Hi all,

ok this encounter happened on Tuesday the 17/03/2009 in the Blue Mountains NSW Australia.

It will be very long and detailed. I tried to make it as easy to read as possible whilst keeping true to my memory of it. (with some grammer/spelling/flow of story errors no doubt, I edited some bits and may have made mistakes doing so. If you spot a problem in it let me know.)

I welcome any questions.
I had read a little and heard some 2nd hand accounts of the yowie before this event.

I live in western Sydney Australia. I'm 25 years old and one thing I've gotten into in the last 2 years is going hiking in the blue mountains. I've done a few walks with my 2 brothers (27 and 15 years old). We have done the 6 foot track, the scenic world to wentworth falls (via ruined castle & MT solitary) walk which are both 3 day walks. Well you could do it in 2 or 1 but we like the camping factor as well, and 2 nights out gives you a much greater escape from the urban world.
Also I've camped overnight at castle ruins 3 seperate times, twice on narrow neck, plus 1 other night camping on MT solitary.

More back ground (relevant to the story): at 17 years old i joined the army reserve. I did basic training along with everyone who joins the army. I learned navigation, 1st aid and all the other stuff. I also spent a few weeks and weekends out doing more training with my reserve unit. Just a note the reserves and basic training is of a high quality say compared to the regular American army training (no offence intended).

During these extra trips out we did night navigation, night ambushes (plus day as well) and picket (guard duty at night) where enemy would try to 'probe' the position we had set up in during the night. This plus my other hiking trips mean I'm comfortable with the night in the bush, and the sounds one would expect to hear and also the sounds of humans walking around the bush, plus humans trying to be stealthy.

Also my older brother was in the para troopers for 4 years and we spend time teaching our younger brother about navigation etc.
We also try to be semi camouflaged (we both still own alot of army gear) and have dark clothing.For example if we are going for an exploration walk after we find a camp site we will stash our packs and conceal them. Then check the cam job from multiple angles. Just habit more than anything and the simple fact we go out to for the isolation.

On the other hiking trips/army exercises iv encountered: big goana(1.2m's estimate), roo's (any aussie will probably say derr to this ), cattle, birds, insects lizards etc and a koala.

The koala was during a picket with the army one night and it was climbing around gathering food or whatever. The roo's are everywhere, but during the 6 foot track we were camping along side a rode as part of the walk goes onto private property. A creek was right next to where we set up camp. In the night we had been hearing people yelling out, like some drunks at a party going on 1 km or so away.

Then later we could hear something moving in the creek, splashing etc.We got up with torches and knifes in hand and walked slowly closer and when we turned our torches right at the noise and movement we could see 3 kangaroos bounded off up the road.
So iv heard most animals in the blue mountains bush & some at night.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mt_Solitary for gps co-ordinates if interested.
http://www.wildwalks.com/bushwalking-and-h...orth-falls.html

I had previously done the walk in the 2nd link as i stated earlier, but on Tuesday the 10/03/09 i had camped at castle ruins for 1st night, then MT solitary for the 2nd night, but i came back via castle ruins as it is much easier and quicker. This was my 1st camping trip by myself as well.

**this is very easy to follow if you download this PDF of the walk:
" http://www.wildwalks.com/bushwalking/gener...bmnp-srrcmskrwf "
It shows the whole thing, plus zoomed in sections of the track. Pages 7 & 8 is zoomed in where it all occurs**

Now the next week i was going for 3 days again, this time i was going straight up to MT solitary to spend two nights there. I was planning on camping in chinaman's gully (same place as the 2nd night last week).

I set out at 4:44pm from scenic world knowing from my trip last week it would take 4 hrs (with food break as well) to reach my destination. It got dark at 7:30-8pm at the time of year, before daylight savings changed so I knew I would be fine for time.

One thing I noticed is that by yourself it's obviously less noise and as a consequence I came across many lyrebirds ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyrebird ) foraging right next to the trail. I scared most of them as they only heard me when I was very close and they all ran off into the under bush. They make a bit of noise being a medium sized bird probably 3-8 kg's at a guess.

Its worth noting here that on this walk I've never seen any other wildlife besides alot of birds.The track goes along the valley edges as you can see on the PDF. The valley also would be pretty much impossible for a human or roo to walk as the crow flys from one side to the other without climbing gear. Check google earth and PDF contour lines to see this. The kedumba river is in the jamison valley.

200m's or so past the castle ruins turn off track (say 1hr 45mins into the walk) I noticed that i had been hearing noise in the bush 13-20m's away to my right (3-5 o'clock bearing) constantly for a few minutes (say 3). I thought then something was odd and listened more closely. It sounded like footsteps.

I stopped walking all of a sudden and hear 2 more steps taken then nothing. I kept walking for 1 min again still hearing noise to my right and stopped quickly again. I heard one step and nothing.
Now I was all senses primed. I kept walking for 5 minutes then stopped suddenly again. I heard one more step.

Then for the next 10 minutes I stopped 3 times and the noise stopped and started again at the same time as me every time. At 1st I thought a lyrebird may have just been traveling the same path as me. But after the noise seemed to be anticipating my stops I was a little more skeptical. On the last stop I put my pack down and threw a rock right at where I had last heard the steps.

