Tales From The Dark Forest
I'm A Park Ranger In Yosemite. THIS Is What KILLED Those Hikers Back In 2012
At King Super's, an annual Boost Membership just got even better. Now you can choose from Disney+ with ads, Hulu with ads, or ESPN+ on us when you sign up. Plus, enjoy unlimited free delivery, double fuel points, exclusive offers, and free items. Sign up for a Boost Membership today. It's an easier way to save, including new streaming options to relax with while we deliver your groceries. King Super's, fresh for everyone, restrictions apply. See site for details. First and foremost, this isn't on the books legally. I am emailing this anonymously with a fake name to keep myself safe from any legal issues and also potential problems from within the Ranger Service Organization itself. I could catch a lot of heat for this, even though it took place back in 2012 when I worked in Yosemite National Park. I'm since retired, but still, I hope you get where I'm coming from. Yosemite National Park, for those who may not know firsthand, it has always been a place of wonder and beauty, attracting hikers from all over the world with its stunning vistas and challenging trails, waterfalls, etc. However, in recent years leading up to this occurrence in 2012, a series of mysterious disappearances had casted a shadow over the park, leaving visitors and park rangers alike on edge. And from what I've been told since being retired, nothing has since really changed in the matter. In fact, I've been told it's only gotten worse over the years. As the lead park ranger at the time, I had been tasked with investigating the disappearances in the month of May of 2012. But despite weeks of searching, we had found no clues as to what was really happening to the missing hikers, aside from a faint blood trail which ended up disappearing after about 100 feet off of the trail, and finding random clothing which later on, we did confirm it to indeed belong to one of the hikers that we were looking for. That is, until one fateful Sunday night when I stumbled upon a shocking discovery that would change everything, and I mean everything I thought I knew about Yosemite National Park completely. It was a stormy night, the rain pouring down in sheets as I patrolled the park in my truck cutting through the darkness. As I rounded a bend in the road, something had caught my eye. A massive figure standing at the edge of the forest, its eyes glowing in the beam of my headlights. Heart pounding, I brought the truck to a screeching halt and watched in horror as this figure stepped out of the shadows revealing itself to be a massive seven foot tall creature with long shaggy fur and piercing red eyes. It was a Bigfoot, a creature of legend said to roam the forests of Northern California. A rumor really, something that folks joke about and tell around the campfire with their families. Something that really didn't exist, that shouldn't exist. In all my previous years, I had heard it all. You'd be surprised what people talk about up here, but never experienced or seen for that matter anything like this before firsthand. At first, I thought I was hallucinating or a trick of the light, but there was no frickin way as this creature let out a bone chilling roar that shook the trees and I knew that this was no figment of my imagination. This was real. This is a real, living, breathing monster that had been hiding in the woods of Yosemite National Park all along. Shaken to my core to say it frankly, I radioed for backup and watched as this creature disappeared back into the forest, leaving me alone in the dark haunted by the realization that I had stumbled upon the real reason why hikers were going missing in this park. Of course there's loads of coyotes up here, but they are for the most part scared of humans, unless one becomes desperate enough then who really knows. We also have bears, mountain lions, cougars, which all can play a part for missing hikers. I'm not saying that this Bigfoot beast is the main reason, but it definitely is a reason that shouldn't be. It shouldn't exist at all. I'm getting off topic, rambling as I tend to do. Determined to get to the bottom of the mystery, I spent the next few days scoring the park for any signs of this Bigfoot, following its tracks which I could barely find any through the dense undergrowth and listening for its eerie calls in the dead of night. But this creature was elusive. It always seemed to be able to stay one step ahead of me, leaving only destruction and fear in its wake. As more hikers went missing, I knew that I had to act fast before any more life was lost to this creature that lurked in the shadows. Gathering a team of experienced rangers, we set out to track down this Bigfoot once and for all, determined to put an end to its reign of terror. The hunt was grueling, with the creature leading us on a wild chase throughout the rugged terrain of the park, but myself and my team refused to give up. Finally, after days of searching, we had finally cornered the Bigfoot in a remote clearing, its red eyes glowing with malice as it bared its sharp teeth in a snarl. But as I raised my gun to take a shot, something unexpected happened. This Bigfoot let out a mournful