Backwoods Horror Stories

In this episode, we explore one of the most disturbing and unforgettable stories ever told on Coast to Coast AM. A man calling himself “Bugs” phoned in with a confession that sounded more like a campfire ghost story—except he claimed it really happened.Back in the early 1970s, Bugs and a fellow hunter were out spotlighting illegally in the dense woods of Texas when they spotted what they first thought were bears.But as the figures stepped into the light, it became clear they were looking at something else entirely: two tall, broad-shouldered creatures walking upright, covered in hair, with faces that looked eerily human. Without hesitation, the men opened fire.According to Bugs, they dragged the bodies away and buried them in a shallow grave—then vowed never to speak of it again. But decades later, the memory was still eating at him.He called in not for fame, but out of guilt, fear, and the need to unload a secret he'd carried for most of his life.We revisit the full account: the setting, the killing, the horrifying realization that these might not have been animals at all—and the eerie calm in Bugs' voice as he recounts it. Along the way, we'll look at how this story fits into the broader world of Bigfoot lore, the culture of poaching in that era, and the strange intersection of trauma and the paranormal.It's a tale that raises uncomfortable questions about what we believe, what we suppress, and how far people go to bury the truth.If you've ever wondered what it would really feel like to kill a legend, this is the story that makes you think twice.

For years, mainstream researchers insisted Sasquatch existed—if at all—only in the Pacific Northwest. But the witnesses in this episode know better. From Georgia's Blue Ridge to the Florida swamps, these firsthand encounters, spanning over fifty years, reveal a hidden population thriving in the American South.Tonight, you'll hear stories of a hunter who faced down an eight-foot creature shaking his tree stand, a ginseng picker who stumbled into a remote valley where intelligent beings debated his fate, and a solo hiker systematically stalked through the Appalachian wilderness.You'll also hear the chilling account of a veteran Florida sheriff's deputy who, after years of dealing with gators and fugitives, came face-to-face with a massive creature emerging from the cypress swamp, making it clear who really owned the land.Then, a Kentucky poacher finds himself hunted by towering predators, and an Alabama homesteader forms an unlikely, year-long bond with something not entirely human. These aren't blurry-photo stories or secondhand rumors.These are raw, detailed accounts from people who came far too close to something impossible.Join Mireya's Explorer Society Get Our FREE NewsletterGet Brian's Books Leave Us A VoicemailVisit Our WebsiteSupport Our SponsorsVisit Untold Radio AM

These aren't your typical Bigfoot stories.No grainy photos. No stomping footprints. No overpowering stench.These five encounters go deeper—into something far more unsettling: the intelligence behind the presence.Jake was driving home from the paper mill when his headlights caught a figure by the roadside. It didn't flinch. Didn't even look his way. It stood there, still and distant, like it belonged—and Jake didn't.At a remote campsite, Sarah and her friends joked and laughed until something in the woods began echoing them with eerie precision.Each response came with a ten-second delay, as if it were learning—processing—before answering back.Dorothy had been feeding birds outside her kitchen for years. Then one night, something much larger than a raccoon started emptying her feeders. The moment she locked eyes with it through the window, she knew: it wasn't just scavenging. It was curious. Watching. Thinking.Dave had hunted the same woods for decades. He knew the terrain like his own backyard—until he realized something was retracing his exact path, studying his scent trails and tree marks like it was collecting clues.And then there's Maria. Her midnight guest didn't roar or threaten. It organized the tools on her porch, arranging them with a care that felt deliberate, almost helpful. It was as if it wanted to communicate—on its own terms.These aren't stories of fear—they're stories of awareness.Moments where people realized they weren't alone.Moments where the watcher became the watched.Get Our FREE NewsletterGet Brian's Books Leave Us A VoicemailVisit Our WebsiteSupport Our SponsorsVisit Untold Radio AM

What if the monsters from your worst nightmares were real? What if there was an entire hidden war being fought in America's wilderness areas that the government will never acknowledge? Tonight's episode features an extraordinary firsthand account from someone calling himself  "Marcus" - a soldier who claims to be part of an elite military unit that doesn't officially exist. According to Marcus, his team handles the situations that are too dangerous, too weird, or too embarrassing for regular military and law enforcement to touch.In this chilling email confession sent exclusively to our show, Marcus details his unit's encounters with creatures that challenge everything we think we know about what's really out there. From massive, intelligent Sasquatch that hunt humans like prey, to crashed UFOs containing beings conducting horrific experiments on abducted Americans, to savage feral human communities that have abandoned all traces of civilization.Marcus describes battles with cryptid creatures in underground cave systems, government cover-ups of alien technology recovery operations, and organized groups of feral people who view other humans as nothing more than food sources. According to his account, these aren't isolated incidents - they're part of an ongoing shadow conflict that most Americans have no idea is happening in the forests and wilderness areas around them.Whether you believe Marcus's claims or not, his detailed descriptions of tactical operations, government protocols, and creature encounters paint a disturbing picture of a hidden world existing alongside our own. His military background comes through in every line, from his operational terminology to his matter-of-fact descriptions of extreme violence.WARNING: This episode contains extremely graphic descriptions of violence, death, cannibalism, and torture that may be disturbing to some listeners. The content includes detailed accounts of human and animal mutilation, psychological trauma, and systematic predation that some may find deeply unsettling.This episode is not suitable for younger audiences or those sensitive to graphic violence and horror themes.Listener discretion is strongly advised.

Welcome to a spine-chilling collection of ten real paranormal encounters that will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about reality. Tonight's episode features firsthand accounts from ordinary people who found themselves face-to-face with the extraordinary, from the dense forests of the Pacific Northwest to the historic streets of Salem, Massachusetts.Our journey begins in Washington State where a solo hiker encountered something with burning red eyes that stalked him through the wilderness and followed him home to the city.We then travel to Vermont where a woman inheriting her grandmother's house discovered that warnings about an unwanted basement tenant were terrifyingly literal. The collection continues with a wildlife photographer's shocking Bigfoot encounter in Olympic National Forest, complete with physical evidence that defies explanation.From the woods to the skies, we explore a New York farm family's close encounter with a massive triangular craft that left lasting effects on their property and animals. In Michigan, a power company lineman's routine repair job turned into a nightmare when he came face-to-face with something that walked upright but definitely wasn't human. A romantic anniversary getaway at a North Carolina hotel becomes a sleepless night of terror when the past refuses to stay buried in room 237.The highways prove no safer as a long-haul trucker encounters the same mysterious hitchhiker multiple times across impossible distances on Interstate 40 in Tennessee. In Salem, a teacher and his wife discover that some doors in old houses should never be opened, especially when they lead to chambers with dark histories. A New Mexico research expedition takes a disturbing turn when strange radio signals trigger episodes of missing time and impossible knowledge.Our final tale brings us to the Colorado Rockies where a family camping trip at Mirror Lake becomes an encounter with otherworldly intelligence that forever changes everyone involved.Each story arrives as a desperate letter or email to paranormal investigators, shared by people who have nowhere else to turn and need the world to know they're not losing their minds.These aren't urban legends or campfire stories passed down through generations. These are fresh accounts from our modern world, proving that the paranormal walks among us every day, waiting for the right moment to reveal itself to unsuspecting witnesses.From cryptids to UFOs, from malevolent spirits to interdimensional contact, tonight's collection covers the full spectrum of unexplained phenomena reported across America.Dim the lights and prepare yourself for ten tales that will make you look over your shoulder and question what might be watching you from the shadows. This is real terror from real people who lived to tell their stories.

On Christmas Day, 1985, bestselling author Whitley Strieber was staying with his family at a secluded cabin in upstate New York. What happened to him that night would change his life—and ignite one of the most controversial and chilling conversations in modern American history.He claimed he was taken.By beings he could not describe.To a place he could not understand.In this episode of Disturbing History, Brian unpacks the story behind Communion, the book that launched a cultural obsession with alien abduction and introduced the world to the now-iconic image of the gray alien.Whether you believe he was visited by beings from another world, suffered a psychological event, or stumbled into something beyond current understanding—this is a story that forces us to confront the limits of what we call “reality.”Because sometimes, the most disturbing stories…Aren't hidden in history books.They're buried in memory.

In 1924, Albert Ostman set out to find gold in British Columbia's rugged backcountry. What he found instead was something far stranger—and far more terrifying.Ostman, a hardened outdoorsman, claimed he was abducted in the night by a towering creature and carried miles into the wilderness. When he came to, he was trapped in a hidden mountain valley—face to face with a family of sasquatch.Over six days, he studied them.They weren't animals. They had structure, language, even hospitality. But that strange kindness came with a darker purpose: Albert suspected he'd been taken as a mate for the family's daughter.Armed with only his wits and a tin of tobacco, he plotted a wild escape through some of the harshest terrain in North America. He kept the story to himself for over three decades, fearing ridicule—until guilt and age finally pushed him to speak out.In this episode, we explore one of the most bizarre and detailed Bigfoot encounters ever recorded—before the creature hit pop culture, before there was a name for what he saw. Whether you think it's truth, hoax, or something in between, this story will stay with you.

Welcome to another spine-chilling episode where we delve deep into one of America's most enduring supernatural legends. Tonight, we explore the terrifying tale of the Jersey Devil, a creature born from desperation, blasphemy, and a mother's curse that echoes through nearly three centuries of American folklore.Our story begins in the winter of 1735, deep within New Jersey's Pine Barrens, a vast wilderness that has always been different from other forests. The Lenape Native Americans spoke of this place in hushed tones, calling it a land of shadows where spirits dwelt in the deepest groves.When European settlers arrived, they found the forest resistant to civilization itself, as if the very soil rejected their attempts at taming the wild.In this primordial landscape lived the Leeds family, existing on the margins of colonial society in a ramshackle cabin that seemed to exhale malevolence. Deborah Leeds, weathered by hardship and twisted by bitterness, had already borne twelve children to her weak-willed husband Daniel. As she felt the stirrings of her thirteenth child, the crushing weight of poverty and desperation drove her to make a bargain that would damn not just her own soul, but unleash upon the world a creature so terrible that its very existence would become woven into the fabric of American folklore.On the night of January 13th, 1735, as an unnatural storm raged outside their cursed cabin, Mother Leeds spoke words of blasphemy that would forever change the Pine Barrens. In her fury at God's apparent abandonment, she cursed her unborn child, asking that it be born not as a blessing but as the very Devil himself. Her desperate plea was answered in ways she could never have imagined.What emerged from that supernatural birth was no ordinary child, but a creature that defied every law of nature and sanity. Before the horrified eyes of the Leeds family, the infant underwent a transformation so violent and complete that it became something altogether inhuman. With a horse-like head, leathery wings, burning red eyes, and an intelligence both ancient and malevolent, the Jersey Devil was born into a world unprepared for its terrible presence.Our tale follows the creature's first night of freedom as it discovered the intoxicating rush of inspiring fear itself. The Jersey Devil's early encounters with isolated farming families like the Whitmores revealed not just a monster, but an entity that could think, plan, and choose to be cruel with calculating precision. These weren't random acts of violence, but carefully orchestrated campaigns of terror designed to feed on the very essence of human fear. As word of the creature's rampage spread through the Pine Barrens, colonial authorities took notice.Captain Jeremiah Stockton's military expedition into the forest resulted in a confrontation that demonstrated the Jersey Devil's power to reshape reality itself, turning the very environment into a weapon against those who would challenge its dominion. The creature's victory over organized opposition established it not merely as a local threat, but as a force that could defy the authority of kings and governors.The Jersey Devil's influence expanded beyond simple terrorism as it learned to manipulate the psychological landscape of entire communities.The fishing village of Tuckerton became the stage for a supernatural siege that tested the limits of human faith against otherworldly malice. When the creature made its dramatic appearance in the village church, it sought to destroy not just bodies but souls, exposing the secret sins and hidden shames of the congregation.Yet in this confrontation, the Jersey Devil encountered something unexpected—resistance that could not be overcome through terror alone. The simple faith of ordinary people, led by the courage of an elderly sexton named Samuel Hartwell, proved that even the darkest powers had limits. This defeat marked a turning point in the creature's understanding of its own nature and the true complexity of human resistance.Driven by rage and a hunger for revenge, the Jersey Devil employed more subtle methods of warfare, infiltrating the dreams and subconscious minds of Tuckerton's residents. Through sustained psychological pressure, it accomplished what brute force could not, turning the community against itself until neighbor betrayed neighbor and the bonds of trust dissolved into paranoia and violence. The destruction of Tuckerton demonstrated that even the strongest faith could be eroded by doubt, fear, and the gradual corruption of human relationships.Our exploration extends beyond the creature's origins to trace how the Jersey Devil legend evolved through American history. From academic investigations by colonial scholars to mass sightings during the famous "Phenomenal Week" of 1909, the creature adapted to changing times while maintaining its essential mystery. Environmental challenges, industrial development, and modern skepticism all shaped how each generation encountered and interpreted the legend.The Jersey Devil's story reveals deeper truths about the nature of folklore and its function in human society. In an age of increasing scientific understanding and technological advancement, the creature represents something more profound than simple superstition. It embodies the enduring human need for mystery, the recognition that some experiences transcend rational explanation, and the acknowledgment that there are still places in the world where the known and unknown coexist in uneasy tension.The Pine Barrens themselves remain largely unchanged despite centuries of human habitation, their ancient forests still holding secrets that may never be fully revealed. Whether the phenomena reported by travelers represent encounters with the Jersey Devil itself or manifestations of collective expectation and cultural memory is perhaps less important than their continued occurrence. The legend persists because it serves essential functions that transcend entertainment or historical curiosity.Tonight's tale reminds us that the most powerful stories are often those that can never be definitively proven true or false. The Jersey Devil stands as a testament to the enduring power of the unexplained, a bridge between older ways of understanding the world and our modern attempts to categorize and quantify every aspect of existence. In a universe that science seeks to map with ever-increasing precision, some truths remain forever beyond the reach of equations and databases.As we conclude this journey into the heart of American supernatural folklore, remember that the Jersey Devil continues to soar through the darkness on leathery wings, its red eyes burning like coals in the infinite night.The legend lives on, waiting in the depths of the Pine Barrens for the next traveler brave enough to venture into its domain and discover whether it represents merely a story told to frighten children, or something far more profound and dangerous than any rational mind dares to consider .The thirteenth child of Mother Leeds has achieved an immortality that transcends the physical world, dwelling forever in the realm of imagination where it will continue to evolve for as long as human beings gather to share tales of the wonderful and terrible things that lurk just beyond the edges of our understanding.

