YEAR: 2001

SEASON: Summer

MONTH: September

DATE: 06

STATE: California

COUNTY: Tulare County

LOCATION DETAILS: It was in the South Fork Meadows area in southern Sequoia National Park near the border of the Golden Trout Wilderness area. The specific backcountry campsite is in the Hockett plateau area at about 8,500 feet elevation.

NEAREST TOWN: Three Rivers, CA

NEAREST ROAD: None. it was 15 miles in the backcountry forest. 15 miles from Balch Park Campground.

OBSERVED: I was camping in the backcountry of Sequoia National Park. Just after sunset, I heard numerous repeated screams. They were not human and I have never heard an animal that made that sound. I have been camping and backpacking in those woods for 20 years and I have never heard anything like that. It sounded almost identical to some supposed bigfoot screams that have been recorded over the years. It sounded like a combination of a man yelling, a woman screaming and a dinosaur roaring all wrapped into one sound. It went on for maybe 30 seconds and abruptly ended. It was a very unnerving noise.

ALSO NOTICED: About 15 minutes after I heard the screams, I began to hear coyotes barking. That's not unusual, I've heard them before, but I thought it strange that anything would want to make it's presence known after that frightening noise.

OTHER WITNESSES: One. I was camping alone. I was preparing to cook my dinner.

OTHER STORIES: No, not to my knowledge.

TIME AND CONDITIONS: absolutely clear and windless. Just after sunset. Almost dark.

ENVIRONMENT: It is a very thick lodgepole pine forest area on a large mountain plateau in the Sierra Nevada range. The plateau itself is a lush area with numerous meadows and streams and a great deal of wildlife including Bear, Deer, Martins, Marmots, Mountain lions, Coyotes etc...

Follow-up investigation report:

I talked with the witness by phone. The following details can be added to the report:
--The witness has been hiking in the area for the previous 6 to 7 years.
--The scream occurred on the second night of an 11 day trip. Witness reported the screams to the BFRO the day he got back home.
--Each individual scream lasted 4-5 seconds, with a total of 7 to 10 screams. The screams where back to back, with virtually no pause between them.
--Couldn't tell the distance of the screamer, but could tell that the animal making the noise was large due to the volume.
--Witness stayed alert and aware the rest of the night, but nothing else happened that night nor the rest of the trip.