cry, its eyes filled with pain and sorrow. In that moment, I realized that this creature was not a mindless monster, but a sentient beam that had been driven to desperate measures by fear and loneliness. With a heavy heart, I lowered my gun, now understanding somehow that not only was this creature real, but it's not simply a ruthless killer for sport. There may be more of them out here, but after this experience, I'm pretty damn sure there's a lot more around, not just here in California either, but regardless. I knew that I had uncovered a truth far darker than I could have ever imagined. The hikers who had gone missing in Yosemite National Park had not been taken by some unknown force, but by a misunderstood creature that had been driven to desperate measures by the encroachment of humans on its territory. As the sun rose over the park, I had made a decision that would change the course of history. I would protect this Bigfoot, if that's what you want to call it, and its home, ensuring that no harm would ever come to it again. And as I walked back to my truck with my crew, we all swore not to talk about this event ever again, not only for the safety of this mythological creature, but also the safety of ourselves and our families. There are organizations and probably the government is also involved in keeping their existence a secret and taking out to anyone who doesn't comply or spilling the beans. But I think the better question to ask is, but why? New Year, same great savings! All in the King Supers app, get $10 for $10 on select varieties of Kroger Pasta, Star Castuna Pouches, or Powerade. Then buy one get one free on our sale of tender, fresh, simple, truth, natural chicken, all with your card. Shop these deals at your local King Supers less than five miles away or tap the screen now to download the King Supers app to save big today. King Supers! Fresh for everyone, prices and product availability subject to change, restrictions apply. See site for details. Dear campfire tales, thank you for replying my email. I truly enjoy your channel, and I am excited you're actually going to include my short story into one of your videos. I know I probably totally sound like a fangirl, but I am. You're very underrated with the amount of content that you push out, and I wish nothing but success and happiness to you and your family. This story took place in the early 2000s. I don't know the exact date, but that's a good ballpark timeframe. It was a crisp autumn morning in Yosemite National Park. The sun was beginning to rise over the towering trees, casting a golden glow over the lush landscape. I had been patrolling the park for years, keeping a watchful eye on the hikers and campers who ventured into the wilderness amongst other things. Most times simply just to say hello, give directions to someone lost or to pick up trash and restock the bathroom facilities. Park Rangers have a lot of job titles in all honesty, and we are very underpaid, just being frank with you. More and more hikers were going missing though, disappearing without a trace. This is not the new for this national park, as hikers and campers had been disappearing from here for decades on and off record. The official story was always the same. They had simply gotten lost in the vast wilderness of the park, but I knew better. I had seen the signs, the strange tracks and eerie howls that lingered in the night. As I patrolled the park that day, I couldn't shake the feeling that something sinister was at play. Indeed, I had long suspected that there was more of these disappearances that met the eye, and I was determined to get to the bottom of it, if I could that is. That night, as I sat in the small cabin overlooking the dark forest, I had poured over the reports of the missing hikers from the past few weeks. There was a common thread among them. They had all been last seen in this remote northern part of the park, near an area known as Devil's Hollow. It was a place shrouded in mystery, rumored to be home to cryptids. I don't want to dive into all that. Lots of folks talk about it, and I had always thought it to be nonsense. But there definitely was something going on. So it was possible some of these stories, these locals or fellow park rangers speak of, might have some truth to it. My heart raced as I simply made my decision. I decided the venture into Devil's Hollow myself, determined to uncover the truth behind these disappearances first hand, if indeed there was some kind of cryptid, which at the time I thought was total bullshit. But regardless, I wanted the know just for myself. As I set out into the night heading to Devil's Hollow on the north end, the moon shrouded in a thick blanket of clouds. I could feel the eyes of the forest upon me. Realistically, I think I was getting anxious and a tad paranoid for my reckless decision at that moment, Facepalm. The journey into Devil's Hollow was treacherous, that thick underbrush and twisted trees making my progress slow. But I pushed on, driven by a sense of duty and determination. As I mirrored the heart of this hollow, a chill ran down my back at that moment. I could feel that in that very moment, I was not alone. Suddenly, a rustling in the