To my right it sloped gently upwards. I climbed up and said who's there ? More to scare an animal away than actually expecting a response. I took a few more steps forward then threw another rock. I heard no noise during this event. I walked on not hearing much else. I did think it sounded a bit like yowie accounts I had heard. The whole time I felt like I was being stalked.

As the track begins to rise steadily before the climb up the mountain I heard some noise to my right sporadically 30m's away, but nothing as close or stalking like as before.

So I climb up the mountain, which is step and fun pulling/walking yourself up rocks etc with the pack. If a roo or any other similar sized creature made it up MT solitary I'd walk back to town, buy it a beer and carry it back for it.
It's a 10-15 min walk to the camp site in chinaman's gully once you reach the top of the mountain.

There is a great rock look out 40m from the campsite there. It was 6:35pm when I finally put my pack down and gazed across the megalong valley from my awesome vantage point. I was going to camp on a softer moss covered part of the rock formation (this formation is probably 6m's long and 4m's wide). This lookout also is rises from ground level to about 3m's high, with the highest part of the rock formation at the edge of the cliff.

At 7:20-7:30pm I once again became aware of out of the ordinary sounds. I had been hearing the normal birds flying and scurrying around, trees swaying etc until that time. I noticed a lot of noise had been coming from down near the other campsite and though to myself: some animal is flipping out hardcore.The sun's light fully left at 8pm and it was semi dark at this point.

I quietly got up to investigate and I hear something rapidly run a few steps away then silence. I go the 3-4m's back and sit down now with my knife out and torch ready. I hear bush crunching steps walking towards me at a slowish pace and I get up again as quick and soundless as I can and move closer and I hear several fast running steps away again.

This happened about 8-10 times. The 1st 3 times 1 min (estimate) elapsed between the running away and the slow moving back towards me from the noise.The next few times varied from 1-5 minutes gap beween occurrences. Every time I'd get up as stealthy as I could, also I was on rock so I didn't make much noise but whatever was responding to my movements could hear or otherwise know as soon as I started moving.

One other thing, twice I walked down off the rock completely, pursuing it and it ran a little further. Then as I kept moving I heard no more movements away. I went back to the rock as it felt safer than being in the bush where anything could come up behind me etc. Plus my pack (food,water) were stashed on the rock. It was getting dark at this point and I couldn't see much further than 5m's thru the bush. I also said who's there etc ?
2 separate times as a form of communication.

By this time it was 8pm+ and dark. From here on time frames are hard to recall, as for the next 5 hours I was full adrenaline pumping. At this time I knew I was encountering an intelligent thing, which could move fast through the bush. After it got my attention with the stalk/running away, things seemed to rev up to another level.

It started running back and forth loudly, like heavy footed, 15m's out from me. I could hear it's movements as it moved 10-20m's left to right of my location with about 5-8 strides. An incredible distance relative to the strides. The deepness of the running steps is the loudest I have every heard anything make. It done this a few times(about 5) with 5-20 second pause's between a left to right, then right to left direction.

Then it started running up the path towards me to what sounded like the edge of the rock formation, then back again. This path was more sandy/rocky and the change in sound was noticed by me, even though it would be basically impossible to not tell where it was running. It done this a few times(about 4) as well. Never have I felt so ready to fight as then, my blood was pumping and it was the strongest adrenaline I have ever felt. I was ready to fight for my life. I do train Brazilian ju jujitsu and am somewhat used to adrenaline.

Also note I was on the rock and there's a step at the edge, this step is L shaped, 1m down by 1m across. I was standing on this step and there was nothing to my back but a 500m drop to the valley. I felt more safe with a 1m rock edge half obscuring me even though it was sheer drop behind me, I could duck if it came all the way up to me and try to fight it so I wouldn't get pushed straight off the cliff as what could easily happen if I were standing above this step

My blood is pumping now as I write this, I've only told the story 4 times and everytime I feel like I've had a coffee or two during the re-telling.
Things stopped then for a little bit. After an unknown time (hard to judge due to adrenaline) other things started happening of a less intense nature.

This is already very long so I'll just list what else happened until around 1am:

*bush shaking.

*1 clap by me followed by 1 bush shake by it. This was repeated 10 times. On the last 3 times I tried clapping twice, the 1st time I got 2 shakes in response, the next 2 times it was only one shake response.

Edit:The clapping event happened during 1 of the first group of 8+ stalk and run away behaviour from before. As I got up with the torch to investigate I tried clapping then.

*At one point I discovered there was two things out there. This was when it started doing the stalk walk up activities again. I could distinctly hear one noise further away to the right (2 o'clock bearing) shaking a bush in the one spot and as this would happen I could hear a more stealthy but closer noise moving towards me (9 o'clock bearing). One thing was masking the others movements. This happened several times with the positions changing. I was walking 3m's out with my torch every so often but could see nothing. I didn't come down from the rock lookout again.

I felt safer at this point so I was trying to see them. I would leave longer gaps between when I would get up with the torch. 10, 15,20 and even 40mins one time. I was trying to get them to come closer, and they were. I had 2 led torches (great battery life but they don't penetrate the bush very far ). One time when they were doing the mask the others movements I flashed the torch where I heard the closest one, I got a bush shake response. Then I did it to the further away one and got a response. I alternated between the two of them and got continuous alternate responses from each one 5 times in a row then they stopped responding.

