WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.040 --> 00:00:01.600 Today, I want to tell you about a journey that 2 00:00:01.600 --> 00:00:03.879 I've been on for most of my life. Ever since 3 00:00:03.919 --> 00:00:05.799 I was a kid, I've heard tales of bigfoot and 4 00:00:05.839 --> 00:00:08.320 wild men while spending time with my friends and family. 5 00:00:09.039 --> 00:00:11.439 As I grew older and read more about the paranormal, 6 00:00:11.599 --> 00:00:14.679 my interest in encryptids and other things strange only deepened. 7 00:00:15.240 --> 00:00:17.160 That's why I'm so excited to share with you what 8 00:00:17.199 --> 00:00:21.640 I've personally become involved with the Untold Radio Network. The 9 00:00:21.719 --> 00:00:25.280 Untold Radio Network is a live streaming podcast network that 10 00:00:25.359 --> 00:00:29.359 airs a new show every day across all podcast platforms, YouTube, 11 00:00:29.359 --> 00:00:32.119 and more. They have eight different shows on all sorts 12 00:00:32.159 --> 00:00:36.119 of exciting topics such as bigfoot, cryptids, UFOs, aliens, and 13 00:00:36.200 --> 00:00:39.479 much more. I even have my own show called Weird Encounters, 14 00:00:39.479 --> 00:00:42.439 where I talk about all things strange. This is more 15 00:00:42.479 --> 00:00:45.280 than just a podcast network. It's a community that allows 16 00:00:45.320 --> 00:00:47.759 me to meet so many amazing people who share their 17 00:00:47.799 --> 00:00:51.520 stories and experiences with strange. If you're interested in hearing 18 00:00:51.520 --> 00:00:53.880 more of these stories and learning more about the paranormal 19 00:00:53.960 --> 00:00:56.679 and encryptids, make sure you check out the Untold Radio 20 00:00:56.759 --> 00:01:00.600 Network for all kinds of exciting shows. It's free to subscribe. 21 00:01:00.679 --> 00:01:04.400 So what are you waiting for visit www dot untold 22 00:01:04.519 --> 00:01:06.560 radionetwork dot com today. 23 00:01:06.760 --> 00:01:09.680 Now, what are your reporting? I got a screen going 24 00:01:09.719 --> 00:01:12.120 on here. Something just kid with my dog, something to 25 00:01:12.200 --> 00:01:15.280 kill your dog? My dog. We're flying through there, over 26 00:01:15.319 --> 00:01:20.079 the tree. I don't know how it did it? Okay, Damn, 27 00:01:20.159 --> 00:01:22.640 I'm really confused. All I saw was my dog coming 28 00:01:22.680 --> 00:01:24.480 over the fence and name was dead once you hit 29 00:01:24.519 --> 00:01:26.560 the ground. I didn't see any cars. All I saw 30 00:01:26.680 --> 00:01:45.120 was my dog coming over the fence. Sat, what are 31 00:01:45.120 --> 00:01:49.959 you reporting? We got some wonder or something crawling around 32 00:01:50.040 --> 00:01:58.640 out here? Did you see what it was? It was 33 00:01:59.359 --> 00:02:01.439 enough out here. Look, I'm new to window now and 34 00:02:01.480 --> 00:02:03.439 I don't need anything. I don't want to go outside. 35 00:02:05.159 --> 00:02:12.199 It's right, Hello, hit the boddy out here? What quin? 36 00:02:12.240 --> 00:02:15.159 I'm out there? It's thought of amnures about text nine. 37 00:02:15.240 --> 00:02:17.719 I don't know. Easy him out there. Yeah, I'm walking 38 00:02:17.800 --> 00:02:18.719 right head uh. 39 00:02:19.080 --> 00:02:21.439 Hi, Brian. I've got a story to share that's been 40 00:02:21.439 --> 00:02:24.759 passed down in my family for generations. It's from my 41 00:02:24.879 --> 00:02:28.919 great great grandfather, Jedediah Turner, who was a fur trapper 42 00:02:29.000 --> 00:02:32.719 in the Pacific Northwest in the late eighteen hundreds. He 43 00:02:32.759 --> 00:02:35.280 wrote about this in his journal, and it's as clear 44 00:02:35.319 --> 00:02:38.159 as day to anyone who's read it that something happened 45 00:02:38.159 --> 00:02:40.879 to him out there. Whether you believe it or not, 46 00:02:41.319 --> 00:02:44.319 it's up to you. But here's what he wrote. He 47 00:02:44.439 --> 00:02:47.159 was trapping in Oregon, deep in the wilderness where a 48 00:02:47.159 --> 00:02:50.199 few people dared to go back. Then he'd been out 49 00:02:50.240 --> 00:02:55.599 there for weeks alone, setting traps and collecting furs. In 50 00:02:55.639 --> 00:02:58.800 early October, he made camp near a creek that looked promising. 