bushes caught my attention. I froze, flashlight casting a beam of light into the darkness. And there, standing before me, I swear you not, Scout's Honor, was a creature unlike anything I had ever seen. It stood nearly ten feet tall, covered in fur and piercing yellow eyes. My breath caught in my throat as I then realized what I was looking at. A Sasquatch. Bigfoot, Yeti, whatever you want to call it. The mythological creature that had been long since dismissed as nothing more than a legend. I now knew the truth. The park rangers, held the whole damn organization, had been hiding the existence of these creatures for years, covering up the sightings and reports to protect the fragile balance of nature in the park. As the Bigfoot stood still, I knew I had a choice to make. I could run back to the safety of my cabin and the comforting lie of ignorance. Or I could stay, face the truth, and expose the cover-ups that had allowed these creatures to remain hidden for so long. With a deep breath, I made my decision. I stepped back, not giving myself any motion as a threat to this creature. And luckily for my sake, it did not pursue me, and honestly thank the gods. I didn't want to go toe to toe with this thing for one. And second, why would I? I mean sure it would be nice that people knew the truth, but the truth hurts too. People are evil as f, and even though I'm damn sure some of these missing persons 411 cases may very well be due to the Bigfoot's existence here, I think it's better if they simply remain a myth. But that's just my opinion. New Year, same great savings. All in the King Supers app, get $10 for $10 on select varieties of Kroger Pasta, Star Castuna Pouches, or Powerade. Then buy one, get one free on our sale of tender, fresh, simple, truth, natural chicken. All with your card. Shop these deals at your local King Supers less than 5 miles away, or tap the screen now to download the King Supers app to save big today. King Supers, fresh for everyone, prices and product availability subject to change, restrictions apply. See site for details. Hey there, Camfire. I wanted to start off by saying thank you for telling me you're going to include my story in a video. As a long time fan of your channel, I couldn't have been more thrilled. Your content has always managed to send shivers down my spine in the best ways possible, and I am honored to be a part of it. Let me take you back to 2012, when I was working as a park ranger in this secluded forest in the Pacific Northwest. It was a remote area with thick trees and winding paths that seemed to go on forever. The perfect setting for a horror story, if you ask me. One day, I received a call about a group of campers who had gone missing in the woods. They had been on a guided tour with a local outdoor company and had seemingly vanished without a trace. As the lead investigator on the case, it was my responsibility to find out what had happened to them. I sit out into the forest, accompanied by my local search and rescue dog, Max. Over a few hours on the search, the sun was starting to set, casting long shadows across the trees and creating an eerie atmosphere. I also couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched as we moved deeper into the woods. As we followed the trail left by the missing campers, we came across a series of strange symbols carved into the trees. They looked ancient, like something out of a forgotten language. I couldn't help but feel the sense of dread wash over me as I studied them, wondering who could have made them and for what purpose. As night fell, we were still out there, flashlight in hand and doing everything I could in that moment in time. A thick fog then rolled in, obscuring our path and making it difficult to see more than a few feet in front of us. I could hear the sound of branches snapping in the darkness and the feeling of being watched only intensified. Max growled low in his throat, his hackles raising as he sniffled the air. Suddenly, we stumbled upon a clearing in the forest. In the center was a large bonfire, its flames dancing wildly in the wind. Surrounding it were several figures dressed in tattered clothing, their faces obscured by masks made of animal skulls. I felt a chill run down my spine as I realized that I had stumbled upon something sinister, some kind of cult shit. As I cautiously approached, the figures turned to face us, their eyes glowing in the firelight. They then spoke in a language I didn't understand or had even heard of before, their voices low and guttural. I could feel the hairs on the back of my next stand on end as I tried to make sense of what was happening, but deep down, I had already knew. It was then that I noticed the missing campers amongst the group. They were clearly under some kind of spell, their eyes glazed over and vacant. I knew then that we were all in grave danger and that I needed to get out of there as soon as possible. I grabbed Max's leash and turned to run, but before we could make our escape, the figures began to advance towards us. They moved within otherworldly grace, their movements almost unnatural. I could hear their chanting growing louder, filling the clearing with the sense of foreboding. In a