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Couple experience large rock thrown and possible bluff charge in Inyo National Forest
The witness and a companion hiked to a high-elevation lake to fish and stopped to rest on the trail. A large angular rock landed near them after they heard it moving through the air, followed by a loud grunt, a foul odor, and heavy footsteps approaching downhill. Fearing a bear, they fled down the switchback trail while the footsteps cut straight downhill behind them for about five minutes before stopping. They abandoned personal items, returned to the trailhead, and left the area.
Wood knock in California (2018)
The witness and friends camped at a small creekside site off a mountain road in late June 2018. After evening knocking sounds and a strong musky odor at night, a large human-like creature with yellow eyes appeared at the witness's tent, grabbed it, lifted and dropped the witness inside, then left in a few steps after a shot was fired. The group saw large footprints, later heard whoops from multiple directions, and had a basketball-sized rock thrown at their truck while leaving.
Door or window contact near Idyllwild, California (2013)
The witness, his wife, and two dogs stayed at the family cabin months after a large fire. At night something thumped the house hard and moved outside while the dogs cowered. The next morning the woods were silent, neighbors reported something stomping around, and acorns and pebbles were thrown toward them near the car.
Rock throwing near Springville, California (2013)
The witness and his brother-in-law sat in a clearing playing coyote calls at dusk. A rock flew past the witness's head and landed by his foot. As they walked back to the truck, they heard crunching footsteps pacing them, which stopped when they stopped.
Wood knock in California (2011)
The guest backpacked alone into the remote Sierra camp where the Sierra Sounds were recorded to see if activity continued. During the afternoon he heard a loud wood knock outside his tent, and that night he heard chatter, a barrel being banged, loud bipedal footsteps circling, and breathing right beside the tent. After a quiet interval he heard an unexplained electronic sound outside at 4 a.m. He left the next morning convinced the group was still present.
Wilderness campers have an unknown visitor in the Trinity Alps of Northern California
The witness was lying awake in a tent at a remote lake camp around 1:30 a.m. while three companions slept. He heard footsteps circling camp, smelled a strong animal odor, and saw a large shadowy figure lift his backpack above the tent and appear to try to open it. After he yelled, the figure dropped the pack onto the tent and left camp on foot as the others woke and heard its retreat.
Camper hear knocks and camp stalking at Marion Mountain Campground
The witness awoke in his tent around 4:50am to a loud knock like wood hitting a tree trunk, followed by very heavy bipedal footsteps moving uphill through a ravine and across the campground. He heard branches breaking, a rock-like object thrown against a tree near his tent, dogs whimpering, and crickets falling silent. He unzipped his tent window as a neighboring camper emerged to quiet her dogs, after which the footsteps stopped.
Camper has a possible close encounter west of Mono Lake
The witness was camping alone at night reading in a chair when a loud branch snap was heard nearby. Gas cans and other items behind a shed were knocked over as something large moved a short distance through trees and stopped across a creek. The witness's dogs cowered at the trailer door and the witness retreated inside with a feeling of being watched.
Campers report possible approach in Malakoff Historical State Park
The witness was camping with a group when she heard something large run up behind her through brush downhill from the campsite. She shone a flashlight and saw a pair of reflective eyes about six feet off the ground 10-12 feet away, then panicked and retreated behind the group. The group found nothing on searching but heard quiet footsteps withdrawing and a small rock thrown behind them.
Backpacker's moonlit encounter near the trail from Wright's Lake to Enchanted Pools
While camping alone at night near a stream, the witness heard a deep growl and saw a crouched dark mass at the treeline, fired warning shots, then heard rocks repeatedly splashing in the stream for hours and heard deep oof sounds on a later approach. Near dawn a very tall hair-covered female-like figure stood by the tent and walked rapidly toward the witness despite additional warning shots, then ran away over granite and out of sight. The witness remained in place until daylight and then hiked out.