*call and response bush shaking. 1 foot stomp by me followed by 1 bush shake for response 8+ times in a row.

Edit: This occured during one of the stalk and conceal phases as detailed above.
I got these idea's from Neil Frost's thread which I had semi read previously.

*All would be silent for 5-20 mins and then I would hear a large deliberate snap close 5-7m's out but just off the rock formation at 1 o'clock. This happened several times.

*I did hear a mook sound called out 3 times in a row.

*Around 10:30pm I set my phone up to record, I got 2hrs 15 mins of recordings. I placed it 2 meters away from me. When I listened to it at home I couldn't hear anything of note besides me walking up in response to activity.

At 1am all activity ceased. From around 1:30-45am onwards I heard a few small animals (same as what I have heard many other times in the bush) of small bird size. The behaviour sounded like foraging to me. It occurred around the same small area for a while. Then would move to another area. It didn't alarm me at all.

I had already planned to stay up all night, as you would expect. But I did only stay up to about 3:30am and felt like it was ok to sleep. I slept till 6:30 and got up.

In the morning I got up and went to explore for signs of what happened. Just off the rock formation I found a tree(2-3 meters high) with 7 broken branches of around 2-4 cms diameter. 1 tree just next to had one single fresh break of a branch as well which was probably 5 cms diameter. All were fresh breaks with the branches still attached by the thin green bark skin.
You know when you have to often twist the branch to break the thin fresh bark layer off after the centre wood breaks ?

The surrounding trees didn't have any fresh breaks at all. 2 close by trees did have 3 broken branches,these were very dead and dried out branches with the broken bit on the ground or held up by other fresh branches.

I also discovered leaves displaced along where I had heard the big running from left to right. I could only replicate this by driving my boot heal backwards into the ground hard. These gouges were 1-2 cms wider than the back of my boot heal replica. The stride of the gouges wasn't even, some were 1m apart while another was 30cm. There were 5-6 of them. There was a left and ride side to these gouges. I tried big stomping running with my pack on (about a 15-20kgs pack plus my 95kgs) and I left no visible prints. Besides these gouges at the sandy area I found a possible half foot print but it really was inconclusive.

As I was leaving the next morning (I wasn't going to stay another night as planned lol) I startled some more lyrebirds. They dart off thru the bush hopping away. These sounds were normal and comforting in a way, as they were identifable.
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A few points:

During the initial stalk up/running away I was a little excited thinking it's a yowie encounter.
Then when it revved up it wasn't just a simple observation of unknown behavior anymore. It was a big show of aggression and my excitement was replaced by my own fear/aggression.I also would like to say that at the time I may have told myself it was a yowie not only because my own suspicions think it may have been, but also as something to label it, making the fear at the time seem less as I thought it probably won't hurt me.

When I got home the next day I was pretty much ok.....until it got dark again.Then I locked my doors and felt like my senses were being overloaded. Construction going on 500m's away etc and I was still primed for hearing and what's going on around me. Then I knew I had been more affected by it than I had thought.

Later what contributed to some PTSD was the fact that I don't know what it was, it's seems similar to yowie stories I've read (iv read ALOT more stories since this happened) but I don't really know what it was. This is why I say I had an encounter with an unknown. Also I have taken a great interest in trying to uncover if anyone has actually been hurt by a yowie/unknown. As I wonder how much danger I was in ?
I welcome peoples opinions on investigating alone.

What makes it a clear encounter to me is I've been up there a few times including the week perviously,so there was no seasonal changes and I'm familiar with the area. No animals get up there that I've ever seen. You can see via the links how small the mountain really is.

It's been over 6 weeks since it happened and I'm ready to go out into the bush again. I want to go on investigating this. I had planned a 3 day trip with my younger brother last weekend to MT solitary but I got a cold and didn't go. I do want to buy visual and audio equipment when I get the money.
I may go for one night by myself this wednesday.
I also speculate about how previously I went the week before by myself to the same area, if that may have led to me having an encounter the following week.

In my mind I'm leaning towards this being a yowie based on behavior. I also believe they exist based on the many reports and eye witness's. But I haven't seen one with my own eyes as of yet and seeing is believing.

Hiking will never be the same for me again.

Thanks for reading ladies and gentlemen.

Wow that's quite a read.

Initially after reading this I couldnt understand why you didnt see anything ever in such close proximity, but after spending 30 minutes on google earth, I fully undertsand. I'm thinking that if a yowie exists, the blue mountains area is ground zero.

My second thought were, if you found a position where you could only be approached from one side due to cliffs etc, then you could put a camera off the path to your campsite and try to lure whatever it is to go by there. The next time take some plaster and save a little water just in case you need to cast a track.

This is such an amazing huge expanse, you might camp there 20 more times and still never have another encounter.

