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Dr. Rock
Ice climber
Castle Rock
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OK, I did the McLoud River one year and decided to camp out by myself at the back of the lake on private property since four hours of I5 was not what I needed right then.
First weirdness, night time, a boat pulls intt the distant cove, I waych the red and green lights change places, then diasappear.
Great. A landing party coming to use me for cat fish bait.
Nobody ever comes ashore, turns out they left, but the bank hid their lights, and I could not hear the motor.
Next up. Thump...thump...thump.
Three in the morning. Diving light reveals nothing.
Hours go by, thump...thump.
Turns out that dear were stomping in old fire pits to get coal dust on their legs to kill mites, go figure.
Long night. Would have been better off in tat the Cottonwood Truck Stop.
You want real life horror?
Check this:
Flashlights
It's night. We're out a fair piece. I'm not sure what language the locals spoke, but since we weren't with 'em, it doesn't matter a bunch. Probably one of the 'yard dialects, which were all outta my league, anyway. It's been a long, hot, miserable day. We're comin' out again. We've been in about five days, sneakin' and peekin', makin' with the low profile. Mostly 'cause this place is straight outta In Country, 3rd cut, 1st side of the tape - Six Clicks - and this is "Charlie's Land." Actually, it was big brother Chuck's, but you get the picture.
We'd been down in a valley with a goodly sized body of troops - not ours. They felt real comfortable there, not a lot of real tight security. We have some counts, some pics, a mail pouch some guy walkin' alone on a trail had been convinced he really didn't need anymore. We'd do that sometimes when it was time to go home. I'm told some people had use for this stuff. Don't know, don't read it any better than I speak it.
We'd moved a long way since then. We're about two klicks from our exfil point, where we're scheduled to be in the mornin'. Did a nice little fishhook, doublin' back to where we could overlook our own trail in case somebody is interested in recoverin' his mail. We move again one more time between sunset and last light, just to be sure. I have first watch. I always have first watch. I snore real bad and everybody wants to get to sleep before me. Whoever's got the watch will sit next to me for the same reason. Snorin' has its advantages - I'm always first to know.
I stand for two hours. It's dead out there. A few crickets, somethin' small movin' in the brush, some night birds about their business. We have mini-claymores out, and I make a last walk of the line before wakin' my relief. He's a "Bru," one of the northernmost tribe of 'yards; taller, heavier and darker than their southern kin. Still all of 5'4". He smiles, musta been dreamin' a good one. He takes the watch and I settle in for six or so hours of snooze. He too makes the rounds before sittin' down next to me. I'm still only in country for six months, and they're still checkin' me out. Okay, they have been doin' it for a lifetime, I'll take the crosscheck. Hell, they're better at it than I am, anyway. I drift.
Someone's shakin' my shoulder. Eyes fly open and I get ready to apologize - musta done it again. Isn't my Bru, it's Mr. Weet, the translator. His expression is not "anger-at-snoring." The rest of the senses come on line as he moves on to wake up the others. It's quiet now. Nary a cricket, bird or anythin' else. This is NOT good. Adrenalin begins to pump as the other rustle softly into wakefulness. It's been maybe two minutes since the first shake, and I'm in my web gear and recoverin' my pack. Weet comes back and points up slope in the general direction of our back trail. I don't, but I wanna scream. I also am glad for the cork, otherwise the place would be an advertisement with neon lights real fast.
A few meters below the crest of the ridge is a row of flashlights. They're movin' down slope, real slow, about five to ten meters apart, online, as dress-right-dress as the terrain allows. I've heard of this in war stories back at Kontum. Didn't believe 'em. Sh#t, flashlights, ridiculous! I'll figure out who I owe apologies to later. The one zero is up and looking, too. He looks distressed. Not at the flashlights, I think he's seen my face. I pick my jaw up, and my RPD. I'm straphangin', not a regular member of the team, and I don't want to look too bad.
