YEAR: 1985

SEASON: Summer

MONTH: July

DATE: Don't know

STATE: Washington

COUNTY: Skamania County

LOCATION DETAILS: I really don't know. My friend used to be the Ranger there many years ago. He drove & I didn't pay any attention to how we got there. Since it's an established campground it shouldn't be hard to locate.

NEAREST TOWN: Trout Lake WA

NEAREST ROAD: Forest Road 88

OBSERVED: In late June or early July of 1985 I was camping at Cultus Creek Campground in WA with my significant other, my 12 yr. old son, and our Queensland Blue-Heeler "Panda". It was our second day there, and we were having a great time because there was no one else in the campground. This campground is on the edge of Indian Heaven, near large huckleberry fields. We had been doing extensive hiking when Panda suddenly appeared to become ill. She clearly didn't want to continue the hike. The only thing I could think of was that maybe she had "altitude sickness", so I told my family that I would take her back to camp so she could rest. The dog stayed glued to my side all the way back to camp, and even after we got there. I noticed "rustling" in the brush as we were hiking back down, but gave it no thought as I've done alot of camping and feel quite comfortable in the outdoors. Late that night (actually early the next AM) Panda began barking and yelping and digging frantically at the door to the tent (which was zipped shut). Obviously we all woke up. By that time there was complete silence outside. I said to my friend that I wanted to let her in the tent, but he said "No, it's probably only a deer." As soon as I spoke we could hear heavy "2-footed" footsteps running away. Nothing more occurred that night, or the rest of the 2 weeks we camped there. I have always been interested in Bigfoot (for the past 50 yrs), but I never associated this incident with them. Until I began reading reports on the 'net I didn't know this was an area where they had been sighted. I don't recall hearing any screams or banging on trees while we were there. The only odd thing was that the next day we walked all throughout the campground and we were still the only people there! We were located in the last site in the campground, right by the creek. I didn't think of looking for any kind of footprints or anything, so this isn't really much of a "report". Just an unusual experience I suppose.

ALSO NOTICED: I didn't notice any smell, or anything like that. No noises except the loud running footsteps. I realize this could easily have been a human being, but there was no one else in the campground, and since we were all awake for awhile afterward I think we would have heard a vehicle start up if there was one. But perhaps not. The dog was not afraid of people. And she was NOT friendly to strangers. I can't imagine her being so frightened if it was just a human being in our camp. More likely she would have nailed him!

OTHER WITNESSES: My son & my friend were there when it occurred. After the sound of the footsteps faded my son called from his tent "Mom? Is everything OK? What's going on?" I don't think either of them believes Bigfoot is a real animal, however.

OTHER STORIES: Just what I've read on the internet. My friend says this campground is called "The Gateway to Indian Heaven."

TIME AND CONDITIONS: The weather was warm & sunny & beautiful. But this occurred during the night & I was in the tent with the door zipped shut. I don't know the phase of the moon at the time.

ENVIRONMENT: We were in the creek bottom, right beside the creek. I can't visualize the trees anymore, but I suppose it was mostly fir. There was heavy brush. We were hiking on the ridge. I think my friend said it was the beginning of (or at least part of) the Pacific Ridge Trail.