopped 325 00:19:15.119 --> 00:19:20.599 to regroup. Suddenly, the noises stopped entirely. Roger whispered, do 326 00:19:20.680 --> 00:19:24.400 you hear that? Dwayne didn't, lost in a state of shock, 327 00:19:24.960 --> 00:19:28.200 but Roger was certain the creature was moving closer. Then 328 00:19:28.240 --> 00:19:32.400 it appeared roughly sixty yards ahead. It stepped into the trail, 329 00:19:32.759 --> 00:19:36.519 squatted down like a linebacker, and stared directly at them. 330 00:19:36.759 --> 00:19:40.559 The creature was massive, ten to eleven feet tall, thickly 331 00:19:40.599 --> 00:19:45.119 built with dark, well groomed hair. Dwayne and Roger were stunned. 332 00:19:45.440 --> 00:19:49.000 Keeping low behind the fallen trees, the creature rocked back 333 00:19:49.039 --> 00:19:52.880 and forth, making snorting noises as it studied them. Not 334 00:19:52.920 --> 00:19:56.279 wanting to provoke it, they slowly backed away, keeping their 335 00:19:56.359 --> 00:20:00.519 rifles trained on it. The atmosphere became more oppressive, the 336 00:20:00.599 --> 00:20:04.519 tension unbearable. They retreated about forty feet before deciding to 337 00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:07.839 resume their leap frog strategy, one covering the other as 338 00:20:07.880 --> 00:20:12.720 they moved. Despite its intimidating size, the creature didn't act aggressively, 339 00:20:13.160 --> 00:20:17.039 merely watching them with keen interest. When they reached a hill, 340 00:20:17.160 --> 00:20:19.519 Roger led the way up while Dwayne kept an eye 341 00:20:19.519 --> 00:20:23.400 on the creature. As Roger climbed breaking branches, the creature 342 00:20:23.440 --> 00:20:26.839 stood up, walked to a dead black spruce, and snapped 343 00:20:26.839 --> 00:20:30.200 it in half with a loud crack. Dwayne shouted at 344 00:20:30.279 --> 00:20:34.039 Roger to stop breaking branches, realizing the creature might interpret 345 00:20:34.039 --> 00:20:37.039 the noise as a challenge. At the top of the hill, 346 00:20:37.400 --> 00:20:41.079 the creature was gone. Dwayne and Roger decided to return 347 00:20:41.079 --> 00:20:44.480 to camp, pack up, and head for the lake. Their 348 00:20:44.559 --> 00:20:47.440 VHF radio was at camp and they needed to use 349 00:20:47.480 --> 00:20:50.359 it to call for help. As they packed, they noticed 350 00:20:50.400 --> 00:20:54.200 their food bag, filled with neatly packed and taped canned goods, 351 00:20:54.599 --> 00:20:57.759 was missing. Following the trail back to the lake, they 352 00:20:57.759 --> 00:21:00.559 found pieces of the bag along the way, though all 353 00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:05.319 the cans were intact. Nearby, they discovered massive footprints around 354 00:21:05.400 --> 00:21:09.960 nineteen inches long. Dwayne, wearing size eleven and a half boots, 355 00:21:10.359 --> 00:21:12.960 measured the length and was struck by the sheer size 356 00:21:13.000 --> 00:21:16.599 of the tracks. At the lake, they saw two figures 357 00:21:16.640 --> 00:21:19.720 down the shore, one examining a piece of burlap from 358 00:21:19.720 --> 00:21:23.920 the missing bag. One figure, about six to seven feet tall, 359 00:21:24.200 --> 00:21:28.559 quickly disappeared into the brush. The larger figure, still holding 360 00:21:28.599 --> 00:21:31.920 the burlap, eventually stood and walked off with immense speed 361 00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:36.920 and perfectly silent. Shaken, Dwyane and Roger used the VHF 362 00:21:37.039 --> 00:21:40.599 radio to contact a passing plane, which relayed their message 363 00:21:40.599 --> 00:21:43.240 to the village. The young man who had brought them 364 00:21:43.319 --> 00:21:46.279 up river returned to rescue them when they told him 365 00:21:46.279 --> 00:21:50.480 what they'd seen, he calmly acknowledged it. That's Jekiah, he said, 366 00:21:50.759 --> 00:21:53.279 referring to the hairy Man as if it were an 367 00:21:53.319 --> 00:21:57.480 everyday occurrence. The casual reaction from their rescuer was the 368 00:21:57.480 --> 00:22:00.759 most shocking part for Dwyane. To him, it was a 369 00:22:00.799 --> 00:22:04.079 life changing event, but to the locals it seemed like 370 00:22:04.279 --> 00:22:08.359 just another day in the Alaskan wilderness. This next story 371 00:22:08.400 --> 00:22:11.880 comes from the Yukon River area, specifically south of Galena. 372 00:22:12.559 --> 00:22:15.000 Benjamin reached out some time ago, and he had a 373 00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:17.960 real hard time relaying his encounter. I told him not 374 00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:21.559 to worry, just tell me what happened. So Benjamin isn't 375 00:22:21.599 --> 00:22:24.119 his real name, and we'll just say he lives somewhere 376 00:22:24.160 --> 00:22:27.519 on the Yukon south of Galina. Galina is the nearest 377 00:22:27.559 --> 00:22:30.599 hub where he goes for supplies and the like. This 378 00:22:30.640 --> 00:22:34.640 event occurred in twenty eighteen, and nothing significant has happened since, 379 00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:38.640 just some distant squeals and houlers now and then. What 380 00:22:38.720 --> 00:22:41.880 happened was Benjamin had ordered a new outboard. The one 381 00:22:41.920 --> 00:22:44.880 he'd been using was his dad's. It ran well, but 382 00:22:45.039 --> 00:22:48.839 was outdated, losing power and when you're running the Yukon River. 383 00:22:49.160 --> 00:22:51.920 You want a good motor. The skiffs used in that 384 00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:55.599 region are those long, narrow types, so a reliable outboard 385 00:22:55.640 --> 00:22:59.319 is essential. Benjamin had been waiting months for this delivery. 386 00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:02.240 In morning, one of his neighbors stopped by for coffee 387 00:23:02.279 --> 00:23:05.519 and told him, Hey, you're out boards in. You need 388 00:23:05.559 --> 00:23:09.720 to go pick it up. Benjamin was relieved. His small cabin, 389 00:23:10.039 --> 00:23:13.799 situated along a smaller tributary of the Yukon, was fairly 390 00:23:13.839 --> 00:23:17.599 self sufficient. He had a battery bank, a generator, and 391 00:23:17.680 --> 00:23:21.359 no connections to any utility services. His dad had started 392 00:23:21.359 --> 00:23:24.039 the place decades ago, and Benjamin had kept it running 393 00:23:24.079 --> 00:23:27.279 after his dad passed. The cabin stood about half a 394 00:23:27.319 --> 00:23:30.480 mile up from where the tributary narrowed, marking the start 395 00:23:30.519 --> 00:23:33.640 of their property. It was a great spot for pulling 396 00:23:33.680 --> 00:23:37.079 up a skiff and accessing the river. That morning, as 397 00:23:37.079 --> 00:23:40.640 they sipped coffee, the neighbor mentioned hearing strange screams from 398 00:23:40.640 --> 00:23:43.759 across the river on the way in. The hairy Man 399 00:23:43.799 --> 00:23:48.279 was screaming, his friend said. Benjamin, familiar with the local tales, 400 00:23:48.440 --> 00:23:51.319 had heard his dad talk about the hairy Man. Though 401 00:23:51.319 --> 00:23:54.759