I want to thank Charles R for sending me this encounter, check it out: My sighting occurred over twenty years ago, in the fall of 1978, so I don’t know if this will be helpful to anyone or not. I was driving on highway U.S. 2 across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, which skirts the northernmost shores of Lake Michigan.
I had been been driving with my 18-month-old son in the car seat next to me, all day from Minneapolis towards St. Ignace,Mich. and had grown sleepy. So I stopped at a roadside picnic area about 20 miles east (maybe more) of Manistique, Michigan on the edge of the Hiawatha National Forest. The picnic area contained only one picnic table and a trash receptacle, very rustic, and was surrounded by deep woods.
I locked my doors (driving a Saab station wagon) checked the baby and fell asleep in the driver’s seat, figuring to catch a cat nap and drive the last 100 miles or so afterward, it was about ten or eleven p.m. when I fell asleep.
After only a short time, maybe two hours, I was awakened by a HORRIBLE smell, like nothing I’d ever smelled before, and I remember thinking the baby must be sick to have filled his diaper with such a rotten odor. So I turned on my interior light and grabbed the diaper bag from the back seat, but when I checked my son’s diaper, it was clean !! He was awake and staring out the windshield (carseats didn’t have to face ackwards, back then) and I followed his gaze . . .
At first glance I got scared, thinking a large bear was standing on its hind legs directly in front of my car, but when I turned on the headlights, thinking this would scare the bear away, I could tell this was no bear. I can’t say how tall it was but it seemed to tower over the small car, bending forward at the waist and the lights didn’t faze it at all. It was only three or four feet away from us, leaning over the hood and staring into the car through the windshield.
The creature was covered in very dark brown, long hair but it had no snout like a bear would have – rather, it had a flat face and a nose that kind of looked negroid (is that a politically correct description ?) and I focused on the face (so almost human) so I can’t describe the body. The eyes were large, round, brown and bright but seemed to be set in the middle of the head. By that I mean the face was centered in the large head, with no hair on the cheeks, nose or around the mouth. The creature did not move or make a sound, but seemed to be in a staring match with my son even though the night had been very dark before I turned on all the lights !!
Even though the encounter lasted only a few minutes, I was frightened out of my wits but my instincts served me and I started the car, slammed it into reverse and hit the peddle hard. I didn’t look back as I sped away east with a thumping heart. I didn’t even talk about this incident for several months, thinking no one would believe me and I may have dreamed it all – but the memory has never faded and I’ve never dreamed of strong smells before or since. Over the next few years, I spoke with several people in the U.P. who have also sighted Sasquatch near or in the Hiawatha National Forest, but unfortunately cannot name them.
Kelly W
OMG.. I can think of nothing more frightening than it staring at your child…sent chills threw me..
Mario P
“Over 20 years ago in ’78″….So was it 40 years ago or did it happen in ’98?
Denise F
Seems like they are SO interested in little boys (children in general)…. Must have been terrifying.
Glen K
(New Jersey) Interesting that they occurred many years and many miles apart, but this report reminds me of the most recent SC Episode 470 that was just posted. I’ve heard Wes say the Bigfoot’s curiosity could be its undoing. Not sure of that, but it does seem at times they do get very close to “civilization” because of their curious nature. Researchers , like Justin of Mountain Beast Mysteries, travel to very remote places with the hopes of spotting a Sasquatch. Here we have two instances of up close and personal sightings at highway rest stops!! Although they probably live deep within the forest, a stray dumpster or picnic table where people come to eat is enough to draw them out however briefly. Maybe that’s a good strategy for a Bigfoot expedition? Drive along highways late at night, and stop in secluded rest ares and take a look around. You never know who or what you’ll find.
Kris T
Submitted in 2001, to BFRO.
Occurred in ’78.
Very lucky lady IMHO.
The thing was stalking her infant.
I lived in the UP for two years. Lots of tales there. MI dogman has a huge number of sightings all over the area. The more I learn about these creatures, the less I feel we will have any positive reactions in the future if our species makes contact on record.
They select single or weak prey, the young, the old and the sick. Nobody on an expedition will ever encounter one. They evade humans in groups and only choose to engage when they are certain of success. An opportunistic predator.
Themandus.org
m99
_Hi Kris T, Although I’ve seen and heard of “Them and Us”, especially during the Tracy G. episode, I never realized there is a website and a book (go figure, how could I have missed that?). So now I know and maybe will get the book. Thanks for the link at the bottom of your post.
_Wes, the level of excellence and style of your website (IMHO) is like no other. I appreciate how you don’t get caught up trying to edit posts for spelling, grammar or vernacular. The USA is such a great place, and the different regions are indeed special. Each area is unique unto itself. Although many people make fun of people from say, the Appalachians (for example) it’s proven the mountain people are savvy at taking care of business. They were country when country wasn’t cool (so to speak). As well can disappear (bug out, or hide from an enemy) if they have to. Allowing people to be who they are is special. You allow people to get things off their chest, but you also allow people to be themselves. That’s one element and I’m glad we stumbled upon hotspotradio.com.
Wes, I’d like to to ask you to consider something for your site. I’m wondering if you could /would add a resource section? Like post a link (as Kris did above) of a resource to goto (like themandus.com), or to get tickets to the next big event, or any kind of link that could make researching easier having this dedicated record of useful documentation. Once you posted the links or whatever you want, it would catalog resources automatically and allow us (and yourself) to access information readily.
At any rate, thanks again Wes. It’s very apparent that your site is superior, and your style is great. We appreciate all you do.
This link is for Ralph, my friend from West Virginia, who has since gone on to heavenly places:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vrEljMfXYo