Can you use google maps etc and capture a pics with GPS location of exactly where this is? Are you higher up on the mt or down toward the water?


http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=-33.783333,...3333,150.316667

Excellent story.
My adrenaline was up just reading it!
I hope you get the opportunity for further documentation...

hey huntor,awesome story do you have photos of possible evidence etc or video. please keep me updated ok. welcome bigfoot forums. thanks bill

intense huntor!

The PTSD has turned into a great urge to go find out what happened to you. I can totally relate....I've been going back every week since my last encounter. The night I came back from it, I could just SEE THE BIG EYES staring right through me.

so that adrenaline feeling you had....do you think you got it because of a smell, unknown chemical in the air, or from infrasound?

It makes a nice fear response doesnt it? Next time, you'll know what that feeling is like again, and it will help you be more aware of what is around you.

Happy Hunting.

EDITED FOR: to remove material user might already know.

damn it I pressed power off button instead of print screen trying to get a screen shot of location and lost my reply

It was asy to pin point using PDF and google earth though via contour lines(my brother took the 1:25,000 topographical map we used when he moved recently. Another reason why I went on my own):




Your 1st thought: as best I could describe the rock was about ground level, it looks down onto the tree canopy. As I found out led torches dont penatrate very far.
I had this exact one (mine is black) :



and a $2 smaller led torch. The pic one actually had connection problems and several times when I got up to flash around it cut out on me !!!
After the 1st time I had both torches anyway to try for more peatration power. Even at ground level the led torches didnt penatrate very far in the dark.
I think next time I'll get one of these:




That would help me see possible movement thru the tree canopy,and certainly at ground level. I would go to ground level with a partner in hopes of a sighting if things occured again.

Your 2nd though: I have alot of idea's where to place camera's etc. My basic feeling is that it would be unlikley to have another encounter there but it will be the place I go when I do venture out next time (possibly tomorow night).





Thanks,I hope I can see it, but mabey a less intense experiance next time

No evidence.
I have photos of me standing on the lookout of the valley etc. taken by my 2 mp camera phone. I took one photo of the gouges and it turned out s**t. I mean you could see...dug up leaves but the image quality was poor.

I also contemplated taking photos of the broken branches but thought people would just think yeah so what (and of course, anyone could do that and take a photo). From an evidence point of view (not to be rude) but I don't think it would have made a differance to have a photo of the tree.

One thing I will do net time I go and wish I had of then, is take footage (even with my 2mp phone camera, I dont own any other camera). If I did a virtual tour of the area you could really see and understand the story better. I never planned on telling the story so I didnt go evidence gathering, I did evidence hunt for my own conviction as I described.

Wow ! "zapped" indeed.T his makes me feel more normal about it now,thanks. I hadn't heard it described before.

I felt like something was assaulting my senses in some way at the time and tried to describe as best I could without vernturing into a sort of ESP fear induced feeling. It fits exactly with what was happening with the great intensity during the heavy running !

Excellent, you're a little further East than I thought, but it makes sense you would be stalked there. That whole plateau and elevation makes a good lookout point in every direction. It is relatively narrow enough to track anything that comes up the slope (like you) and any animals that do make it up there have no where to go except to run off a cliff. If you miss food on it's way up, you wait for it to come back down. Strategically, I get it. Also if this is a well hiked area, it may just be a curiosity spot for yowie.

Around to either side of this is dense and defensible. There may be some places at the bottoms of those cliffs (middle part south face) where water runs off in rainstorms which would give animals pools to drink from.

The point that you indicate gives you a way to narrow your camera area to less than 180 degree.

I think you should go for it. Will your brother be going with you?

Will you be bringing any fruit etc to hide around as a lure?

Up to castle ruins is well hiked, especially on weekends. MT solitary I've only ever seen 3 people up there doing a 1 day walk. 2 people together and 1 alone on a weekend, the year before. We asked the 2 if they were doing a day walk, but assumed the alone person was as they had the smallest day pack ever .

I'm not sure if I should take my litte brother,he is very keen being 15 to explore the unknown. But I don't think he is old enough to respect or know the dangers that can be associated with it.

This is a water fall, which was mainly what I could hear on my poor audio recording, besides my close to the mic foot steps.



I'll be back later to check this,thank for the reply's all.

EDIT: forgot to add yes I'll be taking food,I wanna establish to this thing I'm not a threat lol.I didn't dawn on until later that I was running around the rock,shinning a torch at it all the time with a kinfe in my hand. Mabey it could see a releftion from it via torch or ambient light etc . something to think about anyway.

Great! Glad I was able to help out a bit. I had the benefit of reading about human fear response a little bit before i suddenly experience it that night.

My "zapped" experience has gotten so bad that I can hear/feel my heart beating in my chest. I just wanted to turn around and go away, my friend said I was mubbling some giberish too...like fearful aggression. The only thing I wanted to do is run, but if you run, they run after you (shadowing)....Almost like escorting you out of the area. My advice would be not to run unless you want to be chased, sadly, if a yowie wants to catch you... it can.

Second that. My asking if you have someone to take was related to you feeling more secure not being totally alone and also having some corroboration when you hear things etc.

Best of luck, be safe!

