A listener writes “Good day to you Wes, I am a new listener to the show. You are welcome to call me Bryan. Very fascinating stories, and I love the neutral approach you take on each situation. Hearing other peoples seemingly legitimate stories made me feel a lot better about the intriguing yet haunting memories I carry with me each day.
A bit of background on myself, I am a 23 year old guy employed at one of the “Big Three” automakers in the Detroit area. I enjoy nature and the outdoors, fishing, kayaking, camping, biking you name it. A state surrounded by incredible freshwater seas makes a great place to do those things.
It all started when I was 16, myself and a group of three other friends all decided to get together and go backpacking through a river system In the incredibly expansive Huron-Manistee National Forest. Upon arrival, we spent most of the first day surveying the area and we eventually settled upon a spot on a ridge along the river. In retrospect this was a very popular game trail for the local wildlife residents. The sun was setting, and on the opposite ridge across the river, we heard what sounded like a very strong man going to town on some firewood, with perfect rhythm. We initially thought this was strange to hear another camper in the area, as we were very deep in the woods with incredibly hilly and forested terrain, but that’s the only thing logic allowed us to come up with. The behaviors of these things were completely unknown to me at this time. As the fire burned we noticed we were surrounded by coyotes. This didn’t bother us as we were armed, and they are at times just curious animals.
I mention the coyotes for a reason. As we were settled in on the second night we heard the frenzied yips back and forth between a distant pack, but there was a different call that seemed to reply to them about a mile away, and the reach and wail of it gave me goosebumps. If I were to speculate I would definitely say it seemed like they were communicating. I awoke out of a peaceful sleep to that same horrible scream, except it was right across the river from us. The sheer decibels of this thing made is sound like the wail of a thousand banshees. It seemed to vibrate my bones. I was paralyzed in my tent. Obviously we all woke up and whimpered to each other’s tents trying to rationalize what in the world would do that. As I sat there waiting for what seemed like hours, I entered a half sleep sort of trance and was subsequently ripped out of it to the sound of that same smashing of trees, except it seemed literally 10 feet above us and around us at the same time. Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! My head was spinning, so sure that our craniums were next. The sheer power and rhythm of these impacts around us made me just slump in my bag in fear. They eventually stopped, and I just laid there until I finally saw the glorious hues of light from the coming sun. This seemingly supernatural entity made no sounds upon exit. We left the next morning. The group was more bewildered as to what it was than simply fear. I initially thought we somehow angered Native American spirits or something. The stealth skills of this thing was just other worldly.
Fast forward over a year or so, I entertained the idea of the intruder being a Bigfoot. After a bit of research about the tree knocks it was all starting to add up. The real confirmation was hearing some vocalization recordings, many of which instantly gave me chills. They were identical. I was so fascinated, I convinced one of the members of the group to make a return trip to the same spot, with these cryptic animals as the objective. We were armed to the teeth for our own safety, but I had a camera which was the weapon I really wanted to use. It was time to settle our mutual speculation on what had the audacity to disturb us camping.
We packed fairly light. Canned food and granola bars, which we stored high in a tree bag to prevent anything from rustling the campsite and potentially distracting us from what we wanted to find. It was very early spring, but we immediately found it odd that the forest was so silent. I’m talking ear ringing, hear every molecule of air through your bronchial tubes silent. Nevertheless, we spent the day scouting the area fishing the river and catching trout to our hearts content. We noticed a den like area inside of a massive fallen tree near the cliff of the river bank, and agreed that would be a promising place to investigate post sunset.
