Sasquatch Chronicles Blog

A listener writes “I was section hiking the Appalachian Trail towards the end of August through September 2022. A section hiker is someone who is just hiking parts or sections of the AT. It can be a day or weeks or even months. In my case I was out for a month. This particular section started in Hanover New Hampshire and I was heading Southbound on the AT. My hike was taking just past the New York State line for around 290 or so miles.

I should point out that I have hiked many parts of the AT and just have a couple more states to go and I will be finished. I have also thru hiked the John Muir Trail in the High Sierras of California. I hike mostly solo. I am no strangers to sights and sounds while hiking. I am originally from a small Alabama town and our playground were the woods. So again, I am use to the sights and sounds of the woods.

I served in the US Army as a Combat Medic. I then worked 28 years with the Sheriff’s Office as a Corrections officer working my way up as the Jail Administrator. During my career I also served on the Agency’s SWAT Team as the SWAT Medic. So I am no stranger in dealing with stressful situations or events.

On this particular day it had been raining all day and I stopped at one of the shelters along the AT. If you are not familiar with the shelters most are a 3 sided wood structures that offer a place to sleep and get out of the weather. They are rustic. It had rained all night and other hikers arrived to get out of the rain as well for the night. The night was very quiet considering the dense forest. You usually some animals be it birds, frogs, crickets and even owls. Nothing. I just wrote it off it was due to the rain.

The next morning as hikers left they were going Northbound as most do this time of year. They were thru hikers heading to Katahdin ( hiking the entire Appalachian Trail which is over 2100 miles).

I had a cup of instant coffee and a breakfast bar before I packed up and headed out it was very wet out as you can imagine. It was still very quiet out. No birds and again no small animals or even a deer or two.

I was about 4 or 5 miles into my hike( It was around 9 am or so) when I heard a loud bang that sounded like something hit a tree really hard. I stopped and I looked to my left towards the direction of the noise. I was thinking it was one of the large wood peckers. These birds can get pretty big. However there wasn’t the continual pecking sound you would hear. Then I realized it was too loud and forceful. The noise sounded like it was about 25/ 30 or so yards away and off the trail. The terrain had thick woods with a “Deep Gully” like dip in that area. It wasn’t deep enough to qualify as a “Gorge”.

I looked around and still could not see anything due to it being so dense. I still noted again how quiet it was for this time of day. I stood there for around 5 mins or so trying to figure it out. It did not sound like a branch falling. It did not sound like a woodpecker. It did not sound like a deer rutting and hitting its antlers against a tree. No bears either and no sign of bears. Hikers will tell you if any bears or snakes ahead and any other issues for that matter. I just couldn’t come up with an explanation.

I started hiking again and I heard another loud bang/whack just like the one before. I stopped hiking again and looked around. I thought maybe someone is working on something, but nothing was around that area or anywhere for that matter.

It was at this point that I started feeling uneasy and the need to get out of this area. I again however, waited for about 5 or so mins to see if I could see or hear anything. Still nothing.

I pulled out my AWOL guide (A guide with information and maps hikers use) and looked to see what was around. Nothing. Now I have to admit being by myself and a woman put me a little on edge. I am not sure why but it did. I looked at my map to see what or where I could get off trail if I needed to. The only thing coming up soon was an open area that had power lines cutting across the trail. This usually will have a wide clearing due to the lines and towers. I figured I could then see if something was following me. I felt like I was being watched all this time. I put my map up and started hiking again.

Now I hear another loud bang/Whack but this time it is on the other side of this gully area but still to my left. The time from when the last bang occurred was about 5 min or longer. Okay so now I am definitely on edge. I am actually wondering could this be a Bigfoot? I heard they do wood knocks. I can’t see anything still and my unease is increasing. I had this urges to run, but knew better. Running would have been hard due to the terrain and my backpack weighing around 20lbs. Now I am ready to get the heck to that open area and hope I am not followed.

What comes next really got my attention… I head a loud whistle coming from where I heard the first whack/bang I heard. I stopped again. It wasn’t a long whistle, but it sounded like a human whistle a short tune. Okay, this is now truly concerning for me. I looked for other hikers coming down the trail towards me and nothing, nothing.

While looking around I heard a loud clicking sound like the kind you make when you use your tongue to make that sound. This also came from the area of the whistle I heard. What the heck I am thinking along with some other thoughts. I was kicking myself for not bringing my handgun. I decided not to fly with it because you have to check it (Which I usually do). However, there were so many stories about lost luggage I was afraid they would lose my handgun. So I decided not to take it. I did mail ahead my “bear gun” it is this plastic type flare gun that should out a loud flash with a loud bang. It works well as I have used it before to scare of a Black Bear that was coming towards me a couple of years earlier on the AT in Virginia. I also had some my pepper spray. I would say at least 25mins have gone by. The entire time I felt I was being watched and sized up?

I am now hiking faster and as I see the open area where the power lines are located. I stop to look back to see if I was followed. As I did look back I heard another loud bang/whack. I don’t see anything or anyone. This time it sounded like it was about 30 or so yards directly behind me. Again, no hikers seen, no deer, or anything. I felt like I was being told to get the hell out or else.

I keep hiking and it is a faster pace than I normally hike. I look back occasionally to see if I am being followed and nothing is following me. I still felt uneasy and actually shaken. I have never experienced anything like it or since.

After hiking a few more hours I reach a road I was expecting to be picked up on and taken to a hostel for the night and resupply as well and then start my hike the next day. I see two other hikers coming from opposite direction on the other side of the road. I have to say I was relieved to see other people is an understatement.

Now was this a Bigfoot? I honestly don’t know. I never have experienced this type of fear and I was on edge. I have never encountered that type of noise or noises ever on a hike. The rest of my hike went without anything like that happening.”