51 00:02:59.479 --> 00:03:01.680 The first thing he noticed was how quiet it was. 52 00:03:02.439 --> 00:03:06.319 Normally there'd be the sounds of birds, insects, or small animals, 53 00:03:06.800 --> 00:03:10.000 but this place was dead silent. He wrote that it 54 00:03:10.039 --> 00:03:12.840 gave him an uneasy feeling, but he brushed it off 55 00:03:12.879 --> 00:03:15.919 and set his traps. The next morning, two of his 56 00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:20.319 traps were gone, not just empty, gone like they'd never 57 00:03:20.360 --> 00:03:23.919 been there in the first place. The third trap was destroyed, 58 00:03:24.240 --> 00:03:27.120 snapped in half like a twig. He thought it might 59 00:03:27.120 --> 00:03:29.199 have been a bear at first, but then he found 60 00:03:29.240 --> 00:03:33.000 the tracks. They were huge, bigger than any bear he'd 61 00:03:33.000 --> 00:03:36.800 ever seen, and they weren't shaped like bear tracks. They 62 00:03:36.840 --> 00:03:40.199 looked like human footprints, only twice the size of a 63 00:03:40.240 --> 00:03:44.159 normal man's foot. He stayed another night, but he couldn't 64 00:03:44.159 --> 00:03:47.520 shake the feeling that something was watching him. That night 65 00:03:47.840 --> 00:03:50.360 he saw it. He wrote that it came into the 66 00:03:50.400 --> 00:03:54.199 clearing where he'd set up camp. It was huge, taller 67 00:03:54.240 --> 00:03:57.360 than any man he'd ever seen, and covered in dark hair. 68 00:03:58.199 --> 00:04:00.960 Its eyes reflected the light of his fire, and for 69 00:04:01.000 --> 00:04:04.400 a moment it just stood there, staring at him. He 70 00:04:04.439 --> 00:04:06.280 didn't know if it was going to attack or leave 71 00:04:06.360 --> 00:04:10.159 him alone, but eventually it turned and disappeared back into 72 00:04:10.159 --> 00:04:13.879 the trees. He stayed awake all night after that, listening 73 00:04:13.919 --> 00:04:17.279 to every little sound. The next morning he packed up 74 00:04:17.319 --> 00:04:20.079 and left. He abandoned the rest of his traps and 75 00:04:20.120 --> 00:04:23.279 the furs. He'd already collected, things that meant money and 76 00:04:23.319 --> 00:04:26.759 survival to him, but he didn't care. He never went 77 00:04:26.800 --> 00:04:30.199 back to that part of Oregon again. That's the story 78 00:04:30.600 --> 00:04:34.120 straight from his journal. My family has always believed him 79 00:04:34.120 --> 00:04:36.879 because Jedediah wasn't the kind of man to make up 80 00:04:36.920 --> 00:04:41.560 tall tales. He was practical, no nonsense, and the idea 81 00:04:41.600 --> 00:04:43.879 of him being scared enough to leave his work behind 82 00:04:43.959 --> 00:04:48.959 speaks volumes. Anyway, I thought you'd appreciate it. Thanks for 83 00:04:49.000 --> 00:04:54.199 doing what you do best. Mark t Hi Brian, I've 84 00:04:54.240 --> 00:04:56.800 been listening to your podcast for a while now, and 85 00:04:56.839 --> 00:05:00.560 I finally decided to share my story. When I was 86 00:05:00.600 --> 00:05:03.720 sixteen back in nineteen fifty five in a small mining 87 00:05:03.759 --> 00:05:07.000 town in West Virginia, it was a summer night and 88 00:05:07.079 --> 00:05:09.439 my best friend Brad and I decided to go camping 89 00:05:09.480 --> 00:05:12.720 in the woods. We'd heard stories from an old drunken 90 00:05:12.759 --> 00:05:15.680 town about a wild man living out there, and we 91 00:05:15.680 --> 00:05:17.199 thought it would be fun to go see if we 92 00:05:17.240 --> 00:05:20.079 could find it. We told our parents we were going 93 00:05:20.120 --> 00:05:22.720 to camp by the creek, packed up some snacks in 94 00:05:22.720 --> 00:05:26.360 a flashlight, and set out in the late afternoon. The 95 00:05:26.399 --> 00:05:29.720 woods were our playground back then. We knew every trail, 96 00:05:30.079 --> 00:05:33.360 every clearing, every hidden spot where we could fish or 97 00:05:33.480 --> 00:05:36.639 just hang out. But this time we went farther than 98 00:05:36.720 --> 00:05:39.720 usual into a part of the forest. We didn't visit much. 99 00:05:40.600 --> 00:05:46.000 It was quiet that night, too quiet. Usually you'd hear crickets, frogs, 100 00:05:46.079 --> 00:05:50.199 or the occasional owl, but there was nothing, just this heavy, 101 00:05:50.279 --> 00:05:54.480 suffocating silence. We built a small fire and sat around it, 102 00:05:54.720 --> 00:05:57.560 trying to laugh and tell jokes, but we were both 103 00:05:57.600 --> 00:06:02.240 on edge. Sometime after midnight we heard it. It started 104 00:06:02.240 --> 00:06:05.120 as a low growl coming from somewhere in the trees. 