With the click-on of our weapon mounted flashlights, we were off. We almost didn’t need them, the moon and stars lit our fern laden path. My friend and I are about 50 feet away from this fallen tree, crouched and waiting. No lights- steady silent breathing. I watch as my friend raises his trembling 30-30 rifle towards the inky blackness. “I see it” he murmurs. “See what?” I whispered back. “I don’t know but it’s moving.” I didn’t see anything. It was pitch black, I almost didn’t even believe him, until he started tilting backwards, and did a complete 180. He didn’t say anything and just started sprinting back to camp. I obviously stayed right on him. As we were running I turned on the spotlight I had brought with me, panning the cascade of ferns we were sprinting along. The actual fear kicked in when I noticed a huge brownish figure or blur keeping pace with us about 30 feet parallel to us, darting through the trees like some phantom or something. At this point I’m at maximum velocity trying to get back to the imaginary safety of a fabric tent, not keeping track of this abomination that was obviously stalking us. We zip the tent up, chambering rounds of every weapon in sight. Now we are waiting. Listening. Silence. Then, from the same direction we had last seen the creature, we hear this seemingly curious cooing or hooting, almost reminiscent of a primate ambling about. It was steadily getting closer. Then the foot steps. Quiet. Rhythmic. Bipedal. Silence. It is next to the tent now. From the top side of the tent, I watch an impression of a hand or similar object approach the side of my friends face. In slow motion, this hand is caressing, inspecting the top of my friends head from outside the tent. His pistol is pointed in the direction of the entity, shaking as tears stream down his face. He was absolutely paralyzed in fear. People deal with terror in different ways, and I guess me maniacally laughing is one of them. I was just in such disbelief that here these boys were with high powered weapons, in the middle of nowhere chasing this creature that we were completely powerless to. I couldn’t bear to look up through the screen mesh and witness what was doing this. The bizarre fondling finally stopped, and we heard large sticks being broken making way for this seemingly large animal. Thankfully darkness does not last forever, and at first light we were making departure preparations. We inspected the site, and found a ankle width young tree snapped in half at our torso length. It was not there the previous day.
These memories and imagery still follow me today and although incredibly fascinating, it has changed my perception of the outdoors and I now find the most comfort in dense urban areas, even though I grew up in a rural area. I do still explore the woods with friends and sometimes with the intent to bump shoulders with one of these again, but I find I am usually on edge when the sun sets. I did not feel fear for my life on the second expedition, I was only left with more questions. I really enjoy the show and I’d be delighted to have a talk with you and see your thoughts on this. The Manistee forest area is a hot spot for Bigfoot related reports.”
Lisa H
Thanks for sharing Bryan. I would love to hear more of this adventure & also from your friends who were with you. It’s always interesting to hear different perspectives of the same experience & how it has affected all of you later in life.
Jon W
A great story and exceptionally well told.
Thanks Bryan?
Bal G
Need to be careful bro. You don’t want to end up in Paulides’s next book.
MONTE M
Scary to read about , well written , bizarre . You’d think it would have killed both of you but glad it did not ! Strange creatures , I feel that my gun would have been emptied on it had I been in your situation ?
Trent M
2 curious hominid species encounter each other, both possessing lethal abilities, although certainly not equal. Both were interested in seeing the other and the fact that it went so well says a lot about at least some of the members of both species. Thanks for sharing your encounters.
Gumshoguy
Bryan, if you are a member and you can read this perhaps Wes can put in touch with me. I am a Michigander myself residing all my life in the southeast Lower Michigan area compiling over 1,200 reports in Michigan dating back to its earliest mention before her statehood in 1830s. I am not a Bigfoot Researcher I am a data miner though I do accompany a well-known researcher into the field, and just took a report last week on the opposite side of the state. As a former investigator and private investigator my passion was not Bigfootery though through the course of my work, I was led to the place I am today.
In July 2013 I did indeed observe and witnessed this beast in southeast Michigan for myself, and there is no doubt in my mind that it does in fact exist.
For me reading and studying old reports and periodicals is everything about finding and fitting the missing pieces, unraveling a maze, demystifying what was previously unknown. So I find much of value in historic reports, even old ones. When I find interesting ones, I check them and classify them in groups of similar types, taking note of all repeating patterns and features.
The Huron-Manistee Forest is a massive place. It’s a heavily wooded world covering nearly a million acres stretching into eight counties and lots of reports come from that place. I would like to know dates and counties or general towns for your experiences as it all helps build a greater picture and lends information to where other sightings can be anticipated in the future.
Charles R
Hey Gumshoguy.