G'day Huntor,

Pretty much a typical Yowie encounter involving a lone bushwalker! It is common for a Dooligahl to tag along with bushwalkers and the position you described as it followed behind is usual. Suddenly stopping during this process is something that a number of us use to confirm that you have one in tow! Ian and I used this initially but, as you described, they are intelligent animals and unfortunately, they learn quickly! A major problem with solitary bushwalkers is that they tend to become easy targets for any Dooligahl within earshot or say, a few kilometers radius. Having picked one up, it seems that they are certainly very curious and this rapidly turns to intimidation when they realize that you are alone. I guess that they have had at least 40,000 years of Aborigines throwing spears at them and as with many things in nature, solitary individuals are easier than tribal groups and the encounter probably helps to relieve their boredom.

One thing learnt over the years is that you only get a few opportunities (one or maybe two) with a Dooligahl during the initial encounter to do anything like photograph or ambush them etc. As quick learners, they quickly adapt to whatever you present them with. More importantly, during the initial phase, they are actually testing you out! As you probably learnt in the Australian Army, they are probing you. The best defense is a very powerful torch, not LED! A blast from bright light will always repel them and if you have one, you should only use it towards the end if things become too difficult. Next time, you can have some fun by sucking them into a false sense of security.

For North American readers in particular, the Australian bush can not only be extremely difficult but it is also commonly very dense. It is possible to be within a few metres of a Dooligahl and not know it!

I wish that you had taken some photographs of the tree damage. They will still be there next time? It is not a good idea to throw rocks at them. I totally understand but unfortunately they tend to throw much bigger and more harmful rocks back at you. Tree skaking is typical intimidatory behaviour. Did you hear any thumping from them?

Thanks for your report.

Neil

G'day Neil,

Yeah I was very engaged in the probing games before and after the intense bit. The time between the events increased as I let them get closer to try and catch them with my torch. I even had fun with it then, to a degree. A large torch is definitely going with me next time.

One thing I had given alot of thought to after reading your thread and you mentioning now is to wait until I get all the gear I can (cameras etc) before I try again, as you said it will learn to be more cautious after that and I certainly witnessed it use more caution even that night as I described.

The tree's broken branches will probably still be visable,but i'd imagine they will just look older with some having fallen off due to dying and the dead weight pulling it finally off. Im taking a guess here(I may be wrong) if your alluding to the tree bites I've read you describe in your thread and it wasn't like that. It was snapped branches but not pulled off.

As to the rocks that was only at 1st when I wasn't sure if it was just a bird etc. I won't through rocks anymore,sticks and stones and all that, might hurt the creature..............

I didn't hear any thumping.
I did read the story about it carrying off a young aboriginal girl.
Have you heard any reports of them hitting someone with an arm or rock etc in say the last 50 years ?

Thanks for the reply,
Huntor.

One more thing I remembered. One week or so after the event I was re reading your thread and seen the bit about the rock formations.
The week before my encounter I camped at castle ruins the 1st night and when I got there I seen 3 rocks stacked on top of each other. I did think why would someone do that ?
They wern't a seat as a small rock was in the middle. Just thought I'd let you know.
To me its most likley human bordem but it did jolt my memory when I read it.

G’day Huntor,

If you decide to visit this area again, you should not go alone because it is inviting trouble. I remember a priest who similarly did a solitary walk from Wentworth Falls to Mittagong - about 100 kms or more. I am sure that you would be aware of the difficulties of such a walk, particularly through the “Blue Labyrinth”. He picked up a Dooligahl around midday and eventually lost it after camping in a cave during the evening and lighting a fire in the entrance. Not a good idea!

A naive Doooligahl is an opportunity that should not be squandered! You should travel as a minimum group of two. If you really want to get their attention during the day and after you believe that you have one in tow, don’t react! Their intention is to gain your attention and eventually build the level of intimidation. Play dumb! If you haven’t already gained their attention, a fire should be sufficient at your campsite in the evening. Prepare the area around the campsite before sunset. Cotton thread perimeter is a good idea (see early post on technique). Voice activated audio recorders can be left at any time around sunset or even on casual “walks” afterwards. Don’t react easily to any deliberate response because that is their intention. Five or ten million candle power torches are the best defence if things get difficult. Use only as a last resort or if you intend another purpose. Be aware, a bright light of any type, torch or flash from a camera, will have consequences!

Similarly there are reports from highly reputable sources of physical contact. Any interaction is serious business!

Regarding tree damage: I was not referring to tree bites but as you described, the broken branches that are used to indicate their presence. It is not particularly significant, but you never know and I would like to view one or two for comparative purposes.

Thanks again.

Neil

Neil,

thanks for the great advice

I wish I could get a hold of some para flares the army uses. Pop one up into the sky and turn night into day
Would be great for a photo or footage I reckon.

REF trees: I'll get a photo when I end up going back (not sure when now, I doubt I will go by myself). I just wasnt sure if I had described it properly.

cheers,

Huntor

He is like alot of the younger generation as well, not a good runner. So if things went bad I couldn't rely on him to keep up haha.



I reckon it would have no trouble catching us as well. In my case I wasnt going to run up out of the valley with my pack, only to have to climb down the mountain in torchlight being chased, then run the 7 kms back etc

Huntor

Was this your 1st night out in the woods alone ever?

Did you ever hunt alone in the early morning hours?