105 00:06:05.959 --> 00:06:10.839 Then we heard movement, heavy footsteps, slow and deliberate, like 106 00:06:10.879 --> 00:06:14.759 something big was circling our camp. We grabbed the flashlight 107 00:06:14.839 --> 00:06:18.519 and shined it into the darkness. That's when we saw it. 108 00:06:18.519 --> 00:06:21.560 It was huge, taller than any man I'd ever seen, 109 00:06:21.959 --> 00:06:25.120 and covered in dark hair. It stood on two legs 110 00:06:25.160 --> 00:06:28.759 like a person, but it wasn't human. Its face was 111 00:06:28.800 --> 00:06:32.000 broad and flat, with glowing eyes that caught the light 112 00:06:32.040 --> 00:06:34.920 from our fire. It stood there for what felt like 113 00:06:34.959 --> 00:06:38.720 an eternity, just staring at us. We didn't say a word. 114 00:06:39.279 --> 00:06:42.959 We just grabbed our stuff and ran. I don't think 115 00:06:43.000 --> 00:06:45.920 I've ever run so fast in my life. I could 116 00:06:45.959 --> 00:06:48.759 hear it crashing through the trees behind us, but it 117 00:06:48.800 --> 00:06:52.120 didn't follow us all the way out. When we finally 118 00:06:52.120 --> 00:06:54.519 made it back to town, we didn't tell anyone what 119 00:06:54.600 --> 00:06:58.560 had happened. I never went back to those woods. Brad 120 00:06:58.560 --> 00:07:01.519 and I drifted apart after that summer, but I'll always 121 00:07:01.600 --> 00:07:05.639 remember what we saw. Thanks for letting me share. Keep 122 00:07:05.720 --> 00:07:10.800 up the great work, tom ar Hi Brian, I've been 123 00:07:10.839 --> 00:07:13.160 an avid listener of your podcast for a couple of 124 00:07:13.240 --> 00:07:17.319 years now, and I've heard countless stories that made me think, Wow, 125 00:07:17.360 --> 00:07:20.639 that's incredible, but I never imagined i'd have one of 126 00:07:20.680 --> 00:07:24.040 my own to share. My name is Jake, and I've 127 00:07:24.040 --> 00:07:27.360 been living and hunting in Alaska for most of my life. 128 00:07:27.480 --> 00:07:30.120 I'm forty five now, and the experience I'm about to 129 00:07:30.120 --> 00:07:33.439 share happened just a few winters ago, in December twenty 130 00:07:33.519 --> 00:07:37.800 twenty two. I've hesitated to tell anyone about this, partly 131 00:07:37.839 --> 00:07:40.879 because I wasn't sure anyone would believe me, and partly 132 00:07:40.920 --> 00:07:43.639 because I'm still trying to wrap my head around it myself. 133 00:07:44.519 --> 00:07:47.399 But after much thought, I decided it's time to share 134 00:07:47.399 --> 00:07:50.040 my story. Maybe it'll help me make sense of it, 135 00:07:50.399 --> 00:07:52.680 or at least let others know that some legends might 136 00:07:52.800 --> 00:07:56.240 just be real. Every year, I take a solo hunting 137 00:07:56.279 --> 00:07:59.519 trip into the Alaskan back country. It's a tradition I 138 00:07:59.519 --> 00:08:02.560 started in my twenties, a way to disconnect from the 139 00:08:02.639 --> 00:08:06.519 hustle and bustle of life and reconnect with nature. I 140 00:08:06.639 --> 00:08:10.120 usually go for about a week tracking game, camping under 141 00:08:10.120 --> 00:08:14.480 the stars, and enjoying the solitude. My friends and family 142 00:08:14.480 --> 00:08:16.920 think I'm a bit crazy for doing it alone, but 143 00:08:16.959 --> 00:08:21.079 I've always felt comfortable out there. In December twenty twenty two, 144 00:08:21.439 --> 00:08:24.360 I planned my trip a bit later than usual. Work 145 00:08:24.399 --> 00:08:26.680 had been hectic, and I was looking forward to some 146 00:08:26.759 --> 00:08:30.240 peace and quiet before the holidays. I packed my gear, 147 00:08:30.720 --> 00:08:35.039 my reliable Winchester rifle, a sturdy tent, enough provisions for 148 00:08:35.120 --> 00:08:38.679 ten days. I always pack extra just in case, and 149 00:08:38.799 --> 00:08:42.080 all the essentials for surviving in the harsh Alaskan winter. 