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Geographical Index > Canada > British Columbia > Report # 9069
 
Report # 9069  (Class B)
Submitted by witness on Thursday, July 29, 2004.
Possible approaches to a boat ramp on Kootenay Lake

YEAR: 1998-2004

SEASON: Summer

MONTH: July

DATE: all

PROVINCE: British Columbia

COUNTRY: Canada

LOCATION DETAILS: West side of Kootenay Lake
north of Ainsworth Hotsprings

NEAREST TOWN: ainsworth hotsprings

NEAREST ROAD: highway 31

OBSERVED:

I have been vacationing on the Kootenay Lake for many years at a camp ground called Woodbury Resort. The resort is located 2 miles north of Ainsworth Hotsprings.

For the past 5 or 6 years when camping there I have slept on our boat which is located in slip number 1 in the marina. It is directly beside the boathouse and gas dock and no more that 15 feet from the metal ramp leading from shore to the marina.

Because of the location, I can see and hear everyone that comes and goes from the dock and after many hours spent sitting on the boat in that location, I know the sound of people approaching on the dock and from shore and that is why I am writing this to you.

When sleeping on the boat I have a tendancy to wake at every stupid noise of someone around on the dock, but what started to get my attention was someone or some thing entering the marina late at night usually after 12 but before 3.

What was unusual about this was first the time spent on the ramp to the marina was too short. This ramp is about 35 to 40 feet long and 4 feet wide and has hand rails that are coming loose off the base, so it makes a heck of a noise as you walk down it with every step, no mater how light you are.

Whatever was coming down at that time was only taking about 8 steps, which means a stride of about 5 feet which is very large.

The ramp goes down to a dock which is built to support the boat house. I have never seen any person sink it lower in the water. When this subject comes onto the dock you can feel the wave from the dock been pushed deeper. It rocks my boat. I weigh 245 and I cannot make the dock sink like that.

When it moves from the boathouse dock to the stretch my boat is on, you can hear it walking the length to the next section ( the marina is sorta c shaped with about 10 slips on my length and 50 on the one across from me ) and this thing does it remarkably quick, but not at a fast pace. You can hear the steps and they are spread far apart.

TIME AND CONDITIONS: Summer. Warm days and slightly warm evenings


Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Blaine McMillan :

I spoke to the witness and he added the following.

The witness had vacationed at this location for several years in a row, and every year he would hear the same heavy bipedal steps on the dock at least once during his holiday.

There is often a bucket of fish guts and offal near the boathouse at end of the dock. This bucket has been found emptied on the dock after the late night visitor has been heard.

He says he has heard sounds like whoops and vocalizations as well.

Again, this dock is at a place called the Woodbury Resort, on the west side of Kootenay Lake, British Columbia, north of Ainsworth Hotsprings. The activity has happened consistently in mid-July.


About BFRO Investigator Blaine McMillan :