In this gripping and unnerving episode, Brian shares a story from a 63-year-old. A lifelong resident of rural Louisiana, who recounts a chilling chapter from his childhood that has haunted him ever since. The summer of 1972, when he was just ten, brought an unimaginable horror to his small community outside Marksville—a season when an unknown predator seemed to rise from the swamps and target the people living on the fringes of civilization. What began as bizarre livestock mutilations—a few chickens torn apart, their wire enclosures twisted unnaturally—soon spiraled into a full-blown crisis. Massive, unidentifiable tracks appeared in the muddy soil around the Thibodaux property. A 200-pound pig was found hurled against a barn wall with such force that the wood splintered. This was no ordinary animal. It was calculating, deliberate, and disturbingly intelligent. As the weeks passed, the phenomenon spread. Families miles apart began reporting similar attacks. Glowing yellow and red eyes were seen watching from the woods. At night, strange sounds echoed through the darkness: baby cries that weren't human, voices of loved ones long dead. Even hardened hunters were shaken. The Broussard family's German Shepherd, Rex, a dog known for his fierce loyalty and fearlessness, was found cowering, irreparably broken by whatever he had witnessed.The entire community was on edge. People began sleeping with weapons close at hand. Parents refused to let their children play outside. Marie Landry was followed for half a mile by an unseen presence on her walk home from church. The Thibodaux twins, Bobby included, heard the unmistakable voice of their deceased grandmother calling to them from the treeline. Sleep became a rare luxury for children too afraid to close their eyes.Then came the disappearance of Boudreaux Tate, a seasoned hunter who had gone out to track the creature. His camp was found abandoned, signs of a violent struggle left in the dirt.His body was never recovered. Fear turned to panic.In the end, seven men from the community, pushed to their limits, armed themselves and headed deep into the swamps. What they found defied logic—an eight-foot-tall bipedal creature with wolf-like features and disturbingly human hands, hiding in a remote cave system. A violent confrontation ensued. The men returned with no trophy, no photographs—only their word and a promise that the creature was buried where it fell. His story is more than just a tale of terror—it's a portrait of a community grappling with something it couldn't understand, something that left lasting scars on everyone who survived that haunted summer. This is an  unforgettable firsthand account of survival, mystery, and the darkness that once stalked the Louisiana bayou.

Before there was Bigfoot, before the screams in the woods and things that go bump in the night… there was history. In this special episode, Brian shares a sneak peek into his brand-new podcast, Disturbing History—a show that explores the dark, strange, and forgotten corners of our past. From government coverups to lost civilizations, haunted obsessions to unexplained crashes, Disturbing History is where the stories they hoped we'd forget finally get unearthed. And as a little holiday bonus, Brian is sharing one of the most talked-about episodes from the new series—The Roswell UFO Mystery.On July 8, 1947, the U.S. military made an explosive claim: they had recovered a “flying disc” from a ranch near Roswell, New Mexico. Hours later, they took it all back. What followed was decades of silence, contradiction, and coverup.This episode explores:The discovery of strange debris by rancher Mac BrazelThe military's original press release—and sudden retractionTestimony from Major Jesse Marcel, who broke the silenceEyewitness reports of unusual wreckage, sealed caskets, and bodiesThe evolution of the official story—from weather balloon to Project MogulAnd the lingering questions no one has fully answeredIf you enjoy strange truths, historical mysteries, and stories that blur the line between fact and folklore, you're going to love Disturbing History.

National Park Nightmares – Volume 11: “The Vanished” In this episode, we examine two disappearances—separated by 78 years—that continue to confound families, search teams, and anyone who tries to make sense of what happened.It was a typical summer day in the Colorado wilderness when 4-year-old Alfred Beilhartz disappeared during a family outing. He was walking just behind his parents along a trail near a stream—then suddenly, he wasn't. What followed was one of the first large-scale search efforts in the park's history, involving over 150 people, bloodhounds, and aerial surveillance. But no trace of Alfred was ever found. Witnesses later reported seeing a boy matching his description on a remote cliffside ledge. Searchers scrambled to reach the spot—only to find nothing. No boy. No tracks. No clues. Just silence.Floyd Roberts wasn't a first-timer in the canyon. His connection to the place stretched back to 1992, when his friend Ned Bryant first invited him out. Roberts became a devoted hiker, returning year after year with Bryant. By 2016, the two were seasoned and well-prepared, setting out once again—this time with Bryant's daughter along for the trip. On June 17th, deep in the remote Kelly Tanks area, the trio chose to split momentarily: the Bryants taking a route over a hill before the trailhead, Roberts choosing to walk around it and meet them on the other side. He never arrived. The Bryants waited, circled back the way Roberts went, then returned to camp and marked the area with visible gear to guide him. Still, nothing. This wasn't a man likely to panic or get lost. Roberts was highly intelligent—he'd worked at NASA and taught programming and game design. He had food, water, and a map marked with their routes. But after six days of searching with helicopters, drones, and canine units—no sign. No gear. No footprints. No remains. Despite the unforgiving terrain and triple-digit heat, Roberts' experience and preparation should have given him a fighting chance. And yet, five years have passed, countless hikers have passed through the region, and not a single clue has surfaced. Why did Floyd veer off alone? Why couldn't the others hear a call for help if something went wrong just on the other side of a hill? And how does someone—someone this equipped, this smart, this familiar with the terrain—vanish without leaving behind a trace?

On October 20, 1967, two cowboys rode into a remote California creek bed and emerged with 59.5 seconds of film that would divide science, captivate the world, and spawn a mystery that endures to this day. Roger Patterson and Bob Gimlin claimed they encountered and filmed a massive, hair-covered, bipedal creature that would become known as Bigfoot.Their brief, shaky footage—particularly the iconic Frame 352 showing the creature looking back over its shoulder—has become the most analyzed, debated, and controversial piece of film in cryptozoological history.In this deep dive into one of America's most enduring mysteries, we explore the complete story of the Patterson-Gimlin Film. From Roger Patterson's obsessive quest to find Bigfoot to his desperate final expedition when he could least afford it, from the moment of the encounter to the media frenzy that followed, we unravel the human drama behind the footage.We meet Patterson, the dreamer and artist who spent his life chasing shadows in the Pacific Northwest, and Bob Gimlin, the practical horseman who found himself at the center of a controversy he never sought.The narrative takes us through the film's explosive impact on popular culture, the scientific community's struggle to explain or dismiss it, and the decades of analysis that have followed. We examine the compelling evidence that supporters say proves the film's authenticity—from the creature's anatomically consistent proportions to its distinctive compliant gait, from the dermal ridges in its footprints to the muscle movement visible beneath its fur.We also confront the skeptics' arguments—the convenient timing of Patterson's success, the possibility of a sophisticated hoax, and the troubling absence of corroborating physical evidence despite decades of searching.Through exclusive insights into the personal costs borne by both men, we see how the film transformed their lives. Patterson would die just five years later, still defending his footage, while Gimlin would spend decades living with the burden of being either a witness to history or the victim of an elaborate deception. We explore the confessions of alleged hoaxers, the modern digital analysis that has both supported and challenged the film's authenticity, and the psychological reasons why this particular piece of footage continues to captivate us more than half a century later.As we journey from that October afternoon to the present day, we discover that the Patterson-Gimlin Film is more than just potential evidence of an unknown primate. It's a mirror reflecting our relationship with the unknown, our need for mystery in an increasingly mapped world, and our eternal hope that somewhere in the shrinking wilderness, wonders still wait to be discovered.Whether you're a believer, a skeptic, or simply curious about one of the great unsolved mysteries of our time, this episode offers the most comprehensive exploration of the film that made Bigfoot a household name and turned a brief encounter at Bluff Creek into an enduring enigma.Join us for a journey into the heart of American folklore, where the line between myth and reality blurs, where two men's afternoon ride became a cultural phenomenon, and where 59.5 seconds of film continue to challenge our understanding of what might be possible in the vast forests of the Pacific Northwest.

In this special 100th episode, we delve into six first-hand accounts from individuals who experienced something extraordinary in the remote forests of the Pacific Northwest.Each story disturbing features encounters with an intelligence that seems to exist at the periphery of our understanding, observing us from the shadows between the trees. What makes these accounts uniquely compelling isn't just what was seen, but the unsettling patterns of behavior described by witnesses from completely different backgrounds and professions. From security guards to scientists, photographers to surveyors, these individuals share a common thread: the deep conviction that something intelligent was studying them with purpose and awareness.We begin with a night security guard at an isolated lumber mill who captures strange footage on security cameras and discovers massive footprints in the morning frost. From there, we hear from a wildlife photographer whose remote campsite becomes the focus of nocturnal investigation during a documentary project in a fire-damaged forest.A veteran logging truck driver shares his face-to-face encounter on a mountain road, while a meteorologist stationed at a remote weather monitoring facility in the North Cascades details weeks of escalating interactions with something that seemed increasingly curious about his equipment and routines.An experienced angler describes how his fishing equipment was methodically rearranged during a backcountry trip, and finally, a land surveyor working in old-growth forest reveals how his survey markers were systematically studied and how he witnessed apparent communication between multiple unknown entities.These aren't typical Bigfoot stories of brief sightings or distant figures. Instead, they document a pattern of intelligence, curiosity, and deliberate interaction that suggests something far more complex than a simple undiscovered animal. No witness ever felt threatened, but all came away with the profound sense that they had been allowed a glimpse into a world that exists alongside our own, watching and waiting in the darkness between the trees.

