YEAR: 1993

SEASON: Summer

MONTH: August

DATE: 13

STATE: California

COUNTY: Tuolumne County

NEAREST TOWN: Above Kennedy Meadows

NEAREST ROAD: HWY 108

OBSERVED: My friends picked me up from work and asked me to go camping with them. We drove all the way up to the top of the Sonora pass about a mile or so past the Kennedy Meadows area we pulled off the road toward the left. We drove down about 200 yards into a flat area between two mountains and set up camp. We got there about 6:30pm. We were there for about an hour and a half. To be more specific of the time, it was just beginning to get dark or dusky. We had already scouted out the area and had just returned to the camp when all five of us heard a very loud crashing noise. At first I thought it was a tree falling but then I immediately saw a fast moving object running down the ravine which was about fifty yards away from our camp. I then thought it must be a deer but then is when I saw it at it's closest position to me running in an upright position across the large granite rocks that lay in the ravine. My judgment was very clear at the time of the sighting and so what I think it was is a very intelligent creature with tremendous speed and strength running like a man and covered in dark hair from head to toe. Lying across ways of the ravine were many fallen trees and so this creature was breaking the branches of these trees while running as fast as a deer would be seen running. Which means it was inhumanly fast but very humanly in character.

OTHER WITNESSES: Four others were so scared and not at all familiar with the high country. I was raised backpacking my whole life

OTHER STORIES: Yes

TIME AND CONDITIONS: Between 7pm and 8pm Or right at dusk.

Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Brandon Kiel:

The sighting occurred just before dusk, visibility was not the best but the witness states that he could still see fairly well. The witness was 16 years-old at the time and was out camping with a group of friends and an adult supervisor.

They were camping in an area that was roughly at 9,000ft overlooking a ravine strewn with granite boulders and dead tree debris. They were about 150ft above the ravine.

Everyone in the group heard the animal as it began moving through the ravine. They heard rocks being overturned, tree limbs being snapped off and smashed. Out of curiosity the witness moved closer to the sound while everyone else retreated to their tents out of fear. At his closest point, the witness says he was no more than 100ft away from the animal.

He describes seeing the animal only in silhouette but that it was upright and traversing the ravine very easily and smoothly. He got the distinct feeling that it wanted them to know it was there...that it was intimidating them to some degree. He states with great emphasis that though he only saw the animal in silhouette, it was not a monkey suit as the anatomical elements of the animal were clear. He says it was about 8ft tall and very thickly built.

There were no other incidents during their stay at the campsite.

About BFRO Investigator Brandon Kiel:

Brandon Kiel is a professional photographer and naturalist living in the Bay Area.

He was the chief coordinator of Northern California Expeditions for 7 years and has planned/attended more than 20 expeditions throughout the US.