YEAR: 2000

SEASON: Summer

MONTH: August

STATE: Washington

COUNTY: King County

LOCATION DETAILS: As you drive up to the lake there was a clearing that was surrounded by wooded area on 2 sides of the clearing... it might be parking now or part of a bike trail...

NEAREST TOWN: North Bend

NEAREST ROAD: 436th AVE SE / Cedar Falls Road

OBSERVED: In the Summer of 2000 I took a friend up to Rattlesnake Lake in North Bend, WA. It was a clear night, full moon which makes for a breath taking view of Rattlesnake Ridge. This was before all the development was done so we pulled his truck into a clearing (to the left of the main road as you come up on the lake.) We parked and climbed in the bed of the truck. I would say 15 mins later we heard a rustle in the bushes. When we turned to look there was a very large animal of some sort. It was taller then the average black bear and stood like a man. We litterly sat there froze for a good 2 minutes. It would turn to the left and walk 3-4 large steps, stop and face our direction. A few seconds later it would do the same to the right.

I would say it was a good 40 yards from us and a good 15 yards from the tree line. It stood 7+ feet tall, long arms, covered in what seemed to be dark hair and walked like a human as it paced. It was dark and too far away to see its face. Finally my friend slowly grabed my arm and asked me what the hell that was?! I replied that i had no idea, but it is freaking HUGE! We both jumped out of the bed of the truck throwing his spare tire on top of our blankets and made a mad dash for the cab.

As he drove away I watched out the back window and it just stood there. To this day i wish he has turned a full circle and shined his lights at it so we could have gotten a better look.

I grew up in the Snoqualmie/North Bend area and spent many summer nights a days at that lake and in the woods. My friend was a hunter and in the military. There was no way it was an animal from this area...

I didn't tell anyone about this for years and when i finally did they all laughed at me like I was a nut case. But i know what i saw and i know the fear that i felt. That paralyzing fear and dread...

ALSO NOTICED: It didn't make any sounds that we heard, just the rustling of the bushes as it entered the clearing. But it was definitely observing us and didn't seem to be bothered by us at all.

OTHER WITNESSES: 2 including myself... we were talking while looking at the stars and ridge.

OTHER STORIES: Not until reading some of these today... i finally don't feel crazy. All these years i have doubted what we saw.

TIME AND CONDITIONS: around midnight, clear night, bright full moon

ENVIRONMENT: As said above it was a clearing that was surrounded by woods on 2 sides... there were large bolders bording the clearing along the road.

Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Dave Illig:

I spoke with the witness in great detail regarding her encounter.

Although she didn’t observe the creature emerge from the tree line, she did notice it pacing back and forth several times. She found it particularly interesting how it walked in a very casual and relaxed manner yet still left her and her friend with a very unsettling feeling.

The witness does recall one particular feature regarding the head of the creature. She remembers specifically that there were no ears present as one would see on a bear. She said the head was more round in shape.

After departing the area and trying to understand exactly what it was that they had just witnessed, she did regret not directing the vehicles headlights toward the creature for a better look. Her friend made no attempt to linger around any longer than necessary and upon departing turned the vehicle away from the creature making a complete u-turn and departed the same way he entered.

About BFRO Investigator Dave Illig:

• Dave Illig is a Project Manager for a major aerospace corporation.
• He has attended several BFRO and private expeditions in the US and Canada.
• Is an avid outdoorsman, who is skilled in all-weather camping.
• He is also certified in Swift Water Rescue Operations.
• Target research area: Western Cascades