Tonight we explore two mysterious disappearances in America's most challenging wilderness areas—two men who ventured into remote landscapes and vanished without a trace, leaving behind only questions and abandoned vehicles.Case 1: Walther H. Reinhard - Lost in YosemiteThe Basics:Walther H. ReinhardDisappeared: September 30, 2002Location: Yosemite National Park, CaliforniaNo additional details available in public recordsWhat Happened: On September 30, 2002, Walther H. Reinhard disappeared in Yosemite National Park. Beyond this basic information, details about his case remain limited in publicly available records. Like many who vanish in Yosemite's vast wilderness, Walther simply disappeared, joining the park's long list of unsolved missing person cases.Yosemite encompasses nearly 1,200 square miles of granite cliffs, deep valleys, waterfalls, and wilderness areas. The park's extreme terrain and unpredictable weather conditions make it particularly dangerous for unprepared visitors. From fatal falls to hypothermia, the park's beauty masks significant hazards that have claimed many lives over the decades.Current Status: Case remains unsolved, listed among missing persons cases from America's national parks.Case 2: Adam Clayton Lyle Jones - Vanished at Grand CanyonThe Basics:Adam Clayton Lyle Jones, 23 years oldLast seen: March 31, 2011 (Gulf Breeze, Florida)Car found: May 5, 2011 (Grand Canyon South Rim)5'7", 140 lbs, blue eyes, light brown hairNamUs Case: MP11063The Journey: Adam left Gulf Breeze, Florida on March 31, 2011, in his light blue Oldsmobile Delta 88. He took only his laptop—no cell phone, minimal belongings. His debit card tracked him through Louisiana and Texas before the trail went cold.Over a month later, a park ranger found his abandoned car at Grand Canyon's South Rim Visitor Center. Inside: an itinerary listing Denver and California cities as destinations. Adam was nowhere to be found.The Mystery: His family hadn't reported him missing—they learned of his disappearance when rangers called about the car. Despite extensive searches of trails, viewpoints, and remote areas, no trace of Adam was ever found.Theories:Hiking accident in the canyon's dangerous terrainVoluntary disappearance to start freshFoul play in the park's remote areasEnvironmental hazards unique to the Grand CanyonThe Context: Grand Canyon averages 17 deaths annually and over 1,000 missing person reports. The park's 1.2 million acres can hide evidence indefinitely.Current Status: Cold case with National Park Service after 13 years.The ConnectionBoth cases highlight wilderness disappearances' unique challenges: vast search areas, harsh environments, and landscapes that can conceal evidence forever. For families, these represent ongoing nightmares—the terrible uncertainty of not knowing, the impossible hope that becomes harder to maintain each year.In America's wild places, people can still vanish completely, swallowed by landscapes that predate civilization and care nothing for human presence. Some mysteries may never be solved.

What happens when curiosity becomes obsession—and the wild starts watching back? In this episode, we journey deep into the heart of cryptozoological mystery, where strange creatures aren't the only things lurking in the dark. From remote mountain ranges to disaster zones veiled in smoke and secrecy, we follow the breadcrumbs left by researchers, explorers, and locals who claim to have seen the impossible—and sometimes paid the price for speaking out.You'll hear accounts that defy easy explanation: humanoid figures glimpsed in fog-draped valleys, fieldwork that ends in silence and blood, and eerie patterns of vanishing evidence. As the line blurs between folklore and field science, one question echoes through every story: what aren't we supposed to find out? This isn't just a tour of cryptid lore—it's a confrontation with the hidden cost of seeking the truth in places the world forgot. Expect shadowy encounters, vanished research, and the uncomfortable possibility that some legends are protected by more than just disbelief. Because in the world of cryptids, it's not always the creature you need to fear—it's what happens after you find it.Get Our FREE NewsletterGet Brian's Books Leave Us A VoicemailVisit Our WebsiteSupport Our SponsorsVisit Untold Radio AM

In this bone-chilling first-person story, an experienced hunter heads into the remote wilderness, eager to test out his pricey new thermal scope. But what starts as a night of solo adventure quickly spirals into something far more sinister.As he scans the tree line, excitement turns to unease. The forest goes unnaturally still. Something is out there—watching. Then, from the darkness, a voice calls for help. It sounds human, but wrong. Off. And it doesn't match the movements of the shadowy figure now pacing the edge of the clearing.What follows is a heart-pounding chase through pitch-black woods. The hunter, now the hunted, realizes he's up against something that isn't bound by the rules of the natural world. When the creature finally steps into the light, the truth is more disturbing than he could have imagined.Even after escaping the forest, the fear doesn't leave him. Something followed him home—or maybe it never left. This story is a terrifying reminder that deep in the wild, we are not always the apex predator. Sometimes, something out there is watching. And waiting.

National Park Nightmares: "The Vanishing at White Wolf"Peter Jackson was 74 years old the day he disappeared without a trace in Yosemite National Park. A veteran hiker in excellent physical condition, Peter had spent decades exploring America's wilderness areas with methodical precision. He never took unnecessary risks. He never strayed from his planned routes. And he never, ever failed to return when expected.September 17, 2016. Peter sends a simple text to his son: "On my way to Yosemite." It would be the last anyone ever heard from him.He checks into campsite #58 at White Wolf Campground, a remote facility at 8,000 feet elevation, paying for five nights through September 21st. His car, a well-maintained sedan, sits at the edge of a forest of lodgepole pines and white firs. His tent is pitched with military precision. Everything is exactly as it should be. Except Peter packed his royal blue Outdoor Products daypack and set off on what should have been a routine day hike. He never came back.When park rangers conduct their end-of-stay check on September 21st, they find Peter's campsite exactly as he'd left it four days earlier. His car is still parked at the site. His gear is neatly organized. But Peter is gone, and so is his blue backpack.This triggers one of the most extensive search operations in recent Yosemite history. Over 50 personnel from multiple agencies spend nearly two weeks combing through 50 square miles of wilderness. Search dogs follow scent trails that lead nowhere. Helicopters equipped with infrared technology scan dense forest canopy. Ground teams rappel into ravines and search areas so remote they haven't seen human footprints in years. They find nothing. Not a single trace of Peter Jackson.By October 2nd, with autumn storms rolling in and temperatures dropping, the inevitable decision comes. Peter's case is downgraded to "limited continuous" status. The active search ends. Park officials maintain that any new evidence will be followed up on, but the reality sets in for Peter's family: he's simply vanished into the vast wilderness of Yosemite National Park. For nearly three years, Peter Jackson becomes another statistic in Yosemite's growing list of unsolved disappearances. His case joins approximately 30 other active missing persons files, each representing someone who entered the park and never returned. The wilderness keeps its secrets well.Then, in August 2019, a trail maintenance crew working on erosion control in a remote area between Aspen Valley and Smith Peak makes a startling discovery. Hidden under a fallen tree, they find a weathered royal blue backpack. It's Peter Jackson's daypack, confirmed by serial numbers and distinctive wear patterns. But the location makes no sense. The pack was discovered approximately seven to eight miles from White Wolf Campground—far beyond Peter's typical five-mile hiking range. Even following established trails, reaching this spot would require a trek of over ten miles through challenging terrain.The discovery creates more questions than answers. What was Peter doing so far from his campsite? How did an experienced hiker end up in terrain he'd never ventured to before? And perhaps most intriguingly, the pack was found in Ackerson Meadow—an area that had only been officially added to Yosemite National Park in September 2016, the same month Peter disappeared.The formal announcement came just ten days before his final visit. Was Peter attempting to explore this newly protected land?Park rangers immediately organize a detailed search of the area where the backpack was found. For a week, specialized teams scour the terrain using metal detectors, ground-penetrating radar, and search dogs trained to find human remains. They cover two square miles of challenging wilderness, checking every fallen tree, rock crevice, and hidden ravine. They find nothing.The backpack itself yields few clues. It contains the standard gear of a day hiker: a partially empty water bottle, a weathered trail map, a small first aid kit, an emergency whistle, a weatherproof jacket, and several expired energy bars. What's missing speaks volumes—no cell phone, no GPS device, no camera. Nothing that might tell investigators where Peter intended to go or what happened to him.Theories abound but none can fully explain the mystery. Did Peter suffer a sudden medical emergency—a heart attack or stroke—in this remote location, somehow becoming separated from his pack? Did he encounter dangerous terrain, suffering a fatal fall while his pack remained behind? Was he exploring the newly added Ackerson Meadow when something went wrong? Or did environmental factors—sudden weather changes or disorientation—lead to a tragic end?Today, Peter Jackson's case remains open. His disappearance stands as a reminder of the wilderness's enduring mysteries and the limitations of even the most advanced search techniques. Park rangers continue to learn from his case, emphasizing the importance of detailed hiking plans and emergency communication devices. But most of all, Peter's story serves as a sobering reminder that in places of extraordinary beauty lurk equally extraordinary dangers.The last text message Peter sent still haunts those who knew him: "On my way to Yosemite." Three simple words that marked the beginning of a journey with no end, a mystery with no solution, and a wilderness that still keeps its secrets. Somewhere in Yosemite's vast expanse, answers may still lie waiting to be discovered. Until then, the question remains: what happened to Peter Jackson on that September day in 2016?If you have any information about Peter Jackson's disappearance, please contact Yosemite National Park at 209-379-1926 during business hours, or 209-379-1992 after hours. In the wilderness, we are all responsible for each other's safety. Stay aware, stay prepared, and most importantly, let someone know where you're going. Because the difference between a successful hike and a missing persons case can be as simple as a few words shared before you head into the wild.

Tonight I share  five extraordinary encounters with unexplained forest beings across five decades and thousands of miles of American wilderness, told by witnesses who never met yet describe remarkably similar experiences.Olympic Peninsula, Washington - 1968 & 1973 A fire lookout witnesses a massive bipedal creature investigating a log in the remote Olympics. The witness describes intelligence in the being's eyes and the sensation of being observed. Years later, while hunting, he encounters multiple creatures communicating through wood knocks and territory marking with strategically broken trees.Adirondack Mountains, New York - 1976 & 1988 A biology graduate student conducting acid rain research experiences terrifying vocalizations and heavy bipedal footsteps circling her camp. Twelve years later, while camping with her husband, they both witness the same wood-knocking communication and glimpse a large, hair-covered figure—validating her earlier encounter and challenging her scientific understanding.Ozark Mountains, Arkansas - 1985 & 1997 An experienced hunter describes a creature methodically untying a rope supporting their game—showing dexterity and problem-solving unlike any known wildlife. Despite having a clear shot, he chooses not to fire after recognizing intelligence in the creature's eyes. His second encounter while hunting with his teenage son reveals territorial behavior through wood knocks and stone throwing.Great Smoky Mountains, North Carolina - 2002 & 2005 A pastor on a solitary retreat encounters unusual branch arrangements and "offerings." He describes the creatures' apparent response to prayer, adding a spiritual dimension to the encounter. Years later, with his young nephew, they witness coordinated movement around their camp and discover a precisely arranged pile of pinecones topped with a wild strawberry.Humboldt County, California - 2019 & 2022 A wildlife biologist in California's redwood forests provides our most technical account, describing coordinated group behavior, tool use, and possible communication attempts. Her scientific training allows detailed analysis of vocalizations with infrasonic components and footprints suggesting creatures weighing 600-700 pounds moving with bipedal locomotion unlike any known mammal. What makes these accounts compelling is the consistent behavioral patterns described by witnesses separated by thousands of miles and decades: the same wood knocking communication, branch breaking patterns, gift exchanges, and sense of being observed by something intelligent yet non-human.Get Our FREE NewsletterGet Brian's Books Leave Us A VoicemailVisit Our WebsiteSupport Our SponsorsVisit Untold Radio AM

Tonight week on Backwoods Bigfoot Stories, I share five compelling firsthand accounts from professionals who encountered something unexplained in America's remote wilderness areas.From a National Park ranger in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains to a hunter in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, a search and rescue coordinator in Oregon's Cascades to a wildlife photographer in California's redwoods, and finally an environmental scientist in New Hampshire's White Mountains - each witness describes encounters with intelligent, bipedal beings that demonstrated complex communication patterns, territorial awareness, and deliberate avoidance of documentation.Most striking are the consistent elements across these independent accounts: rhythmic wood knocks in three-two-one patterns, gift exchanges, manipulation of human equipment, and apparent concern for lost humans - suggesting something unknown but intelligent shares our most isolated forests.Listen to discover what happens when trained observers with professional reputations at stake encounter something that defies conventional explanation.