150 00:08:43.000 --> 00:08:45.879 I chose a new area to explore, this time, a 151 00:08:45.919 --> 00:08:49.480 remote region near the foothills of the Brooks Range. It's 152 00:08:49.519 --> 00:08:52.679 a place not many people venture to, especially that time 153 00:08:52.679 --> 00:08:56.279 of year. The weather can be unpredictable and the terrain 154 00:08:56.360 --> 00:08:58.799 is rugged, but that's part of the allure for me. 155 00:08:59.720 --> 00:09:03.039 I set out early on a crisp Monday morning. The 156 00:09:03.039 --> 00:09:06.399 sky was clear and the forecast promised stable weather for 157 00:09:06.440 --> 00:09:09.279 the next week. I drove as far as the old 158 00:09:09.360 --> 00:09:12.240 logging roads would take me, then parked my truck at 159 00:09:12.240 --> 00:09:15.919 a makeshift campsite known to a few locals. From there, 160 00:09:16.080 --> 00:09:19.039 it was all on foot. The first couple of days 161 00:09:19.039 --> 00:09:22.639 were uneventful in a good way. I hiked through snow 162 00:09:22.679 --> 00:09:26.720 covered forests, crossed frozen streams, and marveled at the untouched 163 00:09:26.720 --> 00:09:30.519 beauty around me. I spotted tracks of moose and caribou, 164 00:09:30.759 --> 00:09:33.159 and even glimpsed a pack of wolves in the distance. 165 00:09:33.919 --> 00:09:36.519 The nights were cold, but manageable with a good fire 166 00:09:36.600 --> 00:09:39.840 and a warm sleeping bag. On the third day, I 167 00:09:39.879 --> 00:09:42.639 decided to push further north toward a valley i'd seen 168 00:09:42.639 --> 00:09:45.200 on the map. It was supposed to be a prime 169 00:09:45.279 --> 00:09:47.639 spot for game, and I was eager to see it 170 00:09:47.639 --> 00:09:50.960 for myself. As I made my way into the valley, 171 00:09:51.200 --> 00:09:55.559 I started noticing odd things. The first was the silence. Now, 172 00:09:55.559 --> 00:09:58.720 the wilderness can be quiet, but there's usually some sound, 173 00:09:59.279 --> 00:10:02.559 the wind in the tree, trees, distant animal calls, the 174 00:10:02.559 --> 00:10:05.600 creaking of ice. But here it was as if the 175 00:10:05.639 --> 00:10:09.559 whole area was holding its breath. Then I found the tracks. 176 00:10:10.320 --> 00:10:12.759 At first glance, I thought they might be bear tracks, 177 00:10:13.200 --> 00:10:17.000 but they were different, larger and with a different shape. 178 00:10:17.039 --> 00:10:20.759 They were elongated with what looked like five toes and 179 00:10:20.879 --> 00:10:25.879 sunk deep into the snow, indicating significant weight. I crouched 180 00:10:25.960 --> 00:10:28.879 down to get a better look, measuring them against my hand, 181 00:10:29.559 --> 00:10:32.960 they were nearly twice the size of my bootprint. I 182 00:10:33.000 --> 00:10:34.840 felt a chill that had nothing to do with the 183 00:10:34.879 --> 00:10:38.960 cold air. Maybe it's just an old bear with deformed paws, 184 00:10:39.320 --> 00:10:43.080 I told myself, trying to shake off the unease. I 185 00:10:43.159 --> 00:10:45.720 pressed on, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I 186 00:10:45.799 --> 00:10:49.360 was being watched. Every so often, i'd stop and listen, 187 00:10:49.840 --> 00:10:53.240 scanning the trees for any sign of movement, but there 188 00:10:53.279 --> 00:10:57.799 was nothing, just that eerie silence. By late afternoon, the 189 00:10:57.840 --> 00:11:01.200 sky started to change. Dark clouds were rolling in from 190 00:11:01.240 --> 00:11:04.159 the west, and I knew a storm was coming. I 191 00:11:04.159 --> 00:11:07.039 found a suitable spot to set up camp, a small 192 00:11:07.080 --> 00:11:10.159 clearing surrounded by dense spruce trees that would offer some 193 00:11:10.200 --> 00:11:13.639 protection from the wind. As I was pitching my tent, 194 00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:16.360 I heard a sound that made me stop in my tracks. 195 00:11:17.039 --> 00:11:20.159 It was a distant, low howl, not like a wolf 196 00:11:20.240 --> 00:11:23.440 or any other animal I'd heard before. It echoed through 197 00:11:23.440 --> 00:11:26.919 the valley, sending a shiver down my spine. Must be 198 00:11:26.960 --> 00:11:30.440 the wind, I muttered, though deep down I didn't believe it. 199 00:11:31.480 --> 00:11:33.840 I finished setting up camp and got a fire going. 200 00:11:34.440 --> 00:11:37.159 As the night fell, the wind picked up and snow 201 00:11:37.200 --> 00:11:40.200 began to fall lightly. I cooked some beans over the 202 00:11:40.240 --> 00:11:44.159 fire and tried to relax, but that uneasy feeling lingered. 