I really like how Chris recounts his encounter. Read the full encounter below.
A few friends and I were near Point of Pines along the Black River for some camping and fishing. My then friend Pablo and I woke one morning at dawn with the intent to leave White’s Crossing where we were camped to fish what we called the Pump Station, a few miles away. We left the others behind and began our commute in good light just as the sun was rising. About a mile or so from White’s along the 2000 Road, we came upon a large group of Turkey and decided to stop for a better look. I got out my camera, took a couple of crummy shots, and then put the camera back into a backpack in the bed of the truck and started back on our way. Not more than 2 minutes later, we crossed a wash, turned a corner and had our sighting.
The “Creature” appeared to be just starting across the road, did a quick turn to look at us and then started it’s run across the road and up a very steep hill. Like the reports I’ve read, it took only a couple of strides to cross the roadway. Then is stepped over a barbed wire fence with zero effort and made it up the hill incredibly quickly.
While I can’t say exactly how long this took, I’m guessing the entire encounter was about 15 seconds. If you think about it, that’s really a long visual and more than you’d get with most larger animals before they disappear into the brush.
As to distance, we were less than 20 yards away. I did not get a good look at facial structure as the turn (only once) towards us happened quickly and mentally I wasn’t prepared in any way to process what I was seeing. Coloration was cinnamon like. Hair, tight to the body, but completely covering the animal. At no time during the sighting did the animal go down on four limbs, and it was completely bipedal.
So I’ve been asked why no photo. Think about that for a second. Even if you had a camera in your lap, would you be able to process what you were seeing fast enough to understand the significance of what snapping a few shots would mean? Would you be in complete shock, or would you just immediately jump out of the truck and pursue? Probably not on either account. Add in the fact that the camera was in the bed of the truck and I think I’ve answered that one sufficiently.
What did I do? Well when I realized what was happening, I tore off up the hill for a better look. I didn’t make it far though because Pablo was literally screaming (and crying) for us to get the hell out of there. When he jumped into the passenger seat and started off with the truck, I obliged. No way I was getting stuck out there alone with whatever I’d just seen!
Footprints? No. At least nothing on the roadway. I relate that to the rocky section of roadway we were on. My tracks were barely visible as a matter of fact and honestly, we didn’t really do any looking until a few hours later after we were done being laughed at by the others we went up there with.
What did I see? No clue. I know what it wasn’t though and it wasn’t any common animal, drunk Apache, or a man is a suit.
The pic is off the exact spot. Turkey were on the north rim of the small canyon. (Top of pic).
Sighting was immediately after crossing the wash section and turning the corner towards the right of the pic.
tom b
I understand, during my encounter i was only thinking about survival.