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15 encounters
29 August 2009 Trinity Center, Trinity County, California Class B #27327

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.

FootstepsOdorSilhouetteProperty disturbance
26 October 2006 Shaver Lake, Fresno County, California Class B #18325

Possible sighting and howls heard by deer hunters in John Muir Wilderness

Two deer hunters hiking back to camp at dusk near Heart Lake heard loud bellowing howls and watched a deer flee through brush. They then saw a tall dark figure on the ridgeline that first resembled a standing bear but looked like neither a bear nor a man through a rifle scope. The figure ran downhill after the deer and disappeared into brush, and the hunters later found a very large footprint where it had stood.

HowlSilhouetteTracks
14 July 2006 Shaver Lake, Fresno County, California Class B #17458

Hikers describe possible stalking and vocalizations the John Muir Wilderness

Three backpackers hiking toward Hobler Lake at dusk noticed a large reddish-brown animal moving parallel to them for about an hour. After dark the witness saw a tall, wide, long-armed furry biped watching from behind a tree, which walked away when spoken about. The group camped at the lake, later hearing disturbance sounds and finding camp items slightly moved.

Partial sightingSilhouetteFootstepsAnimal behaviour
8 August 2005 Wright's Lake, El Dorado County, California Class A #15821

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.

Full-body sightingPartial sightingSilhouetteGrowlVocalization +2
Winter 2004 Georgetown, El Dorado County, California Class A #11656

Couple Has Early Evening Encounter Near Stumpy Meadow Reservoir

The witness and a companion spent the day fishing and prospecting near a dam and spillway while feeling watched. As light faded they walked back toward their car, sensing something pacing them unseen and stopping when they stopped. After reaching the dam road in darkness, the witness saw one large dark form and two smaller forms move around the spillway and up a hill, then heard them make repeated guttural, sentence-like sounds in response to a shout before disappearing over the ridge.

Partial sightingSilhouetteRoad crossingVocalizationChatter +2
3 August 1998 Etna, Siskiyou County, California Class A #22434

Backpacker sighting off the PCT in the Marble Mountains Wilderness

The witness was sleeping alone on a rock ledge above a drainage when she heard loud repetitive whooping and howling from far below. The source moved rapidly uphill, climbed a steep cliff to the ledge, and ran past her toward the peak above, pausing briefly to look toward her. It then vocalized from the top of the peak until near sunrise, and she left the area at first light.

SilhouetteHowlWhoopScreamFootsteps
June 1995 Weaverville, Trinity County, California Class A #2819

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.

SilhouetteVocalizationScreamWhoopTree break +3
13 August 1993 Above Kennedy Meadows, Tuolumne County, California Class A #24574

Man remembers seeing an animal move through a ravine near Yosemite

The witness was camping with four companions near Sonora Pass at dusk when the group heard loud crashing from a nearby ravine. The witness then watched a dark, hair-covered figure run upright across granite rocks and through fallen trees at high speed, breaking branches as it moved. The companions retreated in fear while the witness moved closer to observe to within about 100 feet.

SilhouetteUnidentified soundTree break
October 1987 McCloud, Shasta County, California Class A #2844

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.

Partial sightingSilhouetteScreamFootstepsObject throwing +1
25 October 1983 Sonora, Tuolumne County, California Class A #1919

Friends have night sighting above Sonora

Two men returned at night to a fenced rural property above Sonora after viewing a motorcycle for sale. A tall, wide human-like figure stepped from brush a short distance away, looked at them, then crossed the clearing toward a shed in a few strides while making a huff sound. One man got into their truck while the other backed onto the hood with a knife, and they later spent a sleepless night guarding the cabin door.

Full-body sightingSilhouetteVocalizationOdor
July 1977 Bear Valley, Calaveras County, California Class B #4366

Hikers have late night experience near Spicer

The witness and a companion were camping in a tent near a river. Late at night they heard loud screams and then footsteps on a dry creek bed behind the tent. The witness saw a large silhouette move past a tree toward the river, heard splashing and screaming, then footsteps approach the tent and run away. They waited for daylight and left quickly.

SilhouetteScreamFootsteps
November 1968 Oceanside, San Diego County, California Class A #2907

Four Camp Pendleton soldiers confront bigfoot during nighttime training exercise

During night infantry training, the witness and three other Marines were dug in atop a hill when they heard rocks rolling as something climbed toward them. A very large, wide figure with long arms and a pointed head stood up within a few feet of them, remained briefly as they watched in fear, then walked between their positions and disappeared over a hill behind them. The group confirmed afterward that all four had seen the same thing but agreed not to report it at the time.

SilhouetteFootsteps
July 1966 Callahan, Siskiyou County, California Class A #1792

Sighting at East Boulder Lake

A camp counselor leading about two dozen children on a backcountry hike reported encountering an erect, reddish-brown hairy creature at close range on a ridge in daylight. The creature watched the group for about a minute, then fled upslope on two legs. That night at a lakeside camp the group reported a strong skunk-like odor, distant landslides, a small dim green light, snapping branches, and large shadowy figures moving among trees for about two hours. Activity reportedly ceased after two counselors left to seek medical help for an ill child.

Full-body sightingSilhouetteOdorUnidentified sound
that night Orleans, Siskiyou County, California Related account #5649

Sasquatch sighting near Orleans, California

That night on the cabin porch the group heard movement by the tree line, noted jumpy horses, and saw a black outline in the trees.

SilhouetteUnidentified sound
BFRO YEAR: 1973-74 Redding, Ca, Because French Gulch Was A Town Back In The Gold Rush Days Of Old California. People Still Live In The Area Of What Is Now Called French Gulch., Shasta County, California Class B #26381

Man recalls adversarial encounter with an unknown creature near French Gulch

During midnight rounds at an isolated school compound, the witness crossed a suspension bridge and heard something raiding trash cans by the cookhouse. He threw rocks toward a large dark figure under the eaves, which stood erect, stepped onto the bridge, dodged thrown rocks, vaulted the bridge cables and fled upstream on two legs. He noted glowing eyes and a foul stench, then returned to his trailer without anyone else responding.

SilhouetteEyeshineOdorProperty disturbanceVocalization +3