Camping Creature
by KEVNH

I've been camping annually with my wife and daughter for the last 15 years. At least once every year, usually more. We camp at a National Forest campground in the White Mountains of New Hampshire near Waterville Valley. It's a fairly primitive campground. Because of that we usually have some trouble with the local denizens. Particularly bears. Especially, in the last few years. The last couple of trips I've tended to be a little paranoid of them. Mostly because they've gotten a bit more nosey. Traditionally, I'm the last to go to bed. I like to stay up late, feed the fire and read after everyone else has bedded down. That's my best part of vacation. But, I always hear the bears when they get close, and I always get up and make some noise to ensure they know that someone is awake, and aware.

Last year, 2001, went a little different. I was doing my normal thing. Sitting at the fire after everyone else was asleep, just poking at the logs. And, I heard a noise. This was different then the usual bear grunt (they like to let you know they're there). It was more like someone sneaking in the trees. I immediately grabbed the flashlight and turned to the noise. What I saw haunts me even now. I had a lantern burning that illuminated the area and, as I turned I saw, something, at the edge of the trees. It was right as the trees turned down toward the river.

I flashed my light on it and I saw a face. More than that, I saw a being in the trees. It was naked. It looked gray. And this sounds crazy, but it looked like a person. Like a naked person, but not really. It was hunched down. It was very muscular. And, its legs were backwards, like a bird. I had my light on it for a few seconds. It seemed like a deer in headlights. Then it quickly turned and bounded off down the hill. I couldn't even follow it with my light. I didn't dare run any further than the edge of camp. I heard crashing through the woods down the ravine, so I pulled my wife, my daughter and her friend out of the tents. They, of course, thought I was crazy. All of them went back to sleep. I, on the other hand, slept in the van that night.

We left the next day, and I wondered if I was crazy, or just tired. We went back to the same campground this year. Back to the same site; #19. That's the site we go to every year. We set up camp and went about our routine. Again, I did my thing. I stayed up late poking the fire and reading. I really didn't think much of what I saw the year before. I was more concerned with the bears. They've gotten a bit more aggressive looking for food. It was maybe one or two in the morning when I heard a noise. It was a grunt from the next site. There weren't any campers there, so I figured it was a bear and I made some noise. But, then there was a second noise even closer. So I shined the light in that direction. That same creature, being, whatever, was there. It looked exactly the same as I'd remembered from last year. This time, though, I moved my light from it right away. I just looked at it from the light of the lantern on our picnic table. It just sat there, crouched at the small tree line that separates the campsites. I was afraid, at first. But, then I slowly walked toward it. I tried not to make any threatening moves or gestures. I got to within 20 feet when it just jumped backward and disappeared.

I don't have any idea what this thing was. It's never threatened me. It just watched from the foliage. It looked like it might be five to six feet high if it stood up. It was definitely grey. It was totally naked. It had human features, but more leathery. And, its face was very wide. Its eyes were so big, and, even though they reflected light, they still looked black. They looked like two intensely black marbles. It's legs were very muscular, but turned backwards, like a bird. I really don't have any fear of this thing after that last incident. It has never shown any hostility toward me, more like curiosity. Now, I'm actually looking forward to next summer. I want, almost need, to see this creature again. I need to know if the late hour makes me see things, or if this being actually exists. In my heart I know it does. I've heard the local stories of hikers encountering little brown men on some of the more isolated trails. I've always thought they were made up, or tired hikers seeing shadows. I've never given any thought to any of those tales. Until now. There are so many stories up there. And, now I have my own. I know what I saw. It was real. I just know that I'll be watching, and waiting when we go back to that site. I'm actually excited now with what I might see, or experience. I hope I do see that creature.

Source

Dang...


Anything with reverse joint in their legs(like chickens) remind me of the hoofed demons. You know, the ones with the horns!



Doomgirl, i dunno, maybe you should name it or sumthing.

"The gray hobo demon chicken still at large!!!"

I don't know about you, but if I'd seen something like that I wouldn't be going back to the same place

Neither would I! I mean he would henpeck me to death about giving him money,my soul and chicken food all at the same time! Argh!

another thing, if I were to go back, I'd be taking a camera

I also think this story is a hoax. Why? Because no one who enjoys camping wants to go to the same exact campsite year after year after year. That's absurd. So, while it is a good story, it is only a story...probably made up by someone who has never even been camping. Oh and the other thing: bears do not let you know they are there. The only time I ever even heard bears in the campground was late, late, when the fire was cold and the tent and campsite was dark.

Quote from story: We left the next day, and I wondered if I was crazy, or just tired. We went back to the same campground this year. Back to the same site; #19. That's the site we go to every year.

"Gimme money, ur soul and some seeds. NOW!!!!!" *Runs into the woods in disgrace.*

"Wow, im glad thats over!"

"Hey, its Michael Jackson!"

"Hi, can you give me your soul, money and some seeds! Btw, i forgot my costume, i didnt mean to alarm any of you!"

Lots of ppl got to the same camping spot every year, I know, our family did it for years, and it helps if the camp spot is nice

Wow, I would probably never go nowhere by myself, ha!