panic, I fumbled for my radio trying to call for backup, but the signal was weak and my message was lost in the static. I knew then that we were all on our own, with no one to help us in this terrifying situation. But I prayed for the best, knowing I had to stand to my ground and do whatever it took. As the figures closed in, I could feel their malevolent energy washing over me. I could sense the darkness that surrounded them, and I knew that we were facing something ancient and evil. No matter what I said or yelled or even threatened, it was as if they didn't understand or simply didn't even care. I got no response out of them. With a sinking feeling in my stomach, I braced myself for whatever horrors awaited me in that heart of the forest, knowing all I could do now is protect myself at all costs and accept my fate no matter what was about to happen. I took out my pistol and shot it into the air, and that seemed to get their attention, stopping them in their tracks. A universal language I'd like to simply call fear. Finally, after a couple of minutes of frantically trying to reach someone on my walkie talkie, I got a hold of backup and explained the situation in my exact location. I handcuffed one and zip tied the other two hooded individuals. Meantime, I checked up on the missing campers. Unfortunately, they were not responsive. I had no clue what they've fed to them or injected them with to make them like that, but I kept a close eye on them as well just in case. Eventually backup did arrive and they took the masked whack jobs away and EMTs and more government officials came for the missing campers. Come to find out, those people were indeed cultists who had also been staying at Yosemite and had planned this abduction of campers for some kind of sick sacrifice to their god, or so I was told. And I'll recall what they gave to those people, but I did hear that they all came too and are now back with their families unharmed. And that campfire tales is just one of the harrowing tales of the missing campers at my national park. I hope you enjoyed my story and I look forward to hearing your thoughts on it. Sincerely, John Doe, the Rescue Ranger. New Year, Same Great Savings! All in the King Supers app. Get $10 for $10 on select varieties of Kroger Pasta, Star Castuna Pouches, or Powerade. Then buy one, get one free on our sale of tender, fresh, simple truth, natural chicken. All with your card. Shop these deals at your local King Supers less than five miles away or tap the screen now to download the King Supers app to save big today. King Supers! Fresh for everyone, prices and product availability subject to change, restrictions apply. See site for details. I want to share with you my personal experience as a park ranger in Yosemite National Park. It's a beautiful place with stunning landscapes, but there's something dark and sinister lurking within its boundaries. Over the years, there have been numerous reports of people going missing in the park and no one seems to know why. Not the real reasons that is. I first became aware of the disappearances when I was assigned to a search and rescue mission for a young couple who had gone missing while hiking in the park. As we combed through the dense forest, we found no trace of them. It was as if they had simply vanished into thin air. As time went on, more and more people went missing in Yosemite. Some were experienced hikers, while others were casual visitors. There was no pattern to the disappearances, no rhythm or reason. It was as if the park itself was swallowing up those who ventured too far into its depths. I began to notice strange occurrences during my patrols. I would hear whispers in the wind, voices calling to me from the shadows. The air seemed to grow colder and heavier as I moved deeper into the park. It was as if some malevolent force was watching me, waiting for the perfect time to strike. One night as I sat by the campfire, I heard a blood-curdling scream coming from the nearby darkness. I grabbed my flashlight and followed the sound, my heart pounding in my chest. I could hear footsteps behind me, but when I turned around, there was no one there. I was alone in the wilderness, surrounded by an unseen danger. I eventually came across a clearing in the forest when I saw a figure standing in the moonlight. It was tall and gaunt, with hollow eyes that seemed to stare right through me. I felt it chill run down my spine as I realized that this was no human being. This was something else entirely. I quickly turned and ran back to my campsite, but the figure followed me, its footsteps echoing in the darkness. I could feel its presence behind me, a malevolent force that sought to consume me. I knew then that I was not dealing with a mere missing persons case. I was dealing with something far more sinister and otherworldly. The disappearances continued, each one more baffling and disturbing than the last. People would vanish without a trace, leaving behind only their belongings in a sense of unease. It was as if the park itself was a living entity, hungry for souls to feed its insatiable hunger. I soon realized that I was not the only one who had encountered this malevolent force. Other park rangers had