Vanished in the Sierra - The Mysterious Disappearances of Sandra Johnsen Hughes and Joel ThomazinIn this haunting eighth installment of National Park Nightmares, we delve into two perplexing disappearances that occurred just fourteen months apart in the rugged wilderness of California's Sierra Nevada mountains. Join your host as we explore the baffling circumstances surrounding Sandra Johnsen Hughes and Joel Thomazin, two experienced outdoor enthusiasts who entered the wilderness and seemingly vanished without a trace.Our journey begins in the summer of 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when 54-year-old Sandra Johnsen Hughes sought solace in the pristine wilderness of Sierra National Forest. A former Hawaii resident with college training as a park ranger, Sandra was no novice to the outdoors. We trace her final known movements from her last contact with family on June 26th through the mysterious discovery of her abandoned campsite on July 2nd—found in complete disarray, a state that contradicted her meticulously organized nature. The mystery deepens as we examine the puzzling sequence of events: her silver Saab crashed at suspiciously low speed, a barefoot sighting with an unexplained bruise on her face, her sleeping bag discovered miles away just inside Yosemite National Park's boundary, and the most baffling element—a reported sighting by hunters over a month after her disappearance. Could Sandra have survived alone in the wilderness for weeks without supplies? And what are we to make of the eerie account from a three-year-old boy who, a year later, claimed to see a woman matching Sandra's description lying face down in a meadow, insisting she was "already dead"?Our episode continues with 31-year-old Joel Thomazin, a U.S. Army reservist and father to a two-year-old son, who set out on what should have been a routine solo hiking and fishing trip in September 2021. With his distinctive bright red inflatable kayak and vintage 1918 Army steel cup, Joel planned a straightforward route from Hetch Hetchy Reservoir to Lake Eleanor—a journey of approximately nine miles each way.Last seen by a park ranger on the afternoon of September 6th crossing above O'Shaughnessy Dam, Joel never returned on his scheduled date of September 9th. Despite extensive searches involving teams from multiple agencies, not a single trace of Joel or his distinctive equipment was ever found. We share the heartbreaking words of his wife Amanda, who asked for prayers that Joel would know "he is not alone out there," and examine the painful reality of how families cope with ambiguous loss when no closure is possible.As we conclude this episode, we reflect on the cruel paradox of these cases—how the very wilderness that draws us with its beauty and promise of solitude can also swallow us without witness or explanation. The disappearances of Sandra Johnsen Hughes and Joel Thomazin remain unsolved, joining over thirty cold cases in Yosemite's troubling history. Whether their fates were sealed by tragic accidents, deliberate choices, foul play, or something more mysterious, their stories remind us of the wilderness's power and our ultimate vulnerability within it.If you have any information about either of these cases, please contact the Madera County Sheriff's Office at (559) 675-7770 regarding Sandra Johnsen Hughes or Yosemite Search and Rescue at (209) 238-7046 regarding Joel Thomazin.

Step into the ancient forests of the Olympic Mountains as we present a riveting first-person account that will challenge everything you thought you knew about the natural world. In this episode, we follow Mike Calloway, an experienced hunter whose annual elk hunting trip with his father transforms into something extraordinary—an encounter with an intelligence not recognized by science.Mike's journey begins with the familiar ritual of preparation—checking gear, studying maps, and making the long drive into increasingly remote territory.Having hunted these woods for fifteen years alongside his father Jack, a former Forest Service ranger, Mike knows the Olympic Peninsula intimately. Or at least, he thought he did.Their hunt starts routinely enough, with father and son separating at first light to cover more ground. It's during Mike's solitary trek along a promising ridge that the familiar rhythms of the forest are broken by something unexpected—three distinct knocks against wood, delivered with unmistakable purpose. What follows draws Mike deeper into the wilderness, the knocking seemingly tracking his movements, responding to his presence in ways that defy natural explanation.The culmination of this strange pursuit is a moment that will forever divide Mike's life into before and after: face-to-face with a creature standing eight feet tall, covered in reddish-brown hair, with hands—not paws—and eyes conveying an intelligence that stops his breath. Most astonishing is the deliberate communication, as the creature demonstrates it has been the source of the knocking, even responding to Mike's own tentative attempt at reply.That night brings even greater wonders and terrors when multiple creatures surround their camp, communicating through complex knocking patterns and haunting vocalizations that echo through the mountains.Objects are tossed into their campsite—not as threats, but seemingly as attempts at interaction. By morning, both Mike and his father have glimpsed something that shouldn't exist, something that challenges their understanding of reality itself. The aftermath of this encounter plunges Mike into a crisis of understanding. He tries drinking it away at first, then turns to obsessive research, finding reports of similar experiences spanning decades. A conversation with his father brings partial comfort—at least they share the burden of knowing—but no real answers. The world is bigger, stranger, more mysterious than they've been taught, and perhaps that's not such a terrible thing to discover.Months later, drawn by an irresistible need for understanding, Mike returns to the forest alone. This time, he brings not weapons but tools for communication—recording equipment, and small gifts that might interest creatures possessing obvious intelligence but no exposure to human technology. Over three days, he establishes increasingly complex communication through knocking patterns and receives an extraordinary response—his offered mirror is taken, replaced with a piece of bark polished to create a reflective surface, evidence of tool use and symbolic thinking that transcends mere animal behavior.he story culminates in a deeply personal decision. After witnessing his son's transformation and unable to fully rationalize their shared experience, Mike's father joins him on subsequent trips to the forest. Together over three years, they forge a fragile connection with these beings, learning enough of their percussive language to announce their presence and convey peaceful intentions. They choose to keep their discovery private, protecting these creatures from a world that would inevitably seek to study, categorize, and perhaps destroy what it cannot understand. This profound narrative invites us to consider what other intelligences might share our planet, moving silently at the edges of our awareness, and what responsibilities come with such knowledge. As Mike and his father continue their twice-yearly pilgrimages into the ancient woods, they carry a secret that has fundamentally changed them—a glimpse behind the veil of what we think we know about the world, and the humbling recognition that we are not alone.

In this week's bone-chilling episode, we explore a multi-generational encounter with the unknown deep in the backwoods of Limestone County, Alabama. Our story follows young James Earl Wilkins, who at age 12 in the summer of 1976, experienced a series of terrifying encounters with what locals referred to as "the forest folk" or "wild men" on his family's 80-acre farm.The saga unfolds through James' now 62-year-old perspective as he recounts how his peaceful rural childhood was forever changed when strange howls began echoing from the nearby Cypress Bottom—a foreboding stretch of swampland that locals had long avoided. What began with missing livestock escalated to face-to-face encounters with towering, fur-covered creatures that seemed to possess an uncanny intelligence. His story continues as the family's increasing terror as these beings grew bolder—stealing chickens, appearing at windows in the night, and eventually prompting a community hunting expedition that ended in unexpected confrontation. Most disturbing are the implications that these weren't random encounters, but part of a long-standing and complex relationship between the creatures and the Wilkins family dating back generations.He also explains that historical connections revealed through family stories and county records—including a shocking encounter his grandfather had in the 1930s, and a mysterious clause in the original 1868 property deed requiring seasonal offerings to "previous inhabitants of the land." These revelations suggest an ancient pact that was broken and later unconsciously renewed through his father's annual ritual of leaving deer carcasses at the forest's edge. If you've had an experince and would like to share it on the show email brian@paranormalworldproductions.com

On April 12, 1966, a family picnic in America's first national park turned into one of the most baffling missing persons cases in American history. Eight-year-old Dennis Johnson was visiting Yellowstone with his parents William and Betty and his three sisters when his seven-year-old sister Mary wandered off.Dennis and his father split up to search for her. William found Mary quickly, but when he returned to the Cascade Picnic Area, Dennis had vanished without a trace.What followed was one of the most intensive search operations in Yellowstone's history – spanning 100 square miles, employing helicopters, bloodhounds, and dozens of searchers. Despite three weeks of exhaustive efforts costing over $14,000 (equivalent to more than $100,000 today), not a single clue was found. No footprints. No clothing. No evidence whatsoever.Fifty-eight years later, Dennis Johnson remains missing, his fate unknown.In This EpisodeThe detailed timeline of April 12, 1966, and how a moment's separation led to decades of mysteryWhy the search for Dennis was particularly challenging, and the technical aspects of a 1960s-era wilderness searchThe baffling behavior of bloodhounds that couldn't pick up any scent trailFive leading theories of what might have happened to Dennis, and why none can fully explain his complete disappearanceHow the Johnson family turned to a psychic in their desperate search for answersWhat makes wilderness disappearances unique, and the concept of "ambiguous loss"The statistical context: how rare cases like Dennis's are compared to millions of safe Yellowstone visitsHow the case has informed modern search and rescue techniques and park safety protocols

Tonight, Brian shares the never-before-told story of Thomas, a fur trapper whose life was forever changed after a terrifying encounter with sasquatch in the remote Canadian wilderness during February 1987.This first-hand account challenges everything we think we know about these mysterious creatures. What Mercer experienced reveals them to be intelligent, communicative, and potentially dangerous beings with complex social structures and territorial behaviors. His haunting experience raises profound questions about what these creatures truly are and our responsibility toward them.The story begins as Thomas, a third-generation fur trapper, flies his bush plane to his remote family cabin in the Northwest Territories to begin his winter trapping season. Almost immediately upon arrival, Mercer discovers massive, human-like footprints circling his cabin—nearly 20 inches long with a stride length twice that of a human.Over the following days, Mercer encounters increasingly bizarre evidence: traps carefully disarmed with ritualistic arrangements of objects nearby, complex vocal communications between multiple creatures echoing through the forest, and deliberate attempts to test his cabin's defenses through systematic tapping and probing of the structure.Most chilling of all, the creatures attempt direct communication.First through arrangements of natural objects in geometric patterns, then through mimicked human speech—even speaking Mercer's name and referring to his deceased father. In broken English, they suggest they need an "alliance" against other humans hunting them, hinting at a government or private organization aware of their existence.When Mercer attempts to escape in his plane, he's forced to shoot one of the creatures that charges him from behind. In a moment that has haunted him for decades, the wounded sasquatch looks him in the eye and asks simply, "Why?"In the thirty years since this encounter, Mercer has dedicated his life to sasquatch research, building one of the most comprehensive private databases of encounters in North America.Through his research, he discovered another harrowing account from the Olympic Peninsula, where a logging crew's encounter ended in a gruesome death—evidence that these beings aren't always the gentle forest giants of popular imagination.We should note that this episode contains descriptions of violence and disturbing content that may not be suitable for all listeners. Discretion is advised.Thomas Mercer, whose name has been changed at his request, was 25 years old during his encounter in 1987. Now in his sixties, he's spent decades researching similar encounters while maintaining his anonymity. This marks the first time he's shared his complete story publicly.

 In this episode, Brian shares encounters with mysterious creatures and unexplained phenomena from remote wilderness areas. From Whisper Creek in Montana's Glacier National Park, Iron Ridge ghost town, and Dead Man's Hollow in Kentucky to Black Hollow and Widow's Crag, each story recounts experiences with eerie sounds, inexplicable footprints, and terrifying sightings of Bigfoot-like creatures. These tales serve as haunting reminders that some places are meant to be left alone and that not everyone who ventures into the unknown makes it back the same. Also, hear about unexpected sightings on Idaho's notorious Broken Antler Pass and forthcoming adventures in the 'National Park Nightmares' series.00:00 The Legend of Whisper Creek 04:44 A Haunting in Iron Ridge 08:29 The Mystery of Dead Man's Hollow 12:49 Terror on Broken Antler Pass 17:00 The Curse of Widow's Crag 21:22 Escape from Black Hollow 25:49 Conclusion and Podcast Promotion

In today's special storytelling episode, I'm thrilled to share an original tale I've created called "The Unlikely Guardians:  Bigfoot Saves Easter. This heartwarming adventure follows Bartholomew, the last Sasquatch of the Pacific Northwest, whose carefully isolated life is upended when he discovers a set of unusual footprints in the late winter snow. Following them leads to an encounter with none other than Edmund Cottontail, the Easter Bunny himself, who is in desperate need of help. The magical Egg of Renewal has been stolen by Jack Frost, threatening to trap the world in endless winter and prevent Easter from happening at all.What follows is a journey across magical landscapes as these natural opposites—a reclusive wilderness dweller and the embodiment of spring celebration—form an unlikely alliance. Their adventure takes them through ancient forests, across frozen plains, and eventually to the edge of reality itself as they confront not just Jack Frost but the shadowy powers manipulating him. Throughout their quest, Bart and Edmund discover that their differences actually create a perfect harmony when combined with Jack's winter magic, forming a balanced force capable of restoring nature's cycles.The story explores how friendship can emerge in the most unexpected places, and how the balance between wilderness, winter, and renewal is essential for the natural world to flourish. We witness Bart's transformation from a solitary observer who has hidden from the world for centuries into someone who finds purpose in connection and community. It's a modern fairy tale about how isolation ends when we open ourselves to new possibilities and how seemingly opposite forces can unite for a greater purpose.

