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The Hillside Encounter in the Valley

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Category: Uncategorised
Published: Thursday, 16 July 2026 11:06
Written by Super User
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This encounter went down just over the ridge from the historic Baker’s Dozen sighting. We were running a night expedition into the valley, planning to drop a listening post roughly a mile deep into the timber.
 
Our listening rock was a huge slab resting right in the creek bed, offering a dry perch above the water. ElectricBigfoot, Squatchfinder, No Mercy, Splatter, and I crossed the creek and started our trek in. We weren't even a half-mile along before heavy footsteps began paralleling us on the opposite bank—matching our cadence step for step, pausing when we paused. It was moving significant weight, snapping deadfall that echoed straight across the ravine.
 
We reached the boulder and went dark. Whatever had been shadowing us had pushed past our position, so we sat silent, listening into the black. Half an hour later, water churned hard in the creek just south of us. ElectricBigfoot and I hit our lights. The splashing cut off immediately. I panned my beam along the far bank as did ElectricBigfoot, and right as the light swept level with our rock, two reflective eyes lit up in the brush.
 
The creature spun and bounded up the ridge.
 
Instinct took over. I waded the creek in pursuit while the guys stayed anchored to the rock. Partway up the incline, common sense kicked in—I was charging uphill into pitch darkness with empty hands. I spun around and yelled down for No Mercy to run me the bear spray. He hustled over, shoved the canister in my hand, and turned right back around.
 
“You coming up with me?” I asked.
 
“Hell no.”
 
I continued up the ridge alone, keeping the flashlight beam working in a tight front arc. I wanted eyes on him, not an ambush.
 
I crested onto a level bench and swept the clearing. On my first pass, something felt off near the far tree line—a thick, mounded shadow against the trunks. I swung the light away and brought it right back. The moment the beam caught it, the shadow unfolded and stood upright. The creature had been hunkered down tight, masquerading as a low deadfall bush.
 
It turned square to me, throwing a cold look that read loud and clear: Don't push your luck.
 
That was the instant reality set in. Forcing a confrontation up here was suicide. I immediately dipped the beam down to its feet so as not to challenge it with direct eye contact. It paused, turned, and disappeared over the crest into the black timber.
 
I didn't turn my back. I backed down that hillside one careful step at a time until my boots hit the creek gravel.
 
(AI Image for visual representation)