Possible nighttime encounter, food taken from hunters camping near Tuolumne
The witness joined a small group for an overnight camp to practice outdoor skills. In the evening the witness walked east of camp, noticed a strong foul smell and heard vegetation breaking nearby before running back to the group. Overnight the campers were awakened by sounds around the camp followed by a loud crash, and by morning the food hung high above ground was gone, the supporting limb was damaged, and a foul smell lingered. The group then packed and left the area.
Young couple have unusual late night experience near Weaverville
A couple sleeping in a rented fifth-wheel trailer at a campground were awakened around 2 a.m. by sounds outside. The wife reported padded footsteps circling the trailer, followed by pressure on the exterior step that shook the trailer while their normally vocal dog stayed silent. The occupants remained inside in fear and later closed windows and fell asleep; companions camped nearby said they heard nothing.
Possible visitation at a remote campsite in the Trinity NF
A solo backpacker camped overnight at the Mud Springs hunter camp. Around 10:30 p.m. he was awakened by a loud branch snap followed by heavy vibrating footsteps passing very close to his tent. His nested cook pots were then heard clanging and later found unnested and spread out. After finding a long hair on his backpack Velcro he broke camp and drove to Red Bluff.
Campers menaced after dark by what they assume was a family group
A group camping above a swollen river heard mumbling voices and stick-breaking approaching, followed by loud chanting, shouting and stomping that shook a log seat and was taken as a demand to leave. The sounds stopped after deep hooted calls and later receded to distant screams up the valley and across the mountain. Later, while in a tent, the witness saw the firelight blocked by a squatting silhouette that touched the zipper with five digits, with felt breath and strong odor, before withdrawing. In the morning the witness noted hairs and deep depressions on the trail.
A camp site incident at Barton Flats with multiple witnesses. The campers were approached while they were sleeping
The witness was trying to sleep in a van while two companions slept in a tent nearby. The van began rocking violently from side to side until the witness yelled, then the witness shone a flashlight outside and saw a hair-covered figure walking upright past the vehicle into the forest. A foul cesspool-like odor was noticed around the camp, and the companions said pebbles had been tossed onto their tent and something had brushed against it. The group built a fire, discussed what happened, and packed up to leave early.
Loud Screams Heard by Hunters While Camping Near a Natural Spring
Two hunters were camped overnight during deer season when they noticed a bipedal figure crossing a moonlit clearing. Shortly after, they heard loud screaming and crashing in brush on the hillside, followed by a log coming down, a strong urine-like odor, and renewed screams. Later, from inside their tent, both saw a very large shadow pass between the campfire and the tent. The next morning they found no tracks but noticed a large log newly present near their vehicle by the spring.
Howl near Arnold, California (1977)
The witness and a companion were on a deer-hunting trip and had parked to sleep in the bed of a truck. Late at night they heard a loud howl followed by rapid gibberish and saw a dark shape in the road that stood and moved away with smooth motion. After returning to the truck and falling asleep, the witness was awakened by the truck rocking and heard something move alongside the vehicle before kicking scattered camp gear and walking away.
Campers have frightening experience in the Marble Mountains Wilderness
In summer 1977 the witness and a companion were backpacking and camped at a trail junction near a creek in forested mountain country. In the middle of the night they were awakened by loud crashing of logs and rocks being hurled in the streambed below. Bipedal footsteps then approached up the slope to behind nearby trees, with heavy breathing heard high in the air and a humph sound after the witness shouted, before the creature walked away parallel to the creek.
Teens have unusual experience near Myers Flat
Five boys were camping overnight in a repaired old logging cabin in the woods. During the night they were awakened by huffing, shuffling and prying sounds as something circled and probed the cabin walls. When the door was opened they saw only dark hairy legs in the darkness, a companion fired a rifle, and the creature screamed and fled with heavy thuds, leaving torn ground and indentations.
Footsteps in California
The witness camped with his children in a tent on the back deck to listen to the woods. Something large stomped down the hill and stopped under the deck for an extended time. During the night he heard owls surrounding the house, a low humming sound, howls, dogs barking, a whistle, and a raspy meow-like sound, and a rock and a stick hit the tent above his head.