203 00:11:45.240 --> 00:11:48.879 Around nine PM, I decided to turn in. I secured 204 00:11:48.919 --> 00:11:51.919 my food supplies can't be too careful with bears around, 205 00:11:52.279 --> 00:11:55.440 and crawled into my tent. The sound of the wind 206 00:11:55.480 --> 00:11:58.759 and the gently falling snow usually lulled me to sleep, 207 00:11:59.159 --> 00:12:03.440 but that night sleep wouldn't come. Sometime later, I can't 208 00:12:03.440 --> 00:12:06.919 be sure how long I heard something outside. It was 209 00:12:06.960 --> 00:12:11.200 a soft crunching sound, like footsteps in the snow. I 210 00:12:11.240 --> 00:12:18.240 held my breath, straining to listen. Crunch, crunch, crunch. They 211 00:12:18.279 --> 00:12:22.320 were slow, deliberate steps getting closer to my tent. I 212 00:12:22.399 --> 00:12:26.200 reached for my rifle, keeping as quiet as possible. My 213 00:12:26.279 --> 00:12:28.759 heart was pounding so hard I was sure whatever was 214 00:12:28.799 --> 00:12:32.279 out there could hear it. Then everything went silent again. 215 00:12:33.200 --> 00:12:37.679 I waited every muscle tense. Minutes passed, but there was nothing. 216 00:12:38.600 --> 00:12:41.639 I finally convinced myself it was just an animal passing by, 217 00:12:42.279 --> 00:12:45.559 a moose or maybe a caribou. I must have drifted 218 00:12:45.600 --> 00:12:48.600 off eventually, because the next thing I knew it was morning. 219 00:12:49.559 --> 00:12:51.639 I stepped out of my tent to a fresh layer 220 00:12:51.720 --> 00:12:55.639 of snow about two inches. The storm had passed and 221 00:12:55.679 --> 00:12:58.840 the sky was clear again. But as I looked around, 222 00:12:59.120 --> 00:13:02.600 I noticed something that made my blood run cold. There 223 00:13:02.600 --> 00:13:06.679 were tracks circling my campsite, the same large human like 224 00:13:06.679 --> 00:13:10.080 footprints i'd seen the day before, only this time they 225 00:13:10.080 --> 00:13:14.919 were fresh and unmistakable. They came from the trees, circled 226 00:13:14.919 --> 00:13:18.080 my tent twice, and then headed back into the forest. 227 00:13:19.120 --> 00:13:21.919 I followed them a short distance until they disappeared into 228 00:13:21.960 --> 00:13:24.679 a thicker part of the woods. I didn't dare go 229 00:13:24.720 --> 00:13:29.000 any further. Someone's messing with me, I thought, But who 230 00:13:29.279 --> 00:13:31.919 I was miles from any town and I hadn't seen 231 00:13:31.960 --> 00:13:35.039 another soul since I left my truck. I tried to 232 00:13:35.039 --> 00:13:37.519 shake it off, but the sense of being watched was 233 00:13:37.559 --> 00:13:41.279 stronger now. I decided to move on, maybe head back 234 00:13:41.320 --> 00:13:44.279 toward the truck and cut the trip short. As I 235 00:13:44.320 --> 00:13:46.799 packed up camp, I couldn't shake the feeling that I 236 00:13:46.879 --> 00:13:50.039 was making the right decision. The wilderness has a way 237 00:13:50.039 --> 00:13:52.600 of telling you when you're not welcome, and I wasn't 238 00:13:52.639 --> 00:13:55.960 about to ignore it. I started hiking back the way 239 00:13:56.000 --> 00:13:59.840 I came, keeping a steady pace. The sun was out, 240 00:14:00.080 --> 00:14:03.120 but it did little to warm the frigid air. Every 241 00:14:03.159 --> 00:14:05.360 so often i'd catch movement out of the corner of 242 00:14:05.399 --> 00:14:08.639 my eye, a flash of dark against the white snow, 243 00:14:09.440 --> 00:14:11.840 but whenever I turned to look, there was nothing there. 244 00:14:12.840 --> 00:14:15.639 Around midday, I stopped to rest and have a quick lunch. 245 00:14:16.320 --> 00:14:19.399 That's when I heard the howl again, only this time 246 00:14:19.639 --> 00:14:22.840 it was closer and there was more than one. It 247 00:14:22.919 --> 00:14:26.679 sounded like two, maybe three voices echoing through the trees. 248 00:14:27.440 --> 00:14:30.600 My instincts were screaming at me. Now I decided to 249 00:14:30.639 --> 00:14:33.360 forego any more stops and make a beeline for my truck. 250 00:14:34.320 --> 00:14:36.600 The daylight was fading as I entered a section of 251 00:14:36.600 --> 00:14:39.960 the forest that was denser than the rest. The trees 252 00:14:39.960 --> 00:14:43.919 here were older, their branches heavy with snow, creating an 253 00:14:43.919 --> 00:14:47.759 almost tunnel like effect over the narrow path. That's when 254 00:14:47.799 --> 00:14:51.240 I saw it. About fifty yards ahead, standing in the 255 00:14:51.240 --> 00:14:54.519 middle of the path was a figure. It was massive, 256 00:14:55.000 --> 00:14:58.879 easily eight feet tall maybe more. It was covered in dark, 257 00:14:59.000 --> 00:15:02.960 matted hair, and its arms hung low, almost to its knees. 