YEAR: 1977

SEASON: Summer

MONTH: August

STATE: California

COUNTY: Trinity County

NEAREST TOWN: Hayfork/Hyampom

NEAREST ROAD: Hayfork/Hyampom road

OBSERVED: I and my former wife encountered three unusual events in a two year period, twice on horseback. The first was a series of foot prints ( one very clear that we photographed), on a trail near the Bar-717 ranch east of Hyampom.It was about 17 inch. long and 7 inch. wide. Next was a sound heard at night when we worked for the Manzanita ranch west of Hyampom at about 11:30 at night. It woke us up and was an incredibly loud screaming that is hard to discribe. Never heard such a vocalization before or since.

(Third is detailed in another report.)

OTHER WITNESSES: Two people, my former wife and my friend .We were riding to put up the horses.

OTHER STORIES: The town dump is very near and bears frequent the area but this was no bear. The next day we went back to te location and did notice that the dry grass flattened where it stood.

TIME AND CONDITIONS: It was bright enough from the stars and the lights from the fairgrounds to see pretty good, but I never saw a face it was just black.

ENVIRONMENT: Coastal mt. range of Ca. mixed to heavy conifer forest. Steep canyons very rugged near confluence of Hayfork and Trinity rivers.