YEAR: 2009

SEASON: Summer

MONTH: August

DATE: 25

STATE: Oregon

COUNTY: Clackamas County

LOCATION DETAILS: Our campsite was on a dead-end dirt road deep into [edited at request]. It is a campsite we visit several times throughout the year. It is very secluded and quiet. There are blueberries, huckle berries, blackberries, raspberries, dandelion, milk thistle, salmon berries, miner's lettuce, and countless other varieties of wild edibles in abundance as well as rabbits and deer roaming through camp.

NEAREST TOWN: Estacada

NEAREST ROAD: [omitted]

OBSERVED: My boyfriend and I were hanging out around our campfire when the most unusual terrifying sound filled the air around us close to or just after 1100 PM. It was difficult to tell what direction it was comeing from, it seemed to surround us. It was a high-pitched screaming sound with whoops, reminicent to a siren and it was fairly continuous. It sounded otherworldly and struck fear into us instantly. We froze in terror and listened for about 30 seconds as the screaming whoops got louder and closer-sounding. Then we ran to the truck and honked the horn like crazy. The sounds continued and we sat listening for a good ten minutes as the sounds continued but seemed to move further away. We exited the truck and tore down camp immediately, pausing every few minutes to monitor the distance of the sounds, jumping into the truck for a minute or so again when the sounds would get close, honking the horn occasionally for good measure. We pulled out of camp at 1145 PM. On the drive down the hill we spotted a deer crossing the road. When we got home exhasted as we were we got right on the computer and googled coyote calls to compare to what we heard. Nothing quite fit, the closest we got was to audio of a whole pack of coyotes hunting and vocalizing. This morning, unsatisfied and curious I googles "screams in the woods" and found your site. When I listened to the 1978 recording in Washington of whooping screams I felt like I was right back in camp. THAT is what I heard EXACTLY!

ALSO NOTICED: Earlier in the day we were driving our truck down the road a bit to gather downed wood for the fire. On the way back to camp we noticed a dark pile of something in the middle of the road that wasn't there 10 minutes before. It was purple-black and upon closer inspection obviously consisted of minimally digested blackberries. Our best guess at the time was maybe a small bear had come through...

OTHER WITNESSES: Two adults, one male, one female. We were sitting by the campfire talking, and occasionally walking around the fire. Our two children were asleep in our truck. About 20 minutes prior to the event we were goofing off and making whooping sounds to hear the echoes.

OTHER STORIES: no

TIME AND CONDITIONS: It was between 1100 and 1145 pm, clear skies, stars visible, minimal to no wind, our large campfire was down to bright coals and minimal flames, our double mantle coleman propane latern was lit.

ENVIRONMENT: Pine forest with thick berry growth and wildflowers, nearby ridges across the road, a gully on other side of camp through some trails.

Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Kristi Sanders:

For the other camper's perspective, see report 26497.

In addition to the report, the following details can be noted:

"I was struck by the length and fairly continuous duration. It had no pauses for breath. All I could think was that we were surrounded by the loud sounds and echoes."

"Throughout the day we were walking around the campsite, pulling dead underbrush for firewood. Up the road we saw fresh bear scat. It’s an abandoned logging road. Upon examination, it looked like berries, and was fresh and moist, so we'd better get back to camp. We adjusted our camp in case we had to vacate the tent to avoid a bear. We also made noises, being silly, to not attract any bear, but warn them away."

"We listened in shock for 30 seconds to the big scream, and that’s when we jumped into truck, honked the horn, and turned the lights on. It seemed like we listened for ten minutes, but it might have been as little as five minutes. Time is weird when you are scared like that."

"I have seen a few television documentaries, so I knew that [sasquatches] could be out there, but I never thought or worried about it. Now, I want to know what this was."

About BFRO Investigator Kristi Sanders:

Kristi Sanders, a twice-qualified National NPC bodybuilder, personal trainer, gym owner, and business CE lecturer, was raised in a hunting and fishing family. When Kristi is not working, she is camping with her daughter (rain or shine) and exploring the Pacific NW to pass on her love of the outdoors to the next generation. Kristi attended the 2009 WA Cascades Expedition.

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