It’s no secret that rumors about Bigfoot’s existence are alive and well in Colorado – from the Sasqutch Outpost in Bailey to a sign warning Pikes Peak travelers about potential Bigfoot crossings to the 120-plus sightings that have been reported in the Centennial State. Whether one believes in Bigfoot or not, the potential presence of a large creature creeping around the campsite under nightfall is undoubtedly a bit unsettling.

Those curious about whether or not Bigfoot exists are sure to be interested in a reported encounter that took place a few states away.

Per a recent report out of Idaho, a group of teen campers lived through a weekend that feels like the set-up for a cult horror classic, when a “group of sasquatches” seemed to linger for a bit too long. The incident unfolded about 16 miles northwest of McCall, Idaho in Payette National Forest and a full report is published on the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization (BFRO) website, detailing events that allegedly took place between Friday, May 22 and Monday, May 25. The group of campers consisted of 10 teenagers, plus two of the teen’s four-month-old child.

According to a report from one of the teens, the first sighting took place on Friday night, when one of the female campers claims to have spotted what seemed to be a tall dark figure a couple yards behind a couple’s tent. She didn’t say anything at the time to avoid scaring the group, but told the group in the morning. This was followed by an odd presence that was felt by one of the campers later that day while walking alone in the woods: “It sounded like something was walking with me in the treeline and whistling at me in different directions to get me lost in the forest,” reads the report.

On Saturday night, more aggressive noises were heard – branches breaking near the campfire, and then in the early morning hours of Sunday, aggressive and rhythmic knocking.

Later on Sunday, one of the male campers was using the group’s makeshift restroom when he reportedly spotted a tall figure on two legs, estimated to be nine-feet-tall with dark fur and blank, reflective eyes. It was reportedly walking toward him. He ran back to the group and the rest of the males joined him to head into the woods to find the being again after grabbing a .22 caliber rifle and making sure the women and baby were secure in a camper.

That’s when things really started to get strange. In pursuit of the unknown being, the teenage males decided to follow its last known trajectory and head down to a nearby campsite known to be occupied by two friends. At that point, three or more similar creatures reportedly circled them in the surrounding woods. A teen fired warning shots and at one point, one of the teens reportedly shot one of the beings, too.

As nightfall hit, the same knocking was heard again, and in the morning, handprints were found on windows of a vehicle, too.

Further investigation revealed that trees were found to be broken and organized into makeshift shelters along with large footprints that were also found. Adding to the oddness of the whole situation, those who had encounters with the beings reportedly experienced terrible migraines just before the sightings occurred.

This story might seem a bit too bizarre to believe, but there’s at least one person who thinks the teens may be recounting what actually happened.

Attached to the teen’s report is a follow-up statement from a BFRO investigator who reportedly connected with the witnesses over the phone: “They are telling the truth. The only question is whether it was a misinterpretation. […] Given the history of the area and the number of visual observations in this case, it is pretty obvious some sasquatches were there, at least three of them.”

The investigator described the area the teens were in as extremely remote, with the nearest campground being about a 30-minute drive away. He estimated that the teens would have been miles away from any unknown campers at the time. Attached to his report is a photo of a foot print that was reportedly found in the area.

As any ‘bigfoot report’ tends to do once it hits the general public, this report is sure to draw many naysayers and skeptics. With that many teens present, where were all the phones? Does any video footage or audio exist of the tapping noises or of the creatures? What about the supposed handprints on the windows? Are there photos of those? Do they look different than a human’s handprint? Is this all just some sort of a tale spun-up around the campfire to stoke the lore of sasquatches roaming this remote part of Idaho? Or could it have been a prank?

As the BFRO investigation into the alleged bigfoot encounter continues, perhaps more evidence that either supports or debunks the report will come to light.

This is one of 22 report of a Bigfoot encounter to be published on the BFRO website over the last three months. Explore those reports here.

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