In this haunting episode, we delve into one of Yellowstone National Park's most perplexing cold cases — the 1991 disappearance of Dan Campbell and his loyal dog Freckles.Our journey begins with Dan Campbell, a 42-year-old Montana man whose life had reached a crossroads by the spring of 1991. Living in Big Timber and struggling with mounting financial troubles, Campbell was looking for a way out. Standing 5'8" and weighing about 165 pounds, with the weathered face of someone comfortable in the outdoors, he had recently begun making plans to relocate to White Sulphur Springs, but needed money to finance the move.According to his brother Billy, Dan had started "running with some pretty shady characters" who introduced him to the lucrative world of illegal shed hunting — a dangerous underground economy that would ultimately lead to his disappearance.The dark underbelly of shed hunting in Yellowstone had evolved into what insiders called "the antler wars" by the early 1990s. With elk antlers selling for up to $15 per pound on the black market, what began as an innocent springtime hobby had transformed into a fiercely competitive criminal enterprise. Reports from the time suggest that certain areas of the park had been carved up into informal territories by competing groups of poachers, some allegedly carrying semiautomatic weapons to guard their claimed hunting grounds. Into this dangerous world stepped Dan Campbell, desperately seeking quick cash.On April 4, 1991, Campbell set off with his Australian shepherd-heeler mix named Freckles from the Hellroaring trailhead, planning a four-day trek to exit near Jardine, Montana, where his girlfriend Tracy Erb would pick him up on April 8. Dressed in blue Levi's jeans and a blue coat, he carried basic survival supplies in his backpack, along with the expectation of returning with valuable shed antlers. What he couldn't have anticipated was the treacherous journey that awaited him.The Hellroaring Trail itself presents a formidable challenge even to experienced hikers. Beginning with a steep 600-foot descent over switchbacks to reach a suspension bridge spanning the Yellowstone River, the trail then traverses an expansive sagebrush plateau before dropping down to Hellroaring Creek. As Campbell navigated this difficult terrain, a powerful spring storm moved in on April 5th, dumping up to a foot of fresh snow across portions of the park and sending temperatures plummeting.This sudden weather change would not only challenge Campbell's wilderness skills but would later severely hamper search efforts.When April 8 arrived with no sign of Campbell at the designated pickup location, Tracy Erb reported him missing. Park rangers immediately launched what's known in search and rescue terminology as a "bastard search" — checking obvious locations to confirm he wasn't simply elsewhere — before initiating a full-scale operation. Ground teams and, when weather permitted, aerial search units scoured Campbell's planned route, battling the aftermath of the snowstorm that had left up to a foot of fresh snow obscuring any tracks or evidence.Despite weeks of intensive searching across multiple locations, not a single trace of Campbell or his dog was ever found — no backpack, no clothing, no equipment, and perhaps most tellingly, not even Freckles.This complete absence of evidence pushed Campbell's brothers to consider darker possibilities. As the search transitioned to an investigation, Rod and Bill Campbell, along with their third brother, transformed from grieving family members into relentless advocates. Bill's own investigation uncovered that there had reportedly been 14 other horn hunters in the area on the day Dan went missing, and one of them claimed to have heard two gunshots. This discovery aligned with the family's growing suspicion that Dan had been murdered by rival shed hunters protecting their territory. The Campbell brothers' frustration with official efforts peaked in July 1991 when they filed a lawsuit against Park County Montana Sheriff Charlie Johnson, seeking $100,000 each for what they claimed was a botched investigation. They were particularly outraged by the sheriff's decision to return potential evidence — ammunition and spent cartridges confiscated from two horn hunters legally camping outside the park's northern boundaries — without subjecting these items to forensic testing. "If Dan's in the park, he's buried," Rod Campbell told reporters, reflecting their conviction that their brother met with foul play rather than a wilderness accident.As investigators weighed the evidence, three main theories emerged about Campbell's fate. The natural causes theory suggested he might have succumbed to hypothermia during the snowstorm, suffered a fatal injury on the rugged terrain, or encountered a grizzly bear emerging hungry from hibernation. The voluntary disappearance theory, which law enforcement initially considered due to Campbell's financial troubles, proposed that he might have staged his own disappearance to escape mounting debts. The foul play theory, championed by Campbell's family, posited that he had been murdered by rival shed hunters, with the snowstorm providing ideal cover for the crime and hampering subsequent searches.Each theory had strengths and weaknesses. The natural causes explanation failed to account for the complete absence of any trace, including the dog. The voluntary disappearance scenario seemed unlikely given Campbell's attachment to Freckles and his concrete plans for the future.The foul play theory addressed many puzzling aspects of the case but lacked definitive evidence. This ambiguity has allowed the mystery to persist for more than three decades, making it one of Yellowstone's most enduring cold cases.Today, Campbell's disappearance stands as a sobering reminder of both the wilderness dangers and human hazards that persist in Yellowstone. The illegal shed antler trade continues, with recent cases demonstrating its evolution and the ongoing risks it presents. In 2023, an Idaho man was charged with attempting to transport and sell more than 1,000 pounds of poached antlers valued at approximately $18,000, resulting in substantial fines and a hunting ban. While regulations have tightened and enforcement has improved since Campbell's day, the fundamental dynamics that may have contributed to his disappearance remain: valuable natural resources, limited oversight capacity, and the human willingness to risk legal penalties for financial gain.For those who venture into Yellowstone's backcountry today, Campbell's story serves as a haunting reminder that beneath the park's spectacular beauty lies a landscape that can still harbor both natural perils and human darkness. As we conclude our exploration of this mysterious disappearance, we're left with the same questions that have troubled investigators and family members for decades: What really happened to Dan Campbell and Freckles on that April journey in 1991? And will we ever know the truth?Our research for this episode draws on extensive sources, including original search and rescue reports, interviews with former park rangers, newspaper archives from the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, Freedom of Information Act documents released by the Department of Interior, Campbell family statements, and expert analysis on Yellowstone terrain, weather patterns, and wildlife behavior. Yet despite this wealth of information, Dan Campbell's fate remains one of the park's most persistent mysteries — a story that continues to fascinate and disturb more than thirty years after he vanished without a trace.

In this chilling episode, we dive deep into the mysterious Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina, where moonshine and monsters collide in a story that spans generations. Join us as we unravel the tale of Jim, a master moonshiner whose knowledge of the mountains led to prosperity—and ultimately, his mysterious disappearance in 1972.This haunting narrative, told from the perspective of his grandson, explores how Jim used the feared presence of Sasquatch creatures to keep revenue agents and competitors away from his illegal stills in an area locals called "Booger Holler." But as we'll discover, nature always collects its debts, and some territories should never be trespassed—no matter how profitable they might be.This haunting tale explores themes of territory, respect for nature, and the price of hubris. The Appalachian Mountains have long been home to tales of strange creatures and unexplained phenomena, with "Booger" being a common mountain term for ghost or monster. While science may not acknowledge the existence of Sasquatch, many mountain communities have their own stories of encounters with something not quite human that protects the deepest, most isolated hollows.Moonshining itself has a rich history in the Appalachians, where distilling skills were passed down through generations and became both an economic necessity and a point of cultural pride for many families. The tension between moonshiners and "revenuers" (federal agents) created a perfect environment for legends to thrive—especially those that kept strangers away from secret still locations.Listener DiscretionThis episode contains descriptions of implied violence and intense situations that may not be suitable for younger listeners. While not graphically depicted, the story suggests the fate of those who venture too far into territories they aren't welcome in.What did you think of this episode? Do you have your own strange tales from isolated mountain hollers? Let us know on our social media channels or leave a review.Website: https://paranormalworldproductions.com/ Instagram: @bigfootbks TikTok @bigfootbks

In this bone-chilling episode of "Into the Unknown," Brian narrates the extraordinary firsthand account of a man who survived multiple encounters with Sasquatch in the remote Alaskan wilderness. Brian brings to life the story of a former architect who abandoned city life in Anchorage to build his dream home on a hundred-acre property in the Kenai Peninsula, only to discover he had unwittingly entered territory claimed by creatures most believe exist only in legend. Through meticulous research and exclusive interviews with the survivor, Brian reconstructs this harrowing tale of territorial conflict and survival. Listeners will hear how the man's experience began with mysterious knocking sounds in the forest and quickly escalated to an orchestrated campaign of intimidation—rocks hurled at his trailer, destruction of construction equipment, and ultimately, coordinated attacks by multiple Sasquatch displaying disturbing levels of intelligence and strategic thinking. The narrative details the physical characteristics of these massive bipedal beings, their communication methods, and their apparent ability to remember specific humans and hold grudges against those who intrude on their territory. The survivor's account of narrowly escaping death during a night-long siege provides some of the most credible and detailed testimony ever documented about Sasquatch behavior. This hidden conflict has remained largely unknown to the public due to skepticism, misclassification of deaths as wilderness accidents, and potentially even governmental reluctance to acknowledge the existence of another intelligent species with territorial claims to North American lands. The episode concludes with sobering reflections on what these encounters suggest about humanity's place in the wilderness—that in certain remote regions, we may not be the apex predators we believe ourselves to be, but rather intruders in territories long claimed by something more ancient and unwilling to share. Whether you're fascinated by cryptid phenomena or a committed skeptic, this meticulously researched account will make you reconsider what might really be watching from the shadows when you venture into the deep wilderness. Content warning: This episode contains descriptions of violence and situations that some listeners may find disturbing.

