“This is an old report so I don’t know if it will be of any use but my wife and I remember it as if it were yesterday. We had just moved to California from Colorado and didn’t know anywhere to hike so we drove to a Ranger Station in Shasta Lake. We bought a map and although it was the 4th of July weekend we asked the rangers if there was anyplace we could go that would be isolated or not too crowded. We got a fire permit because we were planning to 4 wheel somewhere remote and then hike to a camp area. We were told to drive on a logging road next to squaw creek and were shown some turns to take to end up past the last campground on Squaw creek. We drove until we spotted a stream leading up to a meadow about 200 yards from the road. We crossed a deep creek with our camping gear and helped our dog cross because the water was swift enough to make swimming across difficult. We set up our tent and decided to follow the creek to see if fishing might be good. We were surprised by an abandoned beaver dam and the pond was full of fish. I wanted to hike a bit further and my wife wanted to finish some reading so she went back to camp with the dog. I continued hiking until I heard something following me. When I stopped it stopped. I suspected I was being followed by a couger so I made lots of noise by stepping on branches and acting like I wasn’t afraid of anything.
I still stopped from time to time to look toward the area of the noise and had my knife ready along with a big stick that I purposely hit against rocks and trees to make myself appear aggressive. Finally I got back to camp and my wife asked me what was going on. I didn’t want to scare her so I said it was getting dark and had to get some firewood. She said the dog had been growling and looking in the direction from which I had come. I still didn’t say anything mainly because I wasn’t afraid because I had packed a gun with plenty of ammo. I had been hunting and in the woods all my life. I figured a fire would keep the lion away along with our talking and laughing, plus we had a big husky dog that was a good protector. When I got back to camp with some wood my wife informed me that the dog must have taked a poop around the camp site because it stunk. It did smell but I was unable to find anything to get rid of. We lit a fire and cooked then settled back to let the fire burn out. When the fire got low we were terrified by the sound of breaking branches and a sound unlike anything I have ever heard in my life. I screamed to my wife to throw more wood on the fire and rushed to the tent to get my gun. I was bowled over first by my wife then the dog.
I got the gun and yelled to my wife to get the flashlights. We threw more wood on the fire and heard something retreat. At this point I got my composure back and we shined our very bright lights into the woods hoping to pick out a pair of eyes. When I didn’t see any I was alamed because I thought all animals eyes glowed in the dark as they reflected light. I was thinking that there must be a man out there trying to scare us. So I yelled for whoever was out there to identify himself because I has a gun and was prepared to shoot if I heard another noise. Now I had to tell my wife what had happened on my hike and what I still assume is correct about animals eyes. We talked about going back to the bronco and leaving but decided it was too risky to walk 200 yards through the woods and then have to cross the steam in the dark where we could easily step in a hole and lose the gun or be at a big disadvantage. We decided to burn a big fire all night and stay awake. As frightened as we were I talked my wife into getting some sleep on my lap and I would stay awake. She fell asleep and then so did I.
We were startled awake by the dog growling and something rushing toward us through the trees. We threw more wood on the fire and screamed into the woods that we were ready to shoot. Again a retreat as the fire got bigger. Now we were definitly awake for the rest of the night. The next morning we packed up and left. When we got down to the stream I remembered my axe shovel and saw were still at the camp so I went back for them. I was greeted by a horrible smell, but that was it so I grabbed my things and ran down the hill. When I got close to the stream I slowed down and started walking. My wife informed me that right after I left the dog was growling and looking in the direction that I had taken. Since this incident we now camp in designated campsites that have other campers. We always used to 4 wheel or hike to places to camp that were completly isolated. We never considered bigfoot until I told my story to a new friend and he mentioned that the situation was similar to bigfoot related incidents.”
Becky W
Creepy……
Sunny N
I hate that it changes the way we view the wilds. It’s a profound forever change.
Debbie C
Wow! Lake Shasta not far from me.
I’m glad you were not harmed.
Ray R
Great story, creepy lol
Frankie P
That would definitely make camping with others a new “norm”. Good encounter.
David R
I used to want to camp as far away from other campers as we could. I always had my 308 auto, or 12 gage with me. I don’t do it anymore because of stories like this.
pam
Me too, David. The farther out the better. And I did so, many, many times.
I had scary moments (usually was with another person -not alone) but could definitely tell you what was scaring me!
After you have an encounter- experience- freak out, it all goes out the window in one fell swoop!
It just isn’t worth it any more. I won’t sleep a wink, I can’t enjoy myself or fish, looking over my shoulder every time a bird
toots in the trees LOL.
Janetta V
Certainly agree with you Pam. After an experience every thing changes. I think it’s partly because we don’t feel as free as we did before something truly scares you. People go out to the woods to feel some of the good things in life, and then all that gets stolen from us. Not fair.
Robert P
I have camped alone maybe 50 times. Only 1/2 of those close to Squatches. I just didn’t know they were there
Dawn O
It’s funny because I just spoke to my co-worker, Chief of police and NOW he says he doesn’t believe in bigfoot because there’s no proof. I tried to tell him about how either nature, bigfoot, or the government covers it up, but he’s soooo stubborn! he says that he is out in the woods all the time with nothing but a sleeping bag, so I told him, “Then you need to go to Spencer Creek (Oologah Lake) or Sunnyside Ramp, Goose Island….that’ll change your mind.” He thinks my encounter was people. I’m like “WHAT?!” lol..people yeah right. See, it’s stories like this that make believers and encounters more credible. I even told him, “this is why people don’t come forward with their proof, because 1 – they get made fun of 2 – the government takes it away.” he’s extremely extremely stubborn lol. BUT he did say that if i filmed an encounter he’d believe it because he knows I don’t like about such things.
Linda W
My sympathy goes towards the unsuspected humans… people have a right to camp out. These sasquatches are purposely scaring people out. If this WAS an animal it would follow through. They don’t!! They scare. I say, these are evil and NOT an animal!! If human, that fits better. Animal/human then we are talking about something entirely different and unpredictable. Oh but, that’s not possible the mixing of the two naturally! Hmmmm, some kind of intervention in our new technology? Can’t be resent since it’s been going on for eons. Hmmmmm What could it possibly be?
Christopher c
These folks had a run in with thee “Pit River Devil”, Squaw creek is off Fenders ferry road and is within 5 miles of the Pit River it is also less than 5 miles from Devils canyon.
PATRICK
Don’t run out of firewood.