Did any medical condition cause you to be discharged from the army?

Have you ever fallen asleep while driving?


Thanks,
Drew

Was this your 1st night out in the woods alone ever?

If you had read it you would know I had been to the exact same spot the week earlier, spending 2 nights out alone.

Did you ever hunt alone in the early morning hours?

I dont hunt at all.

Did any medical condition cause you to be discharged from the army?

Nope I just left as I didn't have the time to do it along with a full time job.

Have you ever fallen asleep while driving?

I dont drive

Huntor
During your encounter where did you leave your back pack with the food at? My thought is that they were distracting you away from your back pack to get to it.Not sure why but it seems like like they were trying to lead you away wile one would sneak in.Could this be what they were trying to do .At the time of your hiking did you do any good cooking that could have attracted them to you.Just trying to understand why.There is always a reason behind encounter and it could be either by accident ,on purpose,curosity by the creature,and the availailibilty of food.

It was on the rock 3 m's away. I also had food and water on the ground and in my daypack where I was sitting/standing. They wern't trying to lead me away as both could only go less than 180 degrees of my position becuase of the cliff edge. I did actually cook at around 11pm that night but not prior to that during the day. I never use my gas stove for cooking during walking time (ie: daytime).
The week before I had cooked every night and morning as well.

I have 3 idea's as to why they would be there.

1. Curiosity from seeing me the week before.
2. There was some small back burning going on in the megalong valley. At 1st wasn't sure if it was a contained/small fire but I watched the rate of burning and figured it would be safe to camp the night. This put up some smoke drifting across a few km's (which made for a good sunset photo as well). I have since my encounter read alot of reports coming from the megalong valley. They could have moved away becuase the smoke was bothering them.
3. Accident.

this thread is realy getting intence heated etc... thanks bill

You had been camping once before by yourself for 2 nights, is that correct?

How many years were you in the Army? Did you complete your initial enlistment period?

Is there any legal or governmental roadblock preventing you from driving legally?

What the hell does this have to do with anything at all? I hope people learn to just quite answering your asinine questions.

We should have an official "Pummel Drew with his own Asinine Questions" thread.

You had been camping once before by yourself for 2 nights, is that correct?

Yes.

How many years were you in the Army? Did you complete your initial enlistment period?

I was in for 2 years as a reservist (not full time). We do 45 days basic training. Then one night a week, one weekend a month and a 2 week trip every year.

Is there any legal or governmental roadblock preventing you from driving legally?

No.

As far as questioning my mental health, I think it's not an inherently bad idea at all.

I have some questions for you though:

I'd like to point out that if I was off the wall crazy, why do you think I would have any trouble lying about my mental state over the internet ?

Have you ever fallen asleep while driving ?

Have you ever been diagnosed with a mental health condition ?



I reckon it's a good idea to make sure the person is mentally sound, but how on earth do you do that over the internet ?

Also I don't know Drew's mental state either.

No worries, the rest of us do.

I'm thinking that it really has nothing to do with you as an individual. Your not Jane Goodall nor do you smell like a fruit basket.

We have every indication across the globe that this creature has a large territory and migration. Most animals know that smoke = run like hell. You have something with a tad higher reasoning, then the rational to find high ground and lookout to see what is where and make plans. If stuff is burning in the East, it's time to head West or at least away from the direction the wind is blowing.

I think you were in the right place at the right time and that's probably all that's ever going to come of it. You just happened to be there when they were there.



.

Yeah I agree. I havn't heard of any sightings on MT solitary before. I will go looking in the valley with the back burning (megalong valley) in the future I think. It has the added benifit of being able to drive pretty far into it as well.

I will go back to MT solitary though, because its a great hike and view

You talkin' 'bout me?

""GOOD REPORT HUNTOR""!!! Thanks for sharing it with the rest of us! Your description of the events that took place really painted a great picture. I've been lucky enough to have had some pretty exciting experiences in the past, and as I was reading your story I actually felt my heart start pumping a little harder in rememberance of some of those experiences. "Thank You".
There have been a few times that I've experienced the same exact same kind of running that you described (extremely fast, "VERY HEAVY FOOTED", and always roughly five to seven steps in one short burst), and it "always" scares the hell out of me for a second. And just like the stalking activity, it only seems to happen behind me, somewhere between my 4 and 8 o'clock position. Anyway, some of the events that you described "really hit-home with me".
At any time throughout this experience did you ever feel like the intimidating behavior may have actually been more of a game for them, like they were just having a little fun at your expense?
If you don't mind me saying, if you ever find yourself in a situation like this again try leaving the knife sheathed, and do what you can to try and relax and enjoy the experience a little more. I know, ""it's much easier said than done"", especially when you're in a situation like that, and you're completely alone. By relaxing yourself, you may be able to relax the entire encounter. Rather than throwing rocks, try throwing apples or something edible as a kind of sign of your non-threatening intentions. It might sound stupid, but little things like speaking softly can truly change the entire mood of an encounter.
"""THAT OR OPEN FIRE ON THE BRUSH AND DRAG ONE HOME WITH YOU, lol"""!!!!

Be safe, and have fun out there!