The 'yards are up and ready to go. One of 'em hands Chief his CAR, and he starts makin' decisions. We get real close together and he speaks real soft. We're gonna cut and run. Don't look like we've been seen yet, though they damn sure know we are here. Don, our point (another Bru, couldn't pronounce his name, so settled on Don) starts puttin' timin' fuses on the mines. Chief makes sure everybody has grenades at hand. Directionless weapons - they go boom, and the other guys still don't know where you are. Real desirable tactic right now.
Its now about ten minutes after the first shake. Don's got everythin' rigged and we start movin' perpendicular to the approachin' line. Real slow-like. Think the phrase "excruciatingly slow" was made for this. We gotta try to be absolutely quiet in serious darkness and still make enough time to get past any flankers. There's only a few of us, and a good-sized squad could take us out. We're still too close to use the radio, too. Only got so much volume control on the damn things. We've got ten more minutes until the claymores go. That's supposed to draw attention, and when that happens we gonna run like all hell about forty-five degrees off course for the LZ. We'll hook in later when it quiets down again. We got an earlier than planned start, so we have the time. It's a good plan, the 'yards like it - so I like it.
We manage to get past the flank before time runs out. The mines go before the line gets to 'em. Seven of 'em, spaced by the time Don took to set it up. We hear startled grunts just about seven or eight meters straight uphill, where there are no flashlights. Lots of shootin' goin' on behind us, so it's "show time." The 'yards chunk grenades high thata way. I got green tracers, so I unload some of my ammo. This is prearranged, not like I'm thinkin' fast. Adrenalin dump is startin' to wear off. I'm gonna get another real soon now. One scream, maybe a grenade, maybe me. Lots of yellin'. Weet says we can cut a choggy now, they think we're confused "friendlies". We need no second invitation. There's a high speed trail about half a klick off in the direction we're goin'. No time to observe rules. Must have left a trail a blind guy could have followed. Ran the trail, too. Like I said, not a time for strict adherence to the rules.
About a half hour later, it's still dark. We set up in a bunch of rocks on a slope. We've put a ridgeline between us and the flashlights, and it's time for a little talkin'. The FAC won't be up yet, so Chief sets the radio for Moonbeam. Takes two calls, but they're home. He announces "deepshit!" and asks for a sunrise time at the LZ. Maybe some friendly air assets are in order? Damn straight! It's only two hours till dawn. So we get to humpin'. Hit the LZ early. Don and Weet leave us long enough to check it out. They come back with smiles. Good news, 'drenalin only carry you so far.
Sun begins to poke up about the time we hear a distant thunder that sounds like Phantom. Low down to the south we see the first snake comin' over a ridge line. Don sees movement on the far side of the LZ, bushes movin'. None of the rest of us see it. But we're tired. Chief has the fast movers and snakes tear up the real estate just to be on the safe side. A million bucks for a movin' bush. Whaddaf*#k! They can dock my pay.
We get on the slicks and make good time back to a friendly site where we use our bus transfers for the final leg home. Fire base somethin' or the other. Medic comes out on the firebase and paints the lacerations we got from the underbrush. Nobody's got any new holes, so we're in good shape. The guys at the fire base look at us funny. 'Sokay, we probably look a little harried. We sleep from there to Kontum. Door gunner has to wake us up. Didn't kiss the tarmac. Kissed the local equivalent of the porcelain god instead. Good enough, glad to be home.
We sleep for a day or so. Too much adrenalin is not good for you, y'know. We go to debriefin'. Doc (Recon Co. first shirt) is bent outta shape for the ordnance expenditure at the LZ. To a man, we tell him he can go do it his way next time. And what he can do with THAT. We go meet at the Recon Club and get knee-walkin', commode-huggin', snot-slingin' drunk. I apologize to the old timers. They can't figure out for what. One of 'em (Joe, I think) pulls out a flashlight and shines it in my eyes. They laugh their asses off when I sh#t gold bricks. Friends are priceless things. Have to be, who'd spend good money on 'em?