258 00:15:03.519 --> 00:15:06.639 I stopped dead in my tracks, gripping my rifle tightly. 259 00:15:07.200 --> 00:15:09.960 My mind raised. Was it a bear standing on its 260 00:15:10.039 --> 00:15:13.360 hind legs? But no bear is that tall and the 261 00:15:13.440 --> 00:15:16.559 shape was all wrong. Then it turned to look at me. 262 00:15:17.480 --> 00:15:20.320 Its face was a mix between human and ape, with 263 00:15:20.399 --> 00:15:22.960 deep set eyes that seemed to pierce right through me 264 00:15:24.399 --> 00:15:26.759 and stay tuned for more sasquatch ot to see We'll 265 00:15:26.799 --> 00:15:33.919 be right back after these messages. We stood there staring 266 00:15:33.919 --> 00:15:37.840 at each other, neither of us moving easy now, I whispered, 267 00:15:38.320 --> 00:15:41.919 not sure if I was talking to it or myself. Slowly, 268 00:15:42.159 --> 00:15:45.399 I began to back away, keeping my eyes on the creature. 269 00:15:46.039 --> 00:15:49.799 It tilted its head slightly as if curious, then let 270 00:15:49.840 --> 00:15:53.600 out a low guttural sound, not quite a growl, but 271 00:15:53.639 --> 00:15:57.320 not friendly either. I took another step back, and that's 272 00:15:57.360 --> 00:16:00.600 when I heard movement behind me. A quick glance over 273 00:16:00.639 --> 00:16:03.600 my shoulder revealed two more figures emerging from the trees. 274 00:16:04.399 --> 00:16:08.200 I was surrounded. Panic surged through me. I knew I 275 00:16:08.200 --> 00:16:12.080 couldn't outrun them, especially in this terrain. My only option 276 00:16:12.279 --> 00:16:15.919 was to stand my ground. I raised my rifle, not 277 00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:19.639 aiming directly at them, but ready to defend myself if necessary. 278 00:16:20.279 --> 00:16:24.159 Stay back, I shouted, my voice, echoing in the silent forest. 279 00:16:24.759 --> 00:16:28.039 The three creatures didn't advance, but they didn't retreat either. 280 00:16:28.720 --> 00:16:31.879 They just stood there, watching me with those intense eyes. 281 00:16:32.960 --> 00:16:35.679 After what felt like an eternity, the one in front 282 00:16:35.720 --> 00:16:39.519 made a soft sound, almost like a huff, and turned 283 00:16:39.519 --> 00:16:42.879 to walk into the woods. The other two followed suit. 284 00:16:43.440 --> 00:16:47.679 Disappearing silently among the trees. I didn't waste a second. 285 00:16:48.279 --> 00:16:50.120 As soon as they were out of sight, I started 286 00:16:50.159 --> 00:16:53.480 moving again, faster this time, but careful not to make 287 00:16:53.519 --> 00:16:57.000 too much noise. With daylight fading, I knew I had 288 00:16:57.000 --> 00:16:59.799 to make it back to my truck before nightfall. The 289 00:17:00.080 --> 00:17:01.879 idea of being out here in the dark with those 290 00:17:01.879 --> 00:17:07.119 things around was terrifying. I pushed myself hard, my legs burning, 291 00:17:07.440 --> 00:17:10.720 lungs aching from the cold air. I kept looking over 292 00:17:10.759 --> 00:17:13.960 my shoulder, expecting to see them following me, but the 293 00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:17.759 path remained clear. Just when I thought I was making progress, 294 00:17:18.119 --> 00:17:21.680 I came across something that stopped me cold, A makeshift 295 00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:25.680 barrier of broken branches and logs piled across the path. 296 00:17:26.400 --> 00:17:29.519 It hadn't been there on my way in. Are they 297 00:17:29.519 --> 00:17:30.359 trying to block me? 298 00:17:30.440 --> 00:17:30.839 I thought? 