reported similar experiences, each one more terrifying than the last. We knew that we had the band together to uncover the truth behind the disappearances, and put an end to whatever evil lurked within the park. One fateful night, we gathered our courage and venture deep into the heart of Yosemite. The air grew thick and heavy around us, the whispers growing louder and more insistent. We knew that we were close to uncovering the source of these disappearances, but we also knew that we were risking our lives in the process. I wanted witnesses to what I had seen. I wanted to make sure I simply wasn't going crazy, so I brought an audience, rangers, and we went back to that clearing. As we had reached the clearing where I had encountered this figure, we saw it again standing, now before us now, its eyes glowing with malevolent energy and no longer hollow. It was a being of pure darkness, a creature that defied all logic and reason. We all knew then that we were facing something beyond our comprehension, something that could not be defeated by mere mortals. But we did not back down. We stood our ground and face the creature head on, our hearts filled with courage and determination. But as we took out our weapons and stepped forward towards this entity, it suddenly turned into a thick mist and blew away right in front of our very eyes. It made no sense, I know. But to this day it still puzzles me what in the hell that thing was? Was it a ghost? The poltergeist? Demon? We have no freaking clue and no way to prove a thing as to what we saw that night. So if you ever find yourself in Yosemite National Park, remember to stay close to the beaten path and never venture too far into the wilderness. But there are forces at work there that are beyond our comprehension, forces that seek to consume our body and soul. And once they have you in their grasp, there may be no escaping their dark and sinister embrace. I was patrolling the hiking trails as a park ranger in Yosemite. I had been working at the park for three years and I thought that I had seen it all. But what I was about to experience that day shook me to my core. As I walked along the winding trails, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off that day. The birds were eerily silent, and there was a strange chill in the air. I brushed it off as my imagination playing tricks on me, but as I rounded a corner, I came across a group of hikers frantically searching for their friend who had seemingly vanished into thin air. When they saw me, they yelled and screamed and were a total mess, and it took a minute or two to calm them down enough to get to gist of their situation. But once they had given me the details as to what had happened, I immediately sprang into action calling it in and organizing a search party and coordinating with park authorities to help find this missing hiker. But as the hours passed, it became clear we may not find this person at all. I just had this sickening feeling in my gut even before I encountered these hikers on the trail looking for their friend. Something was just off about that whole day. Maybe it was just the area or the trail itself, but I really couldn't say. I had heard the stories and rumors from fellow rangers about the mysterious disappearances in the park when I first started. Hell, we all had. People would simply vanish without a trace, leaving behind no clues or evidence of foul play. Sometimes they'd be found, most times not. Some speculate that all these disappearances are done by a serial killer or simply a rogue animal. But I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more supernatural at work at this park. I really did. As the days turned in the weeks, we had no answers. No new clues and even another hiker went missing. Each time I was able to lead the search party combing through the den's forest and rugged terrain and search of any clue that would lead us closer to the missing person. Nothing. Just like the last time we searched. Time and time again, we came up empty handed. I became obsessed with finding out the truth behind these recent disappearances. I delved into the park's history, researching old legends and myths that spoke of malevolent spirits and curses that haunted the land to even cryptid monsters that called these woods its home. I even sought out the help of local shamans and spiritual healers. Desperate for any insight as to what was happening at the park, even though I was told not to by my higher ups. In the end, I didn't really get much help from them, but it didn't hurt to try to search for outside answers. One night as I sat alone in the ranger station, pouring over some old documents and maps, I heard a faint whisper in the wind outside the nearby open window. It was a voice, soft and haunting, beckoning me to come closer. Goosebumps prickle down my arms as I followed the sound, my heart pounding in my chest. Once I got to the window, I looked out. The real only visibility, about 20 feet or so, feet from the building from outside lighting, I saw shadows and I could sense a malevolent presence lurking in the darkness beyond them. Were they people dressed up? Maybe playing a simple prank? Or was it something paranormal that