I still don't much like flashlights, even though they're handy when it gets dark.
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Nefarius
Big Wall climber
Fresno, CA
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Aug 13, 2008 - 02:27pm PT
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I'm surprised you superstitious, in-monsters-believing, afraid of the dark types weren't all over this!
Chupacabra Caught on film
hahaha Superstitious foo..., err, I mean tools!
Still not as "happenin" as that ranch tale up-thread though! lol
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Nefarius
Big Wall climber
Fresno, CA
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Aug 13, 2008 - 03:10pm PT
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if
grey fox with mange = goat sucker
??? = bigfoot
else
photoshop pics = tahoe tessie???
or
DMT=BigFoot=LEB=Tahoe Tessie=locker=Chupacabra?
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Nefarius
Big Wall climber
Fresno, CA
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Aug 13, 2008 - 03:15pm PT
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"It is also known that the Washoe used Cave Rock as very sacred area."
It is known by more folks that they used it as a repository for their empty beer cans and trash!
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Nefarius
Big Wall climber
Fresno, CA
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Aug 13, 2008 - 05:19pm PT
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I'm thinkin' you all are hearing Oogie Boogie, honestly...
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TahoeClimb
Trad climber
Reno, Nevada
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Aug 14, 2008 - 02:05pm PT
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bookworm
Social climber
Falls Church, VA
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Aug 14, 2008 - 07:53pm PT
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ok, here's a backyard scary story...
i let the dogs out and they tear ass straight for the holly tree along the fence; as they near the fence, i see a squirrel drop to the ground from about 15 feet up; i think, "oh sh** they're gonna eat some squirrel"; instead, they both hit the breaks and stand over the immobile squirrel; now, i've seen squirrels fall from 20-30 feet, and they usually bounce right back up; so, now i think, "injured squirrel...not a fair fight" and push the dogs away, glancing at the squirrel that is half buried in the leaves; a tap with my foot convinces me this squirrel is dead; i'm puzzled because the squirrel didn't fall far, and he looks plump and healthy; i get a plastic bag and pick up the dead squirrel--which is still warm--and the squirrel HAS NO HEAD! whoa!!! i quickly look up but see nothing in the tree (not sure what i was looking for)
my first thought was a hawk, which are fairly common, but i never saw/heard anything fly out of the tree, and i've never seen a hawk big enough to tear the head off an adult squirrel, and i've always thought most animals go for the belly first for those nutritious organs
any thoughts...this was in the spring, middle of the day, suburban neighborhood
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scuffy b
climber
Elmertown
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Aug 14, 2008 - 08:07pm PT
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I think you need to make yourself a squirrel suit and spend
some nights alone in your back yard (for science, of course).
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
sorry, just posting out loud.
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Aug 14, 2008 - 08:26pm PT
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I saw this show on TV where an Elk or large deer made this hideous sound by either blowing in or out it's mouth and nose, might explain the almost scream like noises that were commented on above.
that's all i got to say about that.
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Nefarius
Big Wall climber
Fresno, CA
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Aug 29, 2008 - 08:34pm PT
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For all you inbred, superstitious climber types... Another scawey monster ting from under yer wittle bed...
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east side underground
Trad climber
crowley ca
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Aug 29, 2008 - 11:11pm PT
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chreppy sh@#T! It's a strange world! Do you think the creature hybernates? Spend alot of time around Sonora pass in the winter.Never heard anything like this.