Excellent report Huntor. Very Interesting & detailed. A modest report, in other words, nothing sounds made up or exaggerated. Has the 'ring' of truth to it.

LOL, I just hope you didn't soil your pants, cause I surely would have!

Huntor,

First of all, I am not questioning your mental state.

I am simply trying to determine if you have any number of diagnosable sleep disorders, that can lead to extremely graphic sleep hallucinations, hallucinations which can include sound, smells, and extreme paranoia on the part of the sufferer.

These sleep hallucinations, Especially if the sufferer is not aware of their effects, can have extremely traumatic effects on the sufferer. To the point that the sufferer believes they may be crazy, and are afraid to share their experiences with friends and relatives.

Sometimes people who realize that these sleep or near-sleep hallucinations are a fairly normal occurence in a certain percentage of the population, and that they ARE NOT Mentally ill, their trauma is greatly reduced.

Do you have any idea what kind of Creature Huntor may have encountered?

If so, please provide evidence that they have a large territory, and that they migrate, oh wait, you don't have that information. Hey might as well throw it out there though, at least it sounds like you know what you are talking about.

While you're at it, please show evidence that this creature, that you can Identify, has a 'tad higher reasoning', I mean, if you have evidence of that, then you will probably be convincing a lot of people who otherwise think Bigfoot doesn't exist.

No one has any clew about anything unless they saw it with their own eyes. No one else in this thread can do any more than speculate and if you don't like it, then make yourself a long list of everyone that you want to annoy and get up earlier in the morning to work on it. Most BF sighting are in FORESTS and SWAMPS. (these are large areas where they are reported to live ie:territories so that you don't have to google it) BF sightings are also reported near urban sprawl, where they obviously do not live unless they pay rent, so in as much as they travel back and forth to the forests and swamps, they have a large territory. Either there are a lot more of them than we think, or they tend to get around a lot. There actually IS data that suggests they migrate based on the number of sightings in an area by season, guess you missed that one. I can't prove whether this man experienced a BF any more than I can prove how many times you had the crap beaten out of you growing up for being obnoxious. I would venture a guess as to dozens. Of course I can't prove the number of times, but it's a lessor stretch than believing BF exists.

And where I meant to say IF YOU HAVE A . . . well you only have a few minutes to edit a post, then it's done, so there it is. This is a BF forum where people either have a Class A sighting or see footprints or experience something that brings them here. You've been here since May 2006 and I can't see where you do anything but go thread to thread asking a bunch of dumb-assed questions and dogging people. You should rethink your approach to starting this with me.

As for HUNTOR, you started your diatribe with him before he even posted a report. Instead of playing HOUSE MD trying to let on that your some kinda GD savant, you could just wait for the man to post his report where he clearly states that he has extensive military training. That should pretty much dispel him not knowing if he was sleep deprived or not. Even after he posts the report, you still ask him asinine questions in some cryptic quest to further quantify his experience for him. It's good you're not a real counselor, I can't image the self attrition rate from that. JUST SHUT YOUR HOLE ALREADY.


DREW:

Are you on, or have you ever been on any medications that would prevent you from being obnoxious and making people want you to go away? Can you get those refilled?

Is there anything that prevents you from driving legally in order to see a counselor? How about just leave your moms basement for a while?

Were you abused as a child? How often? Was this due to your inability to shut the hell up? If so, we understand.

Do you feel that asking asinine questions from thread to thread helps you compensate for some deeper need that you have for acceptance?


Now I can keep playing "pin the tail on the retard" all day long, and offend your "mensa" sense of superiority, or you can just go away. You chose.



.

Yikes now THAT would be freaky for sure!!

Nightstalker, why do you feel that telling someone that they saw a Giant Unclassified Hairy monster, for which there is no reliable evidence, is preferrable to trying to establish a real medical explanation for their experience? Are you simply trying to make them feel better? or are you afraid that I may be offering them a real world explanation, and it threatens your Bigfoot Security Zone?

Please try and answer without losing your temper, it's kind of scary when you freak out like you did in the post above.

Night Stalker,

Around here some people do question stories regarding BF. It's not really like other BF sites where every BF story is automatically believed, there are people here who are 100% sure that there is no BF, people that have some belief that BF exists all the way to people who claim to have seen BF.

So, personally I think that diversity helps keep the site as a whole from leaning too far one way or the other...AND if the original poster is not put off by Drew's questions, maybe you shouldn't be?

What have you contributed that is worth anything in regards to actual valid evidence regarding this phenomenon?
The same as everybody else. Absolutely nothing.
Think about that for a while and maybe you and some other hotheads that think you know everything might stop pretending that you have actual facts instead of just wild ass guesses.

If you want to prove me wrong - just post the scientifically valid evidence that you have. The world is waiting.

Huntor-
You might have a good opportunity here for more study and/or evidence, but I think another poster was right when he said you may have been in the right place at the right time.
I think the fires you mentioned are significant.

In my opinion, you need to get back out there as soon as possible. If you can't, then I think your subject(s) will move on to other areas before you get another chance at it.

Good luck, take pics...

moderator hat:

Boy did this go south....

Night Stalker, you have a PM.

Everyone else... carry on


oregonfooter hat:

I agree with Spazmo, you should get out there again as soon as you can. It sounds promising.

