Modern Explorer writes “While exploring an old mining road near Burnt Gulch, we began hearing what sounded like large animals moving through the trees heavy hoofbeats, multiple animals, moving just out of sight.
At first, we assumed they were horses. The landowner nearby keeps horses, and we had permission to be there. But as we followed the sounds, something strange became clear.
No matter where we moved, the sounds stayed just ahead of us.
When we got closer, they moved farther away. When we stopped, they stopped. When we changed direction, they changed direction.
It felt as if whatever was making the sounds knew where we were and was actively leading us.
Eventually, the sounds pulled us back toward the original area where we found a dead elk. Its body had been gutted, its head severed and placed in a wash nearby. The landowner later explained it had been roadkill that was skinned and partially butchered.
But when we returned the next day, the head was gone.
No drag marks.
No clear predator signs.
Only the smell remained.
Following that smell led us to a small, hidden child’s grave a place neither of us had known was there.”