I was witnessing? Just then, another figure emerged from the shadows near the others I was watching. A spectral form bathed in an otherworldly glow. Its eyes glowed with an unnatural light, and its voice echoed in my mind, speaking of ancient curses and forgotten legends that had been buried beneath the earth for centuries. I knew then this was something beyond my understanding, something that defied logical explanation. The disappearances in the park were not only the work of man or beast or cryptid legends, but of a supernatural force that sought to claim the souls of unsuspecting hikers who dared the trespass on its sacred ground. All I did was stand there and watch, never taking my eyes off of the paranormal entities in the shadows outside the ranger station. They never drew into the lighted areas, and seemed to slowly drift farther into the shadows of the woods, eventually disappearing into the darkness completely. Not many of my colleagues believed what I had saw, but a few of them do, and had told me their own personal accounts. "If they give me permission, I will email you their stories." Thank you. As a park ranger, we all have a lot of stories to share, both good and bad. In some of those bad, we aren't legally allowed to talk about. But for the sake of this short story, I won't speak of any real names for privacy purposes. This is my message to you all, a story that serves as a grim reminder of the dangers that lurk in the darkness of the wilderness. It was a night like any other. The air was crisp and the stars were shining brightly above. I was stationed at a remote part of the park in the mountains of Yosemite, where the silence of the wilderness was only broken by the occasional rustle of leaves, or the hoot of an owl. On this particular night, a group of hikers had set out to explore the trails in the park. They were a mix of experienced hikers and novices, eager to experience the beauty of the wilderness under the cover of the night's sky. I had warned them about the dangers of hiking after dark when they had stopped by my post that evening, emphasizing the importance of staying together and sticking to the marked trails. However, they were determined to sit out on their own adventure, convinced that nothing would go wrong if they stuck together. I guess these idiots have never seen a scary movie before. As the night wore on, I was patrolling the park as I worked on the graveyard shift, keeping an eye on the group as they made their way through the trails periodically from a distance from time to time. The darkness seemed to grow thicker with each passing hour, and I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled over me. Something about them, this whole damn night just felt off, different from other nights and random folks I've encountered, and I have encountered some weird as hell people, believe me. Suddenly, I heard a blood-curdling scream echoing, piercing the night air, followed by the sound of frantic footsteps pounding against the forest floor somewhere nearby. Racing towards the source of the commotion, I eventually did find the hikers huddled together in a clearing, their faces pale with fear. One of the women was sobbing uncontrollably, her hands trembling as she pointed towards the edge of the clearing. I followed her gaze and felt a chill run down my spine as I saw a pair of glowing eyes staring back at me from the darkness. Without a second thought, I urged the hikers to follow me as I led them back towards the safety of my vehicle and to take them back to the ranger station. The whole time, I could sense that something was stalking us from the shadows walking back to my SUV, a malevolent presence that seemed to be drawing closer with each passing moment. The air around us felt charged with an eerie energy, making it difficult to shake the feeling that we were being watched. Luckily, we got to the car without any incident. As we mirrored the park ranger station, I could hear the group behind me whispering and hushed tones, their voices filled with fear and disbelief. I knew that they were shaken by what they had experienced, but I also knew that they were lucky to have made it out of the wilderness alive. The danger of hiking after dark was real, and it was something that I had seen firsthand during my first time as a park ranger. The next morning, I searched the area where the hikers had encountered the mysterious presence in the woods. When I found chilled me to the bone, a series of deep claw marks etched into the bark of the trees, as if something was trying the clots way out of the darkness. It was a sobering reminder of the dangers that lurked in the wilderness, dangers that could not be explained away by mere superstition. From that night on, I made it my mission to warn hikers about the perils of venturing into the wilderness after dark. The woods held secrets that were best left undisturbed, and I knew that it was my duty to protect those who were unaware of the dangers that lurked in the shadows. The experience had taught me that sometimes the darkness held more than just empty space. It held something much more sinister, something that could only be described as pure, unadulterated harbor. [BLANK_AUDIO]