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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.
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 hear unusual grunting sound from behind tent
Four people settling to sleep at a deer hunting camp heard a deep grunting animal shuffling behind a tent. Two of them got up with rifles and lights to investigate, and the animal left quickly while grunting and breaking through brush. They never saw the animal and found no tracks the next morning.
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.
Hiker see prints and hears sounds in the Trinity Alps
The witness was camped beside a creek during a Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike when he heard low voice-like sounds coming from opposite ridges. Feeling uneasy as he also heard limbs and sticks breaking on the ridgeline, he broke camp and hiked out by moonlight. The next morning at a side creek he found vegetation slid down and up where something had crossed, with one large clear footprint in a sandbar, which he photographed with his foot alongside for scale.
Papoose Lake in the Trinity Alps Primitive Area
Two campers sheltering in a tent during a severe nighttime storm heard a heavy bipedal animal circling their camp for about four hours. The animal repeatedly screamed loudly and snapped large branches as it walked, at times coming within about 20 feet, but darkness prevented any visual observation. In the morning they found no tracks or sign on the wet granite surface and hiked out.