299 00:17:31.440 --> 00:17:33.480 The hair's on the back of my neck. Standing up, 300 00:17:34.319 --> 00:17:37.000 I scrambled over the obstacle, cutting my hand on a 301 00:17:37.079 --> 00:17:40.119 jagged piece of wood in the process. The sting of 302 00:17:40.160 --> 00:17:42.440 the cold air on the fresh cut snapped me back 303 00:17:42.480 --> 00:17:47.160 into focus. Keep moving, I told myself. As I continued, 304 00:17:47.319 --> 00:17:51.359 I began noticing strange markings on the trees, deep scratches, 305 00:17:51.440 --> 00:17:55.200 arranged in patterns, small structures made of sticks and bones 306 00:17:55.240 --> 00:17:58.359 hanging from branches. It was as if I was moving 307 00:17:58.400 --> 00:18:01.839 through some kind of territory marks by these creatures. I 308 00:18:01.880 --> 00:18:04.319 tried not to think about what the symbols meant, but 309 00:18:04.400 --> 00:18:08.119 the sense of urgency intensified. The sun was now a 310 00:18:08.160 --> 00:18:11.799 mere glow on the horizon, and shadows stretched long across 311 00:18:11.839 --> 00:18:15.640 the snow. I heard the howls again, this time from 312 00:18:15.720 --> 00:18:21.039 multiple directions. They were communicating, signaling to each other. The 313 00:18:21.119 --> 00:18:24.440 realization sent a jolt of fear through me. I broke 314 00:18:24.519 --> 00:18:28.079 into a run, my heavy backpack weighing me down. My 315 00:18:28.160 --> 00:18:31.640 breath came in gasps. At last, I saw the glint 316 00:18:31.680 --> 00:18:34.680 of metal through the trees. My truck was just ahead. 317 00:18:35.599 --> 00:18:39.519 Relief washed over me, but it was short lived. Between 318 00:18:39.559 --> 00:18:42.079 me and the truck stood one of the creatures. It 319 00:18:42.200 --> 00:18:44.599 was the same one I'd seen earlier. I was sure 320 00:18:44.640 --> 00:18:47.960 of it. It stood there, almost as if waiting for me. 321 00:18:48.880 --> 00:18:52.720 I slowed my pace, not wanting to provoke it. My 322 00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:55.799 truck was only about one hundred feet away. Listen, I 323 00:18:55.799 --> 00:19:00.200 said aloud, I don't want any trouble. I'm leaving. The 324 00:19:00.200 --> 00:19:04.039 creature remained still watching me. I decided to take a 325 00:19:04.079 --> 00:19:07.799 wide berth, moving slowly to the side. As I did, 326 00:19:08.119 --> 00:19:12.279 the creature mirrored my movement, keeping the distance constant. My 327 00:19:12.359 --> 00:19:16.079 heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might burst. Then, 328 00:19:16.400 --> 00:19:19.240 in a sudden motion, it let out a loud whoop, 329 00:19:19.720 --> 00:19:23.160 a sound that echoed off the trees. From behind me, 330 00:19:23.240 --> 00:19:27.440 I heard responses. The others were closing in. Desperate I 331 00:19:27.480 --> 00:19:30.640 made a split second decision. I swung my rifle around 332 00:19:30.640 --> 00:19:33.960 and fired a shot into the air. The sound was deafening, 333 00:19:34.200 --> 00:19:38.680 ringing in my ears. The creature flinched, its eyes widening. 334 00:19:39.519 --> 00:19:43.400 Taking advantage of its momentary hesitation, I sprinted toward the truck. 335 00:19:44.039 --> 00:19:48.480 The adrenaline overrode any exhaustion I felt. I reached the truck, 336 00:19:48.799 --> 00:19:51.200 yanked the door open, and slammed it shut behind me. 337 00:19:51.960 --> 00:19:55.160 Fumbling with trembling hands, I started the engine. As I 338 00:19:55.200 --> 00:19:57.880 pulled away, I looked back to see the creature standing 339 00:19:57.880 --> 00:20:01.839 at the edge of the clearing, watching me. The drive 340 00:20:01.880 --> 00:20:04.680 back to town was a blur. My mind raced with 341 00:20:04.720 --> 00:20:07.920 what I'd just experienced. Part of me wondered if I'd 342 00:20:07.960 --> 00:20:10.400 imagined it, but the cut on my hand and the 343 00:20:10.480 --> 00:20:14.160 lingering fear told me. It was all too real. When 344 00:20:14.200 --> 00:20:17.559 I reached town, I went straight home. I didn't tell 345 00:20:17.599 --> 00:20:21.720 anyone about what happened, not that night anyway. Over the 346 00:20:21.759 --> 00:20:23.880 next few days, I tried to make sense of it. 347 00:20:24.640 --> 00:20:27.720 I considered reporting it to the authorities. But what would 348 00:20:27.720 --> 00:20:31.960 I say that I'd seen Bigfoot? They'd think I was crazy. 349 00:20:32.720 --> 00:20:36.279 I did some research, reading up on local legends and stories. 350 00:20:36.960 --> 00:20:39.720 Turns out there have been sightings of similar creatures in 351 00:20:39.759 --> 00:20:43.240 Alaska for decades. Some call them the Hairy Man or 352 00:20:43.319 --> 00:20:46.880 the ur a Yulie. I spoke to a friend of mine, Bill, 353 00:20:47.119 --> 00:20:50.319 who's part Nate of Alaskan. I trusted him not to 354 00:20:50.359 --> 00:20:55.240 dismiss me outright after I recounted my experience, he nodded thoughtfully. 