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Aug 29, 2008 - 11:47pm PT
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hey there all... say, just a bit more notes to add to your collection... not sure if these help at all... as this was from someones "purple martin" site, and how owl trouble causes the birds to scream--though perhaps other nested birds could do so, out in the wild, if owls attack them in colonies... but only bird and owl study-folks would rightly know more... here is the share from :
Understanding How Owls Raid Purple Martin Gourds And Houses
From: Steve Kroenke, Tallahassee, Florida
Date: 2/2/02
Time: 10:31:37 AM
link: http://www.purplemartin.org/forumarchives/archive/KroenkHowOwls.htm
Behavioral Signs Of Owl Predation:
"There are several key martin behavioral signs that will TELL you something is bothering the martins at night. First, are your martins highly nervous about returning to roost in the houses and gourds? This is particularly true early in the nesting season before martins have eggs or young. This is NOT the typical "hawk fright" response where martins circle high above the colony until late and then come screaming down all at once to their nests. This pre-roosting "owl fright" behavior is different. You may see your martins land on the houses and gourds then fly away. They stay there a few minutes, and then bolt. They make repeated back and forth flights and seem hesitant to stay. The martins don’t socialize in the late afternoons around the colony. They are definitely nervous. Finally, they may enter their nests, but some start leaving right before dark and these DON’T come back. This leaving before dark behavior is one of the best signs that it is an owl bothering the martins at night and not any Accipiter hawk. I have seen this behavior over and over again at my colonies that had repeated owl attacks, particularly early in the season. The martins would return and enter their gourds and houses at roosting time. Then just before dark, many martins would start leaving and flying as fast as their wings would take them away from the horrors of the night.
Most disturbing to me has been the death screams of martins being killed at night by owls. It is one of the most horrible sounds you will ever hear and I sometimes find myself shaking afterwards. I still can’t accept it. That is how martins let you know at night that an owl is attacking. I used to leave my window open in my bedroom so I could rush outside when I heard that "death rattle". These screams were so loud that I was awakened from sleep. As a martin emits its final death scream, other martins may bolt from the gourd cluster or house. I have seen that happen. The night and early morning acoustics are excellent for the transmission of sounds and the death screams of martins being butchered alive by owls has greatly disturbed and emotionally affected me."
From: Steve Kroenke, Tallahassee, Florida
also:
http://birdcinema.com/view_video.php?viewkey=d1ad154ad2d039d1fadf
"Owls have amazing binocular vision under low light conditions. Their hearing is acute and they have good depth perception. They can pin point the horizontal and vertical direction of a sound. They hunt by night and sometimes emit a horrible-sounding noise when they make a kill."
one lasts note, so far:
http://www.wickedlocal.com/brewster/news/lifestyle/columnists/x775333336
you must go down to the baby owl section, near the bottom, where it mentions their "blood curding" screams for food....
(most likely adult owls could be in attack mode, if folks are nearby???, such as campers?) while they try to hunt and feed these "loud" babes...
*well, just trying to add some nature-notes, you all.. god bless...
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Aug 30, 2008 - 12:00am PT
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hey there all... now... here are some more "unatural" sounding accounts for you, now that we got nature set into the first catagory:
THIS IS A LINK TO TUOLOMNE ACCOUNTS OF NIGHT NOISES, and some etc:
http://www.bfro.net/GDB/show_county_reports.asp?state=CA&county=Tuolumne
EDIT:
oh SAY, you can acctually submit a REPORT here, too, if you want... so it says at the bottom...
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Aug 30, 2008 - 02:52am PT
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hey there... say, just a bump, in case someone needs the TOULUME link for to make or read the reports....
very interesing stuff there folks...
i never knew that existed and never would, if it had not been for this "sonora pass monster" thread here ---- thanks allezallez510
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Nefarius
Big Wall climber
Fresno, CA
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This is probably the biggest myth of all.... Scary how many people believe in this one.
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
sorry, just posting out loud.
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some weird sh#t up on the Pass found yesterday.
I'll let JD post up about it though.
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CAMNOTCLIMB
Trad climber
novato ca
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Oct 28, 2008 - 07:39pm PT
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i have spent a lot-o-nights under the stars, inner city as well as the outback. so far nothing to scare me. except for that time in the bar in utah...
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