Deep in the shadows of Mount St. Helens, five gold prospectors experienced a night of terror that would forever mark their lives and give birth to one of America's most enduring wilderness mysteries.In this episode, we transport you to July 1924, when Fred Beck, the steady leader of a small mining operation, fired three shots at a strange, towering figure glimpsed across a canyon. Little did he know that as darkness fell, his cabin would become a fortress under siege.Join us as we follow Fred, Gabe Lefever, John Peterson, Marion Smith, and his son Roy through their harrowing ordeal—rocks and massive objects raining down on their roof, glimpses of seven-foot creatures moving through moonlit shadows, and the heart-stopping moment when a massive, hair-covered arm reached through their window.As dawn broke over Mount St. Helens, the men discovered fourteen-inch footprints surrounding their cabin, evidence of something science couldn't explain.Their story would reach The Oregonian newspaper under the headline "Ape Men Sought," and a remote gorge would forever be known as "Ape Canyon. "Ninety-nine years later, we examine what really happened during that midsummer night and why Fred Beck maintained the truth of their encounter until his death, insisting they had confronted something unknown in the wilderness of the Pacific Northwest.Share your own wilderness encounter: brian@paranormalworldproductions.com

This week, we journey into the heart of two of America's most magnificent national parks to unravel mysteries that have confounded investigators for decades. Two young men, four years apart, both vanished without a trace while hiking alone on well-established trails. Their disappearances share disturbing similarities that suggest these weren't simply cases of lost hikers, but perhaps something far more inexplicable.The Story of Timothy Barnes takes us to the crystalline waters of Tenaya Lake in Yosemite National Park. On July 5, 1988, 25-year-old Timothy "Tim" Barnes set out on what should have been a routine day hike. Standing 6'3" with shoulder-length dark brown hair, Tim was an experienced outdoorsman who had hiked Yosemite's trails many times before.At 9:00 AM, he was spotted by a family from Michigan, walking north from the Murphy Creek Trailhead toward Poly Domes. Tim exchanged pleasant greetings with them, appearing relaxed and confident in his white t-shirt with a distinctive red anti-fascism symbol, gray sweatpants, and yellow daypack. This would be the last confirmed sighting of Timothy Barnes. When Tim failed to return, one of the most comprehensive search operations in Yosemite's history was launched. For weeks, professional search and rescue teams with trained dogs scoured the landscape. Helicopters swept the terrain from above while technical climbing teams explored every crevice of the granite domes.Yet they found nothing. No backpack, no clothing, no signs of struggle or injury. Tim had seemingly evaporated into the wilderness.As we explore in this episode, the Barnes case is riddled with bizarre elements that defy conventional explanation:Search dogs exhibited unusual behavior, becoming agitated and confused in certain areasMultiple hikers reported compass malfunctions and static electricity phenomena on the day Tim disappearedTwo search teams heard what sounded like distant calls for help coming from areas that had already been thoroughly searchedHikers described strange, localized fog banks that formed and dissipated rapidly against prevailing windsThree months after his disappearance, a fragment of yellow fabric resembling Tim's backpack was discovered in an area that had been meticulously searched multiple timesPerhaps most chilling were the revelations from Tim's mother that in the weeks before his hike, Tim had experienced unusually vivid dreams about being lost in a landscape where "the geography kept shifting" and had developed a sudden, intense interest in the geological formations of Poly Domes.The David Morrison mystery then takes us to the spectacular alpine scenery of Glacier National Park, Montana. On October 12, 1992, 26-year-old David Morrison parked his rental car at Logan Pass Visitor Center and began hiking the famous Highline Trail. Like Timothy Barnes, Morrison was physically fit, experienced in wilderness navigation, and hiking alone. He had checked in with rangers that morning and planned to return before sunset. He, too, would never be seen again.The parallels between the Morrison and Barnes cases are uncanny:Both men were in their mid-twenties with athletic buildsBoth disappeared in the morning hours from well-marked trailsBoth had clearly intended to return the same dayBoth cases featured a complete absence of physical evidence despite extensive searchesBoth searches encountered unexplained phenomena with search dogsBoth disappearances coincided with reports of unusual, localized weather anomaliesThe most perplexing development came thirteen months after Morrison's disappearance, when a distinctive pendant he had been wearing was discovered by a hiker on a trail more than twelve miles from his last known location—an area that had been thoroughly searched during the initial investigation.The Unsettling PatternIn this episode, I delve into how these cases connect to a larger pattern of similar disappearances across North America's wilderness areas. We examine:The profile of those who vanish—predominantly young, physically fit menThe geographical clustering of these incidents in certain national parks and wilderness areasThe consistent lack of physical evidence despite modern search techniquesThe repeated reports of unusual weather phenomena, equipment malfunctions, and strange behavior of search animalsWhile this episode explores the strange circumstances surrounding these disappearances, it also serves as a reminder of the very real dangers of solo hiking. We discuss:The importance of filing detailed hiking plans with park rangers or trusted contactsWhy carrying emergency communication devices can be lifesavingHow to prepare for unexpected weather changes in alpine environmentsWhy even experienced hikers should approach unfamiliar trails with cautionGet Our FREE NewsletterGet Brian's Books Leave Us A VoicemailVisit Our WebsiteSupport Our SponsorsVisit Untold Radio AM

Today, Brian brings you the chilling first-person account of Jack, a former farm owner whose family experienced a series of terrifying encounters with what can only be described as a Dogman.Jack describes how the encounters began with mysterious livestock disappearances and strange predator tracks that were "too big for a wolf, shaped wrong for a bear"The family's increasing terror as the creature progresses from killing animals to stalking their home, including a hair-raising incident where it was seen looking through their 10-year-old son's second-story windowVivid descriptions of the entity: standing 7-8 feet tall with canine features, possessing disturbing intelligence, and displaying unnaturally long limbs with hand-like appendagesThe terrifying escalation when the creature attempts to prevent the family from leaving their property, leading to a violent confrontation on a rural roadThe heartbreaking loss of Bill Thompson, an elderly neighbor who believed in Jack's accounts and ultimately sacrificed himself helping the family escapeThe family's desperate flight across country, only to discover the creature might have abilities beyond what they imagined, including possible shapeshiftingJack's current life in coastal Oregon, where he's connected with others who've had similar experiences and tracks missing persons cases that match the Dogman's hunting patternsLISTENER DISCRETION ADVISED This episode contains graphic descriptions of animal deaths, human injury, and psychological trauma. Not recommended for younger listeners or those sensitive to content involving threats to children.What was the creature's unusual fixation on Jack's son Ethan?Could these entities be interdimensional beings rather than flesh-and-blood creatures?Why do they seem to be increasing in number according to witness accounts?.#DogmanEncounters #CryptidCreatures #SupernaturalSightings #MonstersAreReal

In this episode Brian shares a remarkable story from a man named Dale who had an extraordinary encounter in the North Georgia mountains back in 1983. As teenagers, Dale and his friend Brad embarked on what they thought would be a routine fishing and camping trip down the Chattooga River, only to experience something that would change their lives forever.Episode Highlights:Dale recounts how he and Brad, just 14 years old, set out on a seven-day journey down the Chattooga River in a flat-bottom aluminum boatThe boys' initial encounters with strange sounds and wood knocking that couldn't be explained by known wildlifeThe discovery of massive, unexplainable footprints along the riverbankA terrifying moment when an unknown creature tears apart their steel mesh fish basket to steal their prized catfishMultiple nighttime encounters with what appears to be a group of Sasquatch creaturesHow these beings seemed not to threaten the boys, but rather to warn them away from continuing downstreamDale's reflection on the experience forty years later, and why he and Brad chose to keep their story private until nowDale's firsthand account provides a unique perspective on Sasquatch encounters - not as the menacing creatures often portrayed in popular culture, but as territorial yet protective beings. The story raises fascinating questions about what might exist in the most remote corners of our wilderness and why these creatures might choose to interact with humans in rare circumstances.Whether you're a believer in cryptids or a skeptic, this riveting tale of two boys' unexpected adventure offers a thought-provoking glimpse into the mysteries that may still lurk in our forests.Get Our FREE NewsletterGet Brian's Books Leave Us A VoicemailVisit Our WebsiteSupport Our SponsorsVisit Untold Radio AM

Welcome back to National Park Nightmares, the podcast that explores real-life disappearances, survival stories, and unexplained events from deep within America's most iconic wilderness areas. In Volume 4, we dive into some of the most chilling—and unforgettable—cases yet. We begin with a rare story of survival. Christy Perry, a seasoned hiker, vanished in Big Bend National Park in Texas in November 2023. For eight days, she endured freezing temperatures, rain, and isolation with no food and only rainwater to drink. Most feared the worst.Then, against all odds, she was found alive. Her story is a reminder that sometimes, hope really does make the difference. But not every story has a happy ending.Next, we explore the mysterious disappearance of Eric Robinson, a veteran adventurer who set out to solo-hike Utah's High Uintas in 2011—and never made it back. Years passed with no trace until, in 2016, a group of hikers stumbled on his remains in one of the most rugged areas of the park. What happened in those final days remains unclear, but the discovery offered long-awaited answers.Then there's Morgan Heimer—a young river guide who vanished in broad daylight in the Grand Canyon in 2015. One moment he was assisting guests at the water's edge… the next, he was gone. No struggle. No sound. No trace.Despite an extensive search, his case remains one of the canyon's most baffling mysteries.We also revisit the strange disappearance of George Penca, who was hiking with his church group on Yosemite's popular Upper Yosemite Falls Trail in 2011. It was a busy day, surrounded by people. And yet, George simply disappeared. Search efforts came up empty. The trail gave no clues. And like Morgan, George was just… gone.Michael Ficery's case takes us deeper into Yosemite's backcountry. In 2005, the experienced solo backpacker set out from Hetch Hetchy and was never seen again. His backpack was found along a trail—but nothing else. No remains. No other belongings. Just a pack, sitting in silence, in the middle of nowhere.And finally, not every mystery is about a disappearance.In 2005, in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, 44-year-old Arman B. Johnson was found murdered just off the highway. A single gunshot wound. No suspects. No clear motive. A life taken violently in a place known for its beauty—and still, no justice.Some of the people in this episode came back. Some didn't. Some are still missing. And in every case, one thing is clear: even in the most beautiful places on earth, the wild doesn't play by our rules.These stories aren't just about mystery. They're about real people. And if you know anything about the cases of Morgan Heimer, George Penca, Michael Ficery, or Arman Johnson, we urge you to contact authorities. Even one small tip can make all the difference.If this episode stayed with you, subscribe, rate, and review the podcast. Share it with someone. And if you want more, head over to our YouTube channel, Backwoods Bigfoot Stories, for deep dives into more strange disappearances and true crime in the wild.Until next time—stay safe, stay aware… and stay curious.Get Our FREE NewsletterGet Brian's Books Leave Us A VoicemailVisit Our WebsiteSupport Our SponsorsVisit Untold Radio AM

Five people. Five remote regions. Five encounters that leave more questions than answers. In this chilling episode, we dive deep into the raw, first-person accounts of individuals who came face-to-face with something impossible—and survived to tell the story.From a veteran park ranger in Olympic National Park who locked eyes with a towering, silent figure by a remote creek, to a hiker in northern Minnesota who stumbled across an eerie structure and felt something watching from just beyond the trees… these aren't blurry photos or secondhand stories. These are firsthand moments where fear met something real in the woods.We'll take you through the Blue Ridge Mountains with a seasoned deputy who followed the trail of a missing hunter and found only silence—and massive, barefoot tracks. Then we head into the dense, oppressive swamps of the Florida Everglades, where a wildlife officer encounters stacked stones, peeled trees, and heavy footfalls around his tent.But the episode ends with a story that still gives us chills.An experienced solo hiker heads into the Cascade Mountains for what should've been a quiet weekend off the grid. By the third day, the forest falls silent. Claw marks too high for any known animal, giant human-like prints, and a primitive shelter lead to a direct encounter with an eight-foot-tall creature communicating through knocks and strange calls.What follows is a relentless, three-day pursuit—an intelligent, calculated display by multiple creatures working together in the deep woods. And though they had every opportunity to take him, they didn't. Instead, they left a message: his lost gear, neatly displayed where he couldn't miss it. A warning. Or maybe… a test.This episode isn't about belief. It's about the people who went into the woods and came back changed. Listener discretion advised.Get Our FREE NewsletterGet Brian's Books Leave Us A VoicemailVisit Our WebsiteSupport Our SponsorsVisit Untold Radio AM

In this gripping episode, we explore four true stories of seasoned hunters whose lives were changed forever deep in the wilderness. These are men who spent their entire lives in the woods, men who knew every sound, every shadow, and every sign the forest had to offer. They were confident, experienced, and prepared for anything—until the day they weren't.From the dark pine forests of northern Minnesota to the remote wilderness of central Oregon… from the dense hollows of northern Alabama to the endless thickets of East Texas… each of these men came face-to-face with something they couldn't explain. Something that didn't belong. Something that took everything they thought they knew about the woods—and shattered it.In these powerful first-hand accounts, you'll hear:A quiet Minnesota bowhunt turned life-changing encounter.A remote Oregon camping trip that ended with terrifying screams and glowing eyes.A desperate Alabama hunter's three-day solo trip that became a fight for survival.An East Texas deer hunter's close encounter that made him hang up his rifle for good.These are stories that will make you question what's really out there. And by the end, you might just change your tune about what's possible in the deep, wild places of North America.Seeing is believing.Get Our FREE NewsletterGet Brian's Books Leave Us A VoicemailVisit Our WebsiteSupport Our SponsorsVisit Untold Radio AM