At first I thought you may be Bob Daigle, I bet you know him. Do you accompany Jim the high school teacher in Birmingham aka Lord Cryptid into the field from time to time? I would bet serious money that this corridor you speak of from Ludington to Oscoda has the most activity in the state. Personally I saw one from a good distance Nov. 15 maybe 1975 crossing a swamp in Roscommon County. A few years ago there was a group of 3 interspersed from 100 yards to 300 yards away mimicing owl and loon sounds. They were scavenging most likely in the Sand Lake complex of Iosco County late at night. Then from the north, at least a mile away came the Ohio Howl, unmistakable and all went quiet. My wife heard the same call one year later. A good friend up their while bow hunting around 2000 saw one walking down a trail. It scared him terribly. Well over 8 feet about 75 feet away when the trail turned into a clearing. The sheer size of it blew him away. He quit hunting that day and said just knowing these things are out there is enough to keep him away. All of these are in that Huron Manistee National Forest. If a person was in Michigan and wanted a chance to encounter a Bigfoot I would tell them pick a big river, the AuSable, or Manistee, Muskegon, or Pere Marquette. Find a high ridge close to your River of choice and camp out primative, the more days the better. And do not be afraid of making noise, at least during the day.
Gumshoguy
Hello Charles, I do indeed know Bob. Very pleased meet you. If you made some Michigan conferences or talks you may have seen me with Bob, quiet and unassuming, Lol. Oh, Never use my name on this or any other social forum please Charles. Anyways if you mean Sherman, I’ve never been out with him but we’ve talked on more than one occasion. Brother you need to step on over to the SC (Sasquatch Chronicles) forum when you can. If you know Bob, and if you can email him he knows how to contact me since we talk most every day or every few days.
My brother seen a blackie down in Monroe County in August 2009 not far from I-75. I was with Bob when I seen this red haired beast in Washtenaw County in that exact location where the young soliders reported their experience that made news a year ago this past summer. What I am telling you occurred in July 2013, and to be honest with you I didn’t want to go back and did not until I believe the spring of 2014, by then somebody went in there cut some trees down, cleared a huge stick nest and a tall three stick tipi structure. All we seen were chips that chainsaw leave behind. It raked cleaned, and I know it wasn’t me. Lol.
I snapped several photos and one captured the thing maybe 15 feet or more up a tree, hanging off the tree peering around exposing the whole half of its body from head ankle. If you know me I’m not one to feel to intimadated buddy after that it was time to get, and I know Bob didn’t understand why but I was ready to run out of there.
On the way out of there we found, measured and photgraphed a 17-17 ½ older track but we didn’t stick around long and it was time to move again and I don’t we said more that half dozen words to each other. I was in no mood for my usual chatter and humor.
I was so shaken by what I seen (I don’t smoke and probably drink more water, coffee and milk than beer) I stopped and grabbed a cheese burger to calm myself down and think about what just happened.
I guess I wasn’t ready to see something like that. I lived and worked in a pragmatic world of right and wrong where things are either black or white, a life of rules and laws but my gosh …. I drove that long drive home alone and silent while Bob went north to his home. When I got home I uploaded the pics and I nearly fell flat on my hose with my mouth hanging I couldn’t believe it. Thinking all the time this has got to be joke.
If you know Bob, you may know Phil and the rest of the crew up there in Ogemaw County? One of the guys that usually accompanies us is down here has a place there in Roscommon and his daughter had a sighting. I created a Michigan database containing everything I could find on Michigan and it presently holds over 1,200 reports going back as far the first French explorers up the Detroit River to the War of 1812 through 40s, 60s up the present.
Get a hold of Bob and and tell we talked …
Tedd
Thanks for sharing and whether done intentionally or with a natural talent, you are gifted at writing and putting the reader in the “moment “.
Augustine L
Some ancestors were among the very first settlers in this area. They had a farm, but ended up moving to Chicago. I have wondered whether they got run off.
Stephanie G
OMG!! I lived in Oscoda for a few years. I had no idea this sort of thing was going on. And, this was in the early 1970s just about the time I saw the PG film and heard about Bigfoot. Of course, that was a Northern California problem, wasn’t it? No worries for MY area. ?
Gumshoguy
Hello Stephanie, always good to see another Michigan person here. Some good reports coming out of Michigan.
David K
I continually read and hear reports when people encounter a bigfoot, they retreat to a ten. Oh Hell no. That’s like making a hot pocket for them. Why would you cut off your ability to see and move for no security at all, a tent? Nope. Especially if armed, bad idea.