In the early 70s, specifically in 1973, two individuals had an unusual encounter near a tributary of the South Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho. Situated near the Frank Church Wilderness area, east of McCall and west of Yellowpine, the encounter took place while the pair was setting up camp to prepare for a mountain goat hunt.
Finding a small clearing backed by dense brush off a remote road, they parked their truck and began setting up camp. As evening fell in late August, they hung a lantern over their cook table and started cooking thick steaks, filling the basin with tantalizing smells.
Suddenly, a blood-curdling scream followed by a whistle pierced the darkness, originating from an area near the camp. A similar scream and whistle responded from a greater distance uphill and to the left. Instinctively, they loaded their rifles and positioned them within easy reach.
The sound of thrashing vegetation suggested the presence of a large animal dangerously close to their location. Strangely, both friends simultaneously concluded that their guns were useless, despite their initial intention to rely on them. Rattled but strangely undeterred, they unloaded and stored the firearms in the truck rack. They then resumed their meal as hunger prevailed.
More screams, whistles, and thrashing ensued. Deciding they had had enough, they grabbed the stove, table, and other belongings, seeking refuge behind the truck where they could have some protection. The situation became chaotic when the creature maneuvered through the brush and positioned itself in front of the truck, seemingly observing them. Overwhelmed, they hastily packed everything into the truck’s bed and swiftly hopped into the cab, trembling with fear. For a while, they sat there in shock.
Eventually, one of them pointed to a spot light, contemplating shining it on the creature. His friend, still trembling and fixated on escaping, shrugged his shoulders, acknowledging his indifference to the idea. Driven by curiosity overtaking common sense and fear, he directed the light toward the creature’s last known location and illuminated it. Startled, the creature swiftly pivoted away from the light, bounding up a steep rock slide on two legs with exceptional speed and agility. The witnesses did not manage to get a clear look at the creature’s face as it turned away, but its dark brown to black coloration and ability to move effortlessly on two legs distinguished it from a bear clumsily standing on its hind legs.
Over the years, one of the witnesses has come to terms with the encounter, while his friend refuses to discuss the incident. Despite the initial fear it provoked, the witness now possesses a desire to encounter the creature again, having intuitively sensed that it had no intention of harming them. If it had wanted to cause harm, it had ample opportunity to do so.
Original source: BFRO Report # 3292