I don't think the idea of it being a night terror is valid in this case because the phenomenon started when he was hiking and active. It continued when he got to his destination and he mentions the adrenalin rush he was experiencing. He has a clear statement and recollection of when he fell asleep and woke up. He later had PTSD. Most people don't get PTSD from a nightmare, do they.

I've had a similar experience while hiking of hearing something following in the brush not far away, but never reported it because it is so nebulous. Its a shame there were no footprints or other evidence. I agree that the area looks ripe for further research, look at all that untouched forest! Great place for further research Huntor, and I for one look forward to seeing what else you can come up with! Keep on going, this time with a camera and if you need, a whopping great big light and/or arms!

oh yes, definitely wouldnt be a problem. There is a topic thread in general discussion I believe, that people have commented on BF/Yowies capability for speed, etc. Good read, and good to think about.

In your case it would have been impossible to run it sounds like, thick bush, LED light, and being 7kms away...what is that...a few miles? whew.

Ok thanks for the clarrification. I believe your hearts in the right place but your methods are a little "beat around the bush" so to speak.

Why didn't you just ask me if I had a disorder like that ?

Also I have my own opinions about whether these questions relate to a sleep disorder:



Please be totally clear in your intentions if you expect me to answer any further questions from you (note:you never answered any of my questions either).

#1: yes the inital stalking did in no way feel threatening. I was already testing for intelligence by stoping. Then when I got up to the mountaoin the 1st inital 8 or so stalk and run aways were definitely a game/test and not threatening. I let it get closer each subsequent time and the wait between sneak ups increased. I was testing behaviour responses I had briefly read before. Then it got intense
Then after that, I did say it was more gamish and I felt safer. Clap and response etc was all done with me smiling on the inside it's just that my adrenaline was still up.
#2: I won't be as worried as before and yeah I plan to take food bait/offering.



glad you liked it.

EDIT:May as well fit more replys here.



Having lurked here for 2 months or so I knew this would be the case.(obviously you're in the 1st or 2nd categorey, as you say people who claim to have seen bigfoot rather than people who have seen it, just an observation).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Ok as to people suggesting further research as quick as possible, I could do that but it could only be by myself. I probably will end up going by myself soon.
Also I would have to borrow camcorder from someone. I can borrow a decent slr camera from my g/f. One of the main things I want next time is have binoculars. We used to have fun looking with my brothers spotting scope.

I may go hoping for a sighting only. I like neils advice and dont want to blow my best chance for a photo with sub par equipment and only 1 person meaning only one angle for a photo.

Huntor
I have more questions since you are down under about your encounter with the yowie ?

Did you feel threaten by them in the way ?

At times was there a feeling of dread or did you feel that they were not a threat and being playfull ?

Did it feel like a game with them during the entire encounter?

Seems like you held your ground and that helped in the situtation you were in, my encounter I was scared but I wanted to know if they were real sure enough I did. Seems like Your life has now changed as well with this encounter. Now that time has past you have had time to refleck on what took place in your encounter.

Also any strange feelings upon arriving there at the start of your hike?

If you have answered these questions I apoligize My brain goes dead every so often.

I don't think the 1st sentence is really a question but is has a question mark ? (heh )

Did you feel threaten by them in the way ?

Good question, the threat of possible violence yes. Intimidation yes.
When the moment of threat turns into violence I just act due to training, it never got to that point. During the intimidation phase they didn't come onto the rock (ie: within 6m's). They produced the bodily reaction to fight in me.

In my mind (both instinct and rational) these things said: yes we could go at it in a big way with you.
As you could see the main question I asked of others is has anyone ever been hurt ?
I don't think they wanted to hurt me as such. But should I risk going out by myself again if that was a warning to stay away ?
I'm not sure.......it's one thing to talk about it on the net,but being out there alone knowing its 4 hrs to civilization, plus climbing down a mountain side in the dark being chased etc.....

At times was there a feeling of dread or did you feel that they were not a threat and being playfull ?
Did it feel like a game with them during the entire encounter?

see above my post above for clarification of that ^

Also any strange feelings upon arriving there at the start of your hike?

Nah,I felt good, fit and happy thinking that I was getting another great 3 days alone in wilds

If you have answered these questions I apoligize My brain goes dead every so often.

no worries mate

G'day Huntor,

PM me when you are allowed to. If you would like to borrow some equipment you are welcome. Some of it is currently out on loan but this should be no problem. Might have a chat?

Neil

Hey Neil,

PM sent, thanks for the offer I'll chat more in PM about it.

Huntor.

Don't think you're crazy, as I have said, and I would never know if your lying, just as we don't know if your lying about your sighting. The internet has no lie filter!

Very close!! I've had my wife yell at me a couple times over the years to switch drivers.
http://www.bigfootforums.com/index.php?sho...t=0&start=0
This is a thread/poll, you'll see that approx. 40% of BFF respondents admit to some sort of sleep hallucination while driving.


No.


Again, I'm not trying to determine that.


I won't need to clarify any questions, you have answered them. If you would rather hear questions related to Bigfoot, that is fine. I can see you are not interested in finding a medical explanation.