Jan 18

Then It Showed Itself

A listener writes “I’m stationed near Mt. Rainier as I’m sure you know Ft Lewis specifically North Fort as I-5 cuts the base in half kinda. I’m originally from the east coast though.

This took place roughly October 2014 in Missouri in the Ozarks. I took my giant Schnauzer a very wary guard dog that I trained myself out for a hike, I had just had my first child and my dad just found out my dad started drinking again. I was very stressed which of course I’ve tried to play a factor in this, but, I had started the walk around 3 in the afternoon.

I had walked up this small mountain/hill I want to say around 150 feet going up into a ridge line. still with my giant Schnauzer. And if you know anything about these dogs they’re more naturally protective then most guard dogs. I’ve trained many a rottie’s, dobermans, pitbulls. there the most natural guardians I’ve ever experienced, very important for this story. I start Walking up this ridge line and my big man starts growling which he only does so if he feels like he needs to protect me and I immediately follow his que. I tell her to stop and I’m knelling and doing a sequence that we learn in basic training to intake things using our scents. I hear, well really feel the sounds of pounding feet. You can’t mistake this sound of snapping almost logs and the thump of… it almost feels like king kong bundy stomping as long as he can through the woods. I know it sounds crazy but it sounds like a super giant trying to stealthy walk through the woods and my dog was signaling this too me. Me and my hormone ridden self decided “if anything is gonna hurt me and my dog I’m gonna make sure I freakin kill it even it get killed myslef” as I had just gotten back from deployment and with everyone going on in my mind I thought in my mind I was the hulk.

We walk I wanna say 500 meters. I’m not walking as macho I was before a lot more cautious its gotten a lot darker the “anxiety” has started to bite at me I’m now listening to these foot steps that are without a doubt bi pedal for I want to say around half an hour to maybe 45 minutes. I’m starting to hear sounds of Satan. its a sounds of chimps mixed with low gutturals not in the way death metal fans know. it sound very similar to samurai chatter but more guttural and its on my left side. immediately I get into flight or fight mode but my dog gets in my way and she doesn’t want any part of whats happening.
It’s the first time since something in Afghanistan happened where I seriously thought (pardon my French) OH F*$d#. my dog screams out a fear bark to me.

I hear a, I really don’t know how to describe other then a low growl. but as low as low can get just GRRR but I feel it in my soul and every tree on my left side comes crashing down it felt like 120 mortars slamming that side of the ridge line started hitting me.

Just an explosion of bark and wood and my dog started pulling in every which way but that side. and then it got quiet almost like a fire fight I knew that meant it was restart thing were about to get bad. I had the internal fight between run to escape from bad things that MIGHT happen or stay because bad things MIGHT happen. I really wanted to do both at the same time but I stayed because I was telling myself its just at the worst case scenario its just some pissed off black beat trying to eat or something like.

I didn’t want to let my dog like that go but I had a family I needed to see them again I had something I need back at home.

Then it shows itself. I guess I forgot to mention that my dog really tossed me around I’m about 5’9 and at this time 145 and my dog was almost 115 and a healthy working dog so we were coming down the ridge line.

but this thing was built like brock lesner, like ronnie coleman like whoever on all the drugs I guess.
It has a conical shaped head, the traps on this thing. well it didn’t have any because they were so big if ya know what I mean and every muscle on this thing was just big like the definition big. I saw it around 150-200 meters I probably saw it at that moment for about what felt like forever but realistically 5 seconds I really don’t know.

I instinctively ran with my dog dragging me behind and around this ridge. We couldnt make it around the ridge before this coming careening down like a missile. the only true time I heard it properly screaming. I don’t understand primate behavior or primate vocals but it was screaming fairly similar to a bobcat in the cadence it was giving. it was 2 second pauses but the screams which sounded like satan screaming lasted roughly 6 seconds which gained in intensity. just the most heart wrenching screams.

As this thing comes down and makes holy hell and I see for a few glimpses I see it shuffling down at an alarming pace I feel the wind rush paced me of a piece of wood. not just a stick or branch but. A real piece of wood a small piece of a timber it was similar in size but a bit bigger to the fire wood at 7/11s rush passed my face.

At this time Wes, I pull out my Glock 23 in almost desperation. I didn’t know what to do I had no control of myself at this point but to pull it out and fire in the air and scream. to be honest I was almost sobbing. I tried to scream once and nothing but air came out and I tried to scream again and. if you know what the scream of a wounded animal sounds like thats how I feel like I sounded. this thing really mentally broke me.

I’ve been stalked by coyetes, been charged by bears, been stalked by mountain lions. this is truly a time where I thought I was gonna a die and this was my last ditch effort to try and make it out.
I waited a couple seconds as it stood there on the ridge line which I’m now on the bottom of which is just a silhouette, the moon is on our our left side, It’s right. I fired a couple more rounds knowing it could empty the whole mag and it still may kill me but whatever… signs of strength I guess??? I could pull of may save me. and I waited and my dog practically dragged me as I pointed in its direction with my weapon all the way down to my truck before I immediately tore the hell out of there. That’s my story. I can provide paper work if need be. like I said I’m a military member here in ft Lewis. I just wish to open up to you because I haven’t talked to anyone about this other then my wife.

Forgive my poor grammar.”

10 Responses to “Then It Showed Itself”

  1. Daren c

    Wow. Incredible account , thanks for sharing!

    I owned a Giant Schnauzer for 12 years . My ex was a Delaware State Trooper, she wished she could take him with her on patrol lol. I got him at 8 weeks old. We too trained heavily and religiously in protection and tracking bad guys.. . Being around lotsa Cops, we were also asked for assistance during an apprehension of a belligerent suspect. Anyways , she’s right Giant Schnauzers are extremely tough and intelligent. Scary asF when they are in Go mode.. Can’t imagine being in that situation tho Woe! Thanks Wes !

  2. Linda B

    Wow, totally amazing story. I’m so sorry you had the hel scared out of you. I’ve only heard them and I know I don’t really want to see one. Glad you and your dog made it to safety.

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