YEAR: 2009

SEASON: Summer

MONTH: July

DATE: 11

STATE: Utah

COUNTY: Duchesne County

NEAREST TOWN: Uinta Mountains near Kamas

OBSERVED: I was backpacking with my brother and four nephews at Granddaddy Lake. We were setting up camp, and my brother and I went off to find a tree to hang our food on. We were getting closer to a group of boy scouts we had been hearing while setting up camp. My brother was looking into the trees and I glanced over towards where the scouts were, when I saw something with long white/blond hair was staring into their camp. It must have been startled by our presence because it took off running extremely fast toward the marsh area. I remember very vividly the hair bouncing as it took long strides. The lack of noise that it made along with the speed startled me to the point that I unbuckled my gun holster, concerned for our safety. My brother didn't see what I did because he was too concerned with why I was going for my gun. From the way it was running I could tell it was on two legs, although I couldn't see below the shoulders due to the vegetation in the area. I would estimate the height about 6ft. The odd thing for me is that I didn't go over to the location to look for prints, although it was standing in a very wet area. It was bothering me badly to the point that we went over to the scout’s camp and asked if anyone in their party had blond or white hair. None of the scouts had blond or white hair. Everyone in my party told me I was crazy, but later I found out it was because they were scared and didn't want to think about it.

ALSO NOTICED: didn't smell anything that I can recall.

OTHER WITNESSES: I was the only person who saw it

TIME AND CONDITIONS: 3:00PM, sunny clear day

ENVIRONMENT: Wet, Marshy

Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Todd Strong:

I talked with the witness and I am familar with this location and have camped there several times myself. The area is a popular backpacking location for Boy Scouts and others because of the numerous lakes and the sheer size of the basin. It is very remote and wild with an elevation over 9000 feet with an abundance of deer, elk and moose.

The witness is an experienced outdoorsman and familiar with the Uintas. When he saw the animal it was standing in a marshy area with reeds growing as high as the animal's shoulders. He saw it from behind as it watched a group of young scouts, maybe even Cub Scouts, camping. The animal then realized he was approaching and it ran away into thicker timber that is abundant in the area.

It didn't run like a human. The witness described the run as completely silent with very long strides that were smooth but leaping between each step. He thought this might have been because of the marshy terrain. It had very long, light colored hair that flowed from its head and shoulders and every time it landed on one of its strides the hair would fly up wildly. It looked much bigger than a human and he felt a person could not have matched the speed or stride of the animal. The witness did not see its face, smell any odors or hear any vocalizations.

The witness then went and talked to the adults in the camp and asked if they had anyone with them that had long blonde or white hair, which they didn't.

About BFRO Investigator Todd Strong:

Todd Strong has a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration and is self-employed.
He is a Certified Visual Tracker; Level 1.
Todd has been an avid outdoorsman since childhood. Attended the following BFRO expeditions:
Utah 2007, Northern California Spring 2008, Olympic Peninsula Washington 2008, Northern California Spring 2009, Northern California Fall 2009, Wyoming 2010, Olympic Peninsula Washington 2011.
Todd was the Expedition Organizer for the Utah 2010 expedition and is organizing the Utah 2012 expedition.