Geographical Index > United States > Maryland > Washington County > Report # 29330
(Class B)
Submitted by witness on Wednesday, June 1, 2011.
Recollection of possible vocalizations and brush crashing while camping in the Lil-Aaron Straus Wilderness Area
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YEAR: 1989
SEASON: Spring MONTH: May DATE: 5/15/1989 STATE: Maryland COUNTY: Washington County LOCATION DETAILS: We returned to the site the following year and found the cemetery. Our camp was about 100 yards away. I would need to look at the map again to verify the exact location. NEAREST TOWN: Hancock Maryland NEAREST ROAD: I-68 or local roads through the area OBSERVED: Myself and 2 good friends were camping in the Lill Aaron Strauss Wilderness area of Green Ridge State Park in Allegheny County Maryland. We were all in our late teens but very experienced campers and very comfortable in the woods. On the 2nd night of our trip we made camp in a low area several miles off the trails near where our topographic map showed a Civil War cemetery was located, though we were unable to find the site.
After dinner we sat around the fire as the darkness grew and we all began to feel a bit spooked, as if we were being watched, so we let the fire burn itself out and bedded down. Early the next morning I awoke to a loud wailing which I can only describe as a cross between a lion roar and a screech owl. The noise happened several times and it was very close. At the same time we heard something crashing through the vegetation nearby and what sounded like thick branches cracking and heavy thuds as if large logs or rocks were impacting the forest floor.
My friend Bryan and I were sleeping in hammocks over which we had suspended rain ponchos. The ponchos were fastened to the hammocks so we would need to untie them in order to get out and we could not see out either. I whispered to Bryan "what was that?". He whispered back "I don't know". That was all we said. I was scared out of my mind and did not dare even move my head to try to see anything as I didn't want to draw attention to myself. I was able to look at my watch and determine it was just after 5am. At that moment I resigned myself to my fate, figuring that if something out there wanted me I would have no chance. I made my peace and waited, eventually drifting back off to sleep. Bryan did not sleep at all after the episode and our 3rd friend, Tom, somehow slept through the whole thing.
We rose around 6am and broke camp. We looked around for signs of anything unusual but could find nothing. OTHER WITNESSES: 2. We were sleeping and the noise woke us up. OTHER STORIES: Unsure. TIME AND CONDITIONS: Early AM, just before sunrise. Dark but clear and and damp. We had heavy thunderstorms the previous night but the days were clear and warm. ENVIRONMENT: Low narrow valley with rugged mountains on either side. Pine, fir type trees and low ground cover. There was a small creek nearby and some areas were swampy.
Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator D.K.:
After speaking with the Mr. K. over the phone I can add the following details to his report:
-The loud vocalizations originated 30 to 40 yards outside of their camp
-Four to five vocalizations were made in rapid succession.
-Each vocalization lasted three to five seconds, began as a low, growling note and quickly ascended to a loud, high pitched screech.
-Immediately after the vocals ceased, loud sounds of branches breaking and brush thrashing erupted from the same vicinity as the vocals.
-The brush and branch thrashing went on for four to five minutes and ceased.
-Mr. K. was able to sleep for a brief time after the incident, but his friend Bryan remained awake.
-Awakening a short time later, at dawn, the group packed up camp and left with no further incident.
Mr. K. described the areas as off-trail and rarely visited by humans. It was deep within a reservist training area and there were no foot paths leading to the remote location they chose for a camp. While camping, they ate well, and cooked foods over their fire such as chicken. A nearby marshy area was noted to have a large population of box turtles, attesting to the relative availability of resources in the area.
Mr. K. returned to the area a year later and located the cemetery his group had original been searching for, but there were no further incidents on their return trip.
About BFRO Investigator D.K.:
D.K. is a business executive with an MS in Systems Engineering. Formerly a linguistic analyst, he applies his knowledge to the collection and study of sasquatch vocals and communication patterns. BFRO expeditions attended: Tennessee 2010, Pennsylvania 2011, Ohio 2012, West Virginia 2012 & West Virginia 2013
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