YEAR: 2001

SEASON: Winter

MONTH: March

DATE: 03/04/01

STATE: Washington

COUNTY: Skamania County

LOCATION DETAILS: The Swift Creek climbing route on Mt. St. Helens from Marble Mountain Sno-Park at approximately 4,000 ft. elevation.

NEAREST TOWN: Cougar, Washington

NEAREST ROAD: road 8312

OBSERVED: On Sunday, March 4, 2001, six friends and I attempted a climb of Mt. St. Helens via the Swift Creek route from the Marble Mountain Sno-Park. At approximately 7:30 a.m. at 4,000 ft. elevation, we heard a scream from the ridge just to the east of the one we were climbing, about 100 yards away. The wind was blowing hard from the east, which helped to carry the sound. We all stopped, looked, and called to each other "did you hear that?" "what WAS that?" It did not sound human, so none of us thought it was a call for help. The ridge was not part of the climbing route and access to it required a steep downclimb then up steeply. And since visibility was excellent, so there was no plausable reason for anyone to be over there. It was not an elk or coyote, and did not sound like a dog. The ridge was snow covered with just a few small trees and rocks poking through. I looked closely for signs for movement, but saw none. I told my friends half-jokingly, maybe it was Bigfoot! They laughed, but I wondered.

I listened to the Bigfoot Scream 1978 Snohomish recording and yes, indeed, it sounded exactly like that! The difference is that we heard only one scream, not a series of consecutive screams. Based on that recording, I believe that what my friends and I heard on Mt. St. Helens was Bigfoot.

ALSO NOTICED: Nothing else unusual.

OTHER WITNESSES: Total of 7 people (including me) heard the scream. We were attempting a climb of the mountain.

OTHER STORIES: Nothing like this, although I know that others have claimed sighting in the Washington Cascades.

TIME AND CONDITIONS: Approximately 7:30 a.m.
Very strong wind coming from the same direction as the scream; clouds, however still excellent visibility.

ENVIRONMENT: The ridge east of the Swift Creek climbing route. It is not far from the Worm Flows on Mt. St. Helens.

Follow-up investigation report:

I interviewed the witness extensively on March 6, 2001. She is a life long resident of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest area, and has experience in encountering several different species of native wildlife. I inquired as to whether or not the witness had ever heard a cougar scream, and she responded that she was quite familiar with that particular vocalization, as she'd had a close experience with a screaming cougar some years back.

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