355 00:20:55.960 --> 00:20:58.480 My grandfather used to tell stories about them, he said, 356 00:20:59.119 --> 00:21:03.839 spirits of the Four Guardians. They don't like intruders. Do 357 00:21:03.920 --> 00:21:07.920 you believe it, I asked. He shrugged. I've never seen one, 358 00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:11.400 but that doesn't mean they're not out there. It's been 359 00:21:11.440 --> 00:21:14.240 several months now and I still think about that encounter 360 00:21:14.400 --> 00:21:17.759 every day. I haven't been back to the wilderness since. 361 00:21:18.640 --> 00:21:21.000 The idea of going out there alone again fills me 362 00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:24.480 with a mix of fear, and sadness. I always considered 363 00:21:24.480 --> 00:21:27.480 the wilderness my second home, a place where I felt 364 00:21:27.480 --> 00:21:32.039 at peace. Now it's tainted by uncertainty. I'm sharing this 365 00:21:32.160 --> 00:21:34.799 story not to convince anyone of anything, but to get 366 00:21:34.799 --> 00:21:37.599 it off my chest. Maybe someone else has had a 367 00:21:37.640 --> 00:21:40.960 similar experience and will feel less alone knowing they're not 368 00:21:41.079 --> 00:21:45.319 the only one. Thanks for listening, Brian. Keep doing what 369 00:21:45.359 --> 00:21:48.680 you're doing. Your podcast gives people like me a place 370 00:21:48.759 --> 00:21:54.359 to share without judgment. Best regards, Jake M. I've been 371 00:21:54.400 --> 00:21:56.880 a listener of your podcast for a while, and I 372 00:21:56.960 --> 00:22:01.240 always enjoy hearing other people's encounters with sasquat. I've never 373 00:22:01.279 --> 00:22:04.400 shared this story with anyone outside of my family, but 374 00:22:04.440 --> 00:22:08.119 I feel like your audience might appreciate it. To be honest, 375 00:22:08.440 --> 00:22:10.680 I've kept this to myself for years because I didn't 376 00:22:10.680 --> 00:22:14.079 want people thinking I was crazy. But this happened, and 377 00:22:14.119 --> 00:22:17.480 it's something I still think about almost every day. It 378 00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:19.519 was in the summer of two thousand and three and 379 00:22:19.559 --> 00:22:22.200 I was twenty five at the time. My friends and 380 00:22:22.240 --> 00:22:24.519 I used to go camping a lot back then, but 381 00:22:24.599 --> 00:22:27.480 after this trip, I haven't spent another night in the woods, 382 00:22:27.960 --> 00:22:31.599 and I probably never will. There were four of us, me, 383 00:22:31.960 --> 00:22:35.039 my best friend Eric, and two of his coworkers, Matt 384 00:22:35.039 --> 00:22:38.559 and Josh. We all lived in Seattle, and that summer 385 00:22:38.759 --> 00:22:40.920 we decided to take a long weekend to camp in 386 00:22:40.960 --> 00:22:45.000 the Cascade Mountains. Eric had picked the spot, a remote 387 00:22:45.039 --> 00:22:48.319 area about twenty miles outside of Leavenworth, far from any 388 00:22:48.359 --> 00:22:52.079 marked trails. We left early on a Friday morning, loaded 389 00:22:52.160 --> 00:22:55.480 up with all the usual gear, tents, sleeping bags, a 390 00:22:55.519 --> 00:22:58.240 couple of coolers, and enough food and beer to last 391 00:22:58.279 --> 00:23:02.279 us the weekend. Drive out. There was beautiful mountains on 392 00:23:02.279 --> 00:23:05.920 one side, dense forest on the other. The plan was 393 00:23:05.960 --> 00:23:08.200 to hike about six miles into the woods to this 394 00:23:08.279 --> 00:23:12.200 secluded spot Eric had heard about from a coworker. By 395 00:23:12.240 --> 00:23:14.319 the time we got there and parked the car, it 396 00:23:14.400 --> 00:23:18.559 was mid afternoon. The hike in was tough, mostly uphill, 397 00:23:18.880 --> 00:23:20.680 with a couple of spots where we had to climb 398 00:23:20.759 --> 00:23:25.079 over fallen trees or cross streams on slippery rocks, But 399 00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:27.920 the spot Eric picked was worth it. It was this 400 00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:31.920 small clearing surrounded by trees, with a little creek running nearby. 401 00:23:32.799 --> 00:23:35.039