In this chilling episode of National Park Nightmares, we explore two of the most unsettling disappearances in America's wild places—stories where the line between accident and something darker blurs beyond recognition.First, we return to 1958 and the shadowy slopes of Mount Meeker in Colorado. Ten-year-old Bobby Bizup vanished from Camp St. Malo, a Catholic boys' camp near Rocky Mountain National Park. Deaf, trusting, and familiar with the camp, Bobby was last seen leaving a fishing spot alone. Despite an exhaustive search, his remains weren't found until a year later—by a counselor who was also one of the last people to see him alive. Decades later, shocking revelations surfaced: that same counselor, Neil Hewitt, along with other clergy members from the camp, were later exposed as prolific abusers. Federal investigators are now reopening Bobby's case, fueled by new evidence—including the discovery of Bobby's missing skull in the possession of a Colorado family tied to the camp's leadership. What really happened to Bobby Bizup? And why did the people meant to protect him fail him so completely?Then we move to Yosemite National Park, 1981. Fourteen-year-old Stacey Ann Arras disappears during a short walk from Sunrise High Sierra Camp. Last seen standing on a rock near camp, she simply vanished. Despite an intensive search, not a single clue was found. No tracks. No belongings. Nothing. How does a teenager disappear in plain sight on a sunny afternoon? Forty years later, we still don't have answers.These are stories of innocence lost in America's most beautiful—and unforgiving—places. Stories where nature's silence speaks volumes, and where the wilderness may hide more than we can imagine.Get Our FREE NewsletterGet Brian's Books Leave Us A VoicemailVisit Our WebsiteSupport Our SponsorsVisit Untold Radio AMVisit HIMS.COM

In tonight's episode, we're heading into the dark corners of the British countryside, where more than a few people have come face to face with something they can't explain. These aren't tall tales from deep in the American wilderness. These are stories from people in Scotland, Derbyshire, Oldham… places where folklore runs deep and the forests seem to hold their breath after dark.We start with an eerie pair of encounters near Cairnpapple Hill in the Bathgate Hills of Scotland. A young driver and his friends stumble upon a dark figure racing towards their car. Years later, he returns—only to find that something still waits for him in the snow, following his every move.Next, we travel to the winding Carrick Hills of Ayrshire, where a family drive turns into something much darker. A father, not known for fear, sees something out on the hills he refuses to talk about for the rest of his life. He never takes his family that way again.From there, we move to British Aerospace at Monkton in 1999. A young woman walking alone at dawn sees something that should not exist. Standing seven feet tall, it watches her from just a few meters away, standing on two legs, growling low. After that day, she's never quite the same—and she never walks alone again.Then we hear the story of a welder in Oldham who decides to work late and sleep overnight at the factory. What follows is a terrifying series of events as he's stalked through the streets by something that looks more beast than man. He makes it to the train station—but only just.And finally, we share an anonymous email submission from “Paul,” a forestry worker who stayed behind one night near Glen Clova. He thought he was alone—until he realized something was following him through the silent woods. What stepped out of the darkness that night changed him forever.Five stories. Five encounters. And one unsettling possibility: that there's something ancient and unknown still out there. And it might be closer than you think. Get Our FREE NewsletterGet Brian's Books Leave Us A VoicemailVisit Our WebsiteSupport Our SponsorsVisit Untold Radio AMVisit HIMS.COM

In the deep, mist-covered swamps of Louisiana and the shadowed bottomlands of Arkansas, something has been seen. Something big. Something wild. And for decades, the stories have haunted locals and fueled whispered warnings: Don't go out there after dark.In this episode, we travel first to the murky waters of Honey Island Swamp. Since the early 1960s, there have been sightings of a hulking, hair-covered creature said to stand over seven feet tall. It's known for its piercing yellow eyes, webbed footprints, and the foul stench it leaves behind. Some say it's an undiscovered primate. Others say it's something far older, something tied to the ancient legends of the land.Then we head north, across the state line, to the town of Fouke, Arkansas. In 1971, a quiet rural community was shaken by a terrifying encounter that left a family fleeing their home and sparked one of America's most enduring monster legends. The creature became known as the Fouke Monster—or the Boggy Creek Monster. Witnesses describe a towering figure with glowing red eyes and long arms that swing like a great ape.The stories are chilling, the evidence mysterious, and the legend refuses to die.Finally, we follow a trail that may tie these two legends together. A story that crosses swamps, rivers, and state lines. A story of men who went looking for the truth—and may have found it. Or maybe something found them. Are these two creatures part of the same mystery? Separate beasts haunting different landscapes? Or is it all just folklore—old stories to keep people from wandering too far into the dark? You decide. But remember, some legends are more than just stories.Get Our FREE NewsletterGet Brian's Books Leave Us A VoicemailVisit Our WebsiteSupport Our SponsorsVisit Untold Radio AMVisit HIMS.COM

The wilderness holds secrets… and some of them are darker than we ever imagined.In Episode Two of National Park Nightmares, we take you deeper into the shadows of America's most breathtaking landscapes—places meant for adventure, peace, and connection with nature. But for some, these parks became the setting of an unexplainable disappearance… and a nightmare that never ended.This week, we explore more of the most baffling missing persons cases to ever come out of our National Parks. Stories where experienced hikers vanish from well-marked trails, children disappear in the blink of an eye, and search parties find clues that only lead to more questions.How can someone be there one minute… and gone the next? What do the strange patterns and eerie details tell us? And are these simply accidents—or something far stranger?Join me as we examine these chilling cases, piece together the facts, and confront the haunting possibilities that lie just beyond the treeline.

This episode takes you deep into the wilds and waters of North Carolina, where folklore and fear go hand in hand.We kick things off in the murky lowlands of Scape Ore Swamp, home to one of the strangest cryptid encounters on record. Known as the Lizard Man, this creature first terrorized the small town of Bishopville in the late 1980s. With glowing red eyes, scaly skin, and a towering frame, witnesses described something straight out of a nightmare. But some say this wasn't a one-time visitor. Could the Scape Ore Swamp Monster be part of something bigger—another link in North Carolina's long history of Bigfoot sightings?From there, we head into the dense forests and remote backroads, where encounters with Bigfoot have spanned generations. Hunters, hikers, and locals tell stories of hulking, hair-covered figures crossing highways in the dead of night, of eerie howls that send shivers down your spine, and of something massive lurking just beyond the tree line. These aren't just isolated incidents—they're part of a pattern stretching across the state, from the Uwharrie National Forest to the Blue Ridge Mountains.But the mysteries don't stop in the woods. Off the coast, the Outer Banks are known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic, where more than 2,000 ships have met their end. Some of them, according to legend, never left. We explore the chilling stories of North Carolina's ghost ships, like the Carroll A. Deering, found run aground in 1921 with its entire crew vanished. And then there's the Flaming Ship of Ocracoke, a phantom vessel said to appear in flames before vanishing into thin air.Then come the booms. Along these same shores, locals have heard thunderous explosions for centuries—sounds that rattle homes, shake the ground, and leave no physical trace. They call them the Seneca Guns. Are they earthquakes? Underwater landslides? Something stranger? No one knows. But the booms keep coming.And just when you think it can't get any stranger, we dig into North Carolina's werewolf legends. From the colonial era to the present day, there are stories of shapeshifters, half-human beasts, and howls that don't belong to any known predator. Whether they're European legends brought over by settlers or something older and native to these lands, the werewolves of North Carolina still haunt the edges of local lore.From swamp monsters and Sasquatch to ghost ships, phantom booms, and werewolves—this is North Carolina like you've never heard it before.If you're loving these stories, here's what to do next:Follow and subscribe to the show.Turn on auto-downloads so you never miss an episode.Leave a rating and review—it helps more people find us, and we appreciate it.Most importantly, tell your friends, family, and co-workers. Share the show and spread the mystery.And don't forget—our National Park Nightmares series drops every Sunday. You can listen on your favorite podcast app or watch on the Backwoods Bigfoot Stories YouTube channel.Until next time, keep your eyes on the shadows… and your ears open for what's out there.Get Our FREE NewsletterGet Brian's Books Leave Us A VoicemailVisit Our WebsiteSupport Our SponsorsVisit Untold Radio AMVisit HIMS.COM

Welcome to first episode in a series of National Park Nightmares, a deep dive into some of the most mysterious disappearances that have taken place in America's vast and often unforgiving national parks. In this first episode of the series, we explore four baffling cases of individuals who vanished under strange and unexplained circumstances: Dennis Martin, Thelma Pauline Melton, Bessie and Glen Hyde, and Trenny Gibson. Each of these cases presents unique and unsettling elements that leave us questioning what forces might be at play in the depths of the wilderness. These are not merely stories of people getting lost. Many of these cases involve eerie coincidences, missing evidence, and witnesses reporting odd details that defy conventional explanations. As we embark on this series, we aim to investigate the facts while respecting the families of the missing, acknowledging the pain they have endured, and ensuring that these individuals are not forgotten. Some speculate that unknown elements—whether natural, human, or even cryptid—may be involved in these disappearances. While we are not here to promote any particular theory, we cannot ignore that fact is sometimes stranger than fiction.Cases Covered in This Episode:

The woods and backroads at night hold more than just the familiar legends of Sasquatch or the terrifying Dogman. Some encounters defy classification—leaving behind nothing but questions and an eerie sense that reality is far stranger than we think. In this episode, we dive into some chilling experiences:A police officer witnesses an otherworldly figure lurking in the shadows—something small, gray, and watching him with enormous black eyes. The encounter leaves him frozen in place until the creature raises its arm, revealing a strange metallic bracelet. A moment later, everything goes dark, and he wakes up on the ground, disoriented and haunted by what he saw.A woman mowing her pasture spots an unusual being—grayish-white, moving in an unnatural, bouncing gait. Later, whispers in her mind seem to acknowledge her routine, and she begins to suspect she is being watched. Her unease grows when strange lights appear in the sky, and her security system goes unchecked on the very night something stirs outside her home.Another witness, out for an evening walk, sees a glowing shape hovering just above the treetops. As he nears the forest's edge, he notices an eerie blue light shining through the trees. Then, he sees it—something not human, something observing him in complete silence. What happens next is a blackout he can't explain, leaving him shaken to this day.Get Our FREE NewsletterGet Brian's Books Leave Us A VoicemailVisit Our WebsiteSupport Our SponsorsVisit Untold Radio AMVisit HIMS.COMAre these beings visitors from somewhere else? Shadowy forces hiding in the unknown? Or something we have yet to understand?

For centuries, people have whispered about creatures that lurk just beyond the edges of our understanding—beings that live in the shadows, in the forests, beneath the waves. Some dismiss them as folklore, others claim to have seen them with their own eyes. And then, there are those who say they've lived among them.Tonight, we explore three incredible stories—each more unbelievable than the last.First, we journey to Tennessee, where the Carter family claimed to have lived alongside a clan of Sasquatch for decades. At the heart of this astonishing story is Fox, a massive, intelligent male Bigfoot who supposedly learned to understand English and even spoke in broken phrases. Was this a case of true interspecies communication, or one of the most elaborate hoaxes in Bigfoot history?  Then, we dive deep—literally—into the legend of mermaid-like fish people, humanoid creatures spotted in remote waters across the world. From ancient sailor accounts to modern-day reports, there have been eerie descriptions of beings that seem half human, half fish—but are they truly mermaids, or something far stranger? Some stories tell of intelligent water-dwelling entities who avoid human contact, while others suggest something more sinister lurking beneath the surface.And finally, we venture to the dense jungles of India, where generations have told of the Monkey Man—a creature said to be part human, part primate, seen leaping across rooftops and vanishing into the night. Some believe it's an undiscovered species, while others insist it's something supernatural, a being that exists in the space between reality and myth. But in 2001, panic swept through the city of Delhi when multiple reports surfaced of a terrifying humanoid figure attacking people in the dead of night.Was this mass hysteria, or something much more real?This episode is a journey through the unbelievable, the unexplained, and the outright bizarre. From the deep forests of Tennessee to the waters where legends of mermaids refuse to die, to the mysterious figure haunting the streets of India—these are stories that defy explanation.So, what do you believe? Are these just myths, or is there something out there, hiding in the spaces we refuse to look? Support the Show! If you love exploring the unknown with me, I need your help! If you're listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, take a moment to rate and review the show—it helps more people find these incredible stories and keeps the search for the truth alive.And imagine what we could do together if you shared this episode with five friends who are just as fascinated by the unexplained as you are.The search isn't over. Not by a long shot. Keep looking, keep questioning, and come back next time for another mind-bending true story.Get Our FREE NewsletterGet Brian's Books Leave Us A VoicemailVisit Our WebsiteSupport Our SponsorsVisit Untold Radio AMVisit HIMS.COM

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of the unexplained, where reality and myth blur into one. From terrifying roadside encounters to years of unexplained abductions, tonight's stories will leave you questioning just how much of the unknown is lurking right outside our doorsteps.Story 1: The Werewolf on the HighwayOur journey into the strange begins with a late-night drive home, where a logistics worker encounters something he can't explain. At first, he thinks it's a moose or a bear lying in the road, but as he slows down, he realizes it's something else entirely. Its sickly yellow eyes, patchy wet fur, and unnatural, almost human-like legs haunt him for weeks. Was it just a wolf struck by a passing truck, or did he come face-to-face with something straight out of legend—a werewolf?Story 2: A Woman's Harrowing Abductions by SasquatchFor one Ohio woman, strange encounters weren't just fleeting moments of terror—they were a lifelong nightmare. She claims that a group of Bigfoots repeatedly visited her family, even abducting her and holding her captive in a cave as a child. Over the years, her memories of these experiences were repressed, only to resurface later, bringing with them chilling details of her time among the creatures. Were they simply observing her, or did they have a deeper purpose?Story 3: Adele's Backyard VisitorSometimes, encounters with the unknown come when we least expect them. For Adele, it was a quiet spring morning in her backyard, where she often fed local wildlife. As she sat watching the animals, she noticed something unusual—long, flowing blonde hair moving toward the feeding station. At first, she thought it was a dog, but as the creature got closer, she realized it wasn't. With dark, leathery hands and feet and intelligent eyes, this being defied everything she knew. When it stood up on two legs and sprinted away at impossible speed, she knew her life would never be the same.Story 4: The Wolfman of Cinder RoadOur final story comes from a prominent local government official who wishes to remain anonymous. Late one night, while driving down a backroad near Bendon, Michigan, he spotted a pair of glowing eyes in his headlights. Expecting a deer, he slowed down—only to realize that the creature before him was no ordinary animal. Standing on two legs near a road-killed deer was a massive, wolf-like figure covered in dark fur. He brought his truck to a complete stop, staring in shock as it stared right back. Just as he began to doubt his own eyes, the creature dropped to all fours and sprinted across the road into the woods. Shaken but determined to prove what he had seen, he stepped out and photographed massive paw prints in the soft dirt. If not for those pictures, he admits, he might have convinced himself it was all in his imagination.Final Thoughts: What Lurks in the Shadows?Each of these stories leaves us with a sense of unease—a reminder that sometimes, the world is far stranger than we'd like to believe. Were these encounters simply misidentified animals, tricks of the mind, or proof that creatures of legend still walk among us?That's for you to decide.But if one day you find yourself alone on a dark highway, standing in your backyard at dawn, or venturing into the woods at dusk, take a moment to listen. Watch the shadows.Because maybe—just maybe—something is watching you back.Subscribe & FollowIf you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe and leave a review! Got your own strange encounter to share? We'd love to hear from you. Contact us at [your email or website] and follow us on [social media handles] for updates on future episodes.Until next time—stay curious, stay safe, and keep your eyes on the darkness.Get Our FREE NewsletterGet Brian's Books Leave Us A VoicemailVisit Our WebsiteSupport Our SponsorsVisit Untold Radio AMVisit HIMS.COM

War leaves scars—some you can see, some you can't. And some remain hidden in the deep, dark jungles where the rules of reality seem to shift.In tonight's episode, we dive into an extraordinary email from a Vietnam veteran named Roger M., a loyal listener who has carried a secret for decades. He was there. He fought in the war. And he encountered something the military told him to forget—something that wasn't human. Roger's story isn't just another Bigfoot sighting. His unit faced a terrifying presence in the jungle: the Rock Apes of Vietnam. Described as bipedal, muscular, and fiercely territorial, these creatures weren't just watching. They were fighting back. With chilling details of rock-throwing attacks, eerie vocalizations, and silent, unnatural moments deep in enemy territory, Roger's experience raises one unsettling question—what exactly was out there with them?But Roger's story isn't the only one. As we peel back the layers of history and folklore, we'll look at similar reports from the other side of the war. Vietnamese soldiers, too, whispered about the “Người Rừng” or “Forest People”—hairy, humanoid beings that didn't seem to take sides but weren't afraid to show their presence. Were the Rock Apes simply an undiscovered species? Or was something even more mysterious at play in the jungles of Southeast Asia?From the war-torn forests of Vietnam, we travel to the remote hills of India, where another legend lurks in the shadows—the Mande Barung. Often called “India's Bigfoot,” this creature has been reported by locals for generations, described as a massive, upright ape-like being that roams the dense rainforests of Meghalaya. What makes the Mande Barung so fascinating? Could it be related to the creatures Roger and his fellow soldiers encountered? And why do reports of these beings appear in so many of the world's most isolated regions?And finally, we journey into the frozen Himalayas to confront the most famous of them all—the Yeti. For centuries, stories of this towering, elusive creature have captivated explorers, monks, and mountaineers alike. From ancient Buddhist texts to modern-day footprint discoveries, the Yeti remains one of the greatest mysteries in cryptozoology. Could the legends of the Yeti and the Mande Barung connect to the Rock Apes of Vietnam? Are we looking at scattered remnants of a species that once roamed the Earth freely?Tonight, we're unraveling the threads of a mystery that stretches across continents and centuries. A mystery that suggests the creatures of legend might not just be myths after all.Tune in—because sometimes, the truth hides in the jungle, the mountains, and the darkness of war itself.Get Our FREE NewsletterGet Brian's Books Leave Us A VoicemailVisit Our WebsiteSupport Our SponsorsVisit Untold Radio AMVisit HIMS.COM

Tonight's episode takes us deep into the unknown, exploring eerie encounters that span continents and generations. We begin with the ancient legends of cryptids—Bigfoot, the Yeti, the Yowie, and the Yeren—beings that have lurked in folklore for centuries. These creatures, often described as massive, hairy, and elusive, have fascinated and frightened those who have claimed to see them. But as time has passed, our stories have evolved, and with them, the beings themselves.What if these legendary creatures were only the beginning? Our journey shifts to modern accounts of humanoid entities that stretch beyond the realm of cryptids. A hunter in Montgomery, New York, experiences an unshakable terror before witnessing a strange figure and vehicles that defy explanation. A night watchman in Cerro Borrego, Mexico, captures photos of a winged humanoid, only to find the images inexplicably erased the next day. Across the globe, from England to Australia, people report encounters with towering faceless figures, glowing-eyed beings, and entities that defy the laws of physics.But it doesn't stop there. Some of these encounters suggest something more than just momentary sightings. People speak of missing time, physical ailments, and inexplicable changes in their bodies following these experiences. What was once thought to be creatures of the wilderness now appears to have a deeper, more mysterious connection to something beyond our world. Are these beings extraterrestrial? Interdimensional? Or are they something else entirely—something we have yet to comprehend?As we close this chapter, the mystery remains unsolved. What do all these sightings mean? Are they all separate phenomena, or do they connect in ways we have yet to understand? One thing is certain: these stories come from real people, and they leave us with more questions than answers. But perhaps that is the true nature of the unknown—it is not meant to be solved, only explored.Thank you for joining us on this journey into the shadows. If you have your own story to share, reach out—we want to hear it. And until we meet again, keep your eyes open, your mind questioning, and your curiosity alive. The truth is out there, and it may be closer than we think.Have you ever had an encounter with the unknown? Have you seen something in the night that defied explanation? Share your experiences with us!

Reality is not always as it seems. Sometimes, the veil between the known and the unknown grows thin, allowing terrifying and unexplainable encounters to seep into our world. In this episode we explore firsthand accounts of mysterious creatures, eerie extraterrestrial visitations, and encounters with entities that defy human understanding.From a shadowy humanoid sprinting at unnatural speeds in Cincinnati to a grotesque creature screeching in the night in Indiana, these stories will leave you questioning what lurks just beyond the edge of perception. Witnesses report small red beings watching from the trees, paranormal abductions with missing time, and UFOs descending in rural landscapes, leaving behind fear and unanswered questions.Are these encounters glimpses into other dimensions, visitors from distant worlds, or manifestations of something even more sinister? One thing is certain—these experiences are not easily forgotten.So turn down the lights, listen closely, and prepare yourself for Dark Visitors: Terrifying True Stories. But be warned—once you hear these accounts, you may never look at the night the same way again.Stories Featured in This Episode:

In this chilling episode, we dive deep into two of the most harrowing Bigfoot encounter cases ever documented—the infamous Siege at Honobia and the mysterious Kentucky Bigfoot Encounters. These terrifying accounts of aggressive and persistent Sasquatch activity will leave you questioning just how close we are to the unknown.We start with the Siege at Honobia, where a rural Oklahoma family found themselves under relentless attack by an unknown entity lurking in the darkness. Over two years, the disturbances escalated from strange noises and stolen food to violent attempts to enter their home. After a fateful night when the family patriarch fired at the creature, the investigation took an even darker turn. The case drew the attention of the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization (BFRO), who documented chilling evidence that something massive, intelligent, and possibly territorial was lurking in the remote Kiamichi Mountains.Then, we travel to Kentucky, another Bigfoot hotspot, where multiple encounters paint a hauntingly similar picture. From deep Appalachian forests to isolated farmlands, witnesses describe massive bipedal creatures with glowing red eyes, eerie vocalizations, and unsettling persistence. In some cases, creatures were seen stalking homes, peering through windows, and even physically shaking buildings. What makes Kentucky such a magnet for these encounters, and what patterns emerge when comparing these reports to the events at Honobia?Are these beings simply curious, or is something far more sinister at play? Join us as we unravel the terrifying evidence, eyewitness testimonies, and expert analyses behind these encountersJoin the Discussion! Do you have a Bigfoot encounter story of your own? Have you heard similar reports from your area? We want to hear from you! Connect with us:

In this chilling episode, we dive into real-life encounters with the unknown—stories of mysterious creatures lurking in the wilderness, strange sounds in the dead of night, and eerie sightings that defy explanation. From the dense forests of New Hampshire to the remote trails of Sugarloaf Ridge, our guests recount firsthand experiences that will leave you questioning what really exists in the shadows.Featured Stories:

Scotland—a land of misty mountains, ancient forests, and deep folklore. While the country is known for its tales of kelpies, faeries, and the Loch Ness Monster, there's another legend that lurks in the shadows of the Highlands. Could Scotland be home to its own version of Bigfoot? In this episode, we explore first-hand encounters of a mysterious, towering, hairy figure spotted in the Scottish wilderness. From the forests of Fife to the remote valleys of Cairnpapple, we hear the chilling testimonies of those who claim to have come face-to-face with something not quite human. Could these stories be evidence of an undiscovered wildman of Scotland? Or are we dealing with something even more mysterious—something that exists on the edge of reality? What You'll Hear in This Episode: • The Dundee Encounter – A late-night walk turns into a terrifying sprint when two friends stumble upon a creature too large, too unnatural to be human. • The Knock Hill Shadow – A dark figure watches from the hilltop before moving at impossible speed towards an unsuspecting driver. • Cairnpapple's Stalker – Three separate encounters, years apart, all in the same chilling location. What lurks in the snow-covered hills? • Missing Time in Jedburgh – A family road trip takes a bizarre turn when an unidentified flying object paces their car—and they later realize hours of their journey have vanished. • The Glamis Castle Secret – Could an ancient Scottish estate be hiding the truth about a monstrous prisoner? Join us as we piece together these startling accounts, explore ancient Scottish legends, and ask the question—could Scotland have its own Sasquatch?Get Our FREE NewsletterGet Brian's Books Leave Us A VoicemailVisit Our WebsiteSupport Our SponsorsVisit Untold Radio AMVisit HIMS.COM