An open record of things people cannot explain

Umatilla County, Oregon · 2004-10-05 · from the BFRO archive

I was returning to my home in Kennewick, WA, after delivering Christmas gifts to relatives in southern Idaho. It was early evening (around 5:45 pm), and I was driving in the westbound lanes of I-84. I had encountered heavy, thick fog at the top of what is locally known as "Cabbage Hill". It also began to snow. The roadway was snow-covered and slick. Traffic was moving quite slowly (20-30 mph). Trucks were moving especially slow due to the steep roadway, poor visibility, and slick roads. Traffic was backing up. There were 5-6 vehicles, including mine, travelling as a group, with 2-3 in the left lane and 2-3 in the right. The westbound lanes make a sharp turn to the right, straighten, steepen their grade, go through a cut in the hillside, and make a turn to the left, crossing Patawa Creek. This was in the vicinity of milemarker 222. There is a guardrail alongside the exposed side of the westbound lanes when they are not protected by embankments. As we were driving on the straight section between the curves, I could see the brake lights of the vehicles in front of me come on - the red glow getting brighter. I assumed we were either getting closer to the left turn and people were slowing, or there was some slower moving trucks ahead. I was in the left lane, and slowing down, putting more space between me and the car in front. Suddenly, I saw a large creature sitting/leaning on the pavement side of the guardrail - this would be to my left. It appeared to be watching/waiting for traffic go by. It's head turned from side to side, but I didn't notice detail. I looked at it as I drove by, and noticed that it appeared to be covered by long hair, or a long fur-like coat, which was covered/streaked with snow. It watched me drive by. At first I thought there must be an accident or stalled vehicle ahead (there were none behind me that I had passed), because why would someone be standing/sitting in that location, watching traffic? I was puzzled by what I saw, and noticed there were no vehicles stalled/parked below the location, either. The more I thought about it, the more I realized this was crazy. Why would someone be there? Except for the interstate, this spot is fairly isolated; farms/ranches are quite a long distance away. The terrain is very steep and rugged. The weather was quite cold, damp, inhospitable. If this was a "person" stranded or seeking help, he/she/it did nothing to atract attention or to get someone to stop. This was definitely not the time or place one would encounter someone out for a leisurely "stretch of the legs". I don't disbelieve in Sasquatch. I know there will always be hoaxes, and logical explanations for things that seem unexplainable. But I also know there are things yet to be "discovered", and new discoveries are made regularly. The more I thought about this, the more I began to think that maybe I did see what my second reaction said I saw. I called my wife on my cell to tell her. She got a big kick/laugh out of my story, said something about maybe I've been driving too long and should take extra care in travelling the remaining distance to home. When I got home, I retold my story to my family/friends. That "understanding" smile has been the usual reaction. But some have also said, "Who knows? Maybe you did see Sasquatch!". I finally convinced myself to report this to your site. Maybe I'll discover I wasn't the only one to see something extraordinary that night.

What stood out: red lights

 

Others who described something like this

2005-07-15

I and my husband were at the local swimming hole, called Black Bridge. I was at the gravel watching over our two nieces who were wading around the water. The swimming hole is under a rail ro

both described red lights · 10 km away

1998-07-25

In late July of 1998 my youngest son (who was 18 then)and I lived in Western Arkansas and took a week-long camping trip to the Wet Mountains in Colorado west of Pueblo. I had done most of th

both described red lights · on the other side of the country

1992-08-15

Younger Brother: In 1992-93 we went to visit family friends. And when playing outside us kids built a tent-like fort over the clothesline. With sheets and clothespins. Then later when were c

both described red lights · on the other side of the country

1978-05-15

April-May 1978 Hope, Arkansas. Hempstead county Sighting was at a farm house (no longer there) on hwy 73 between hwy 278 and hwy 195. My family lived on a farm with all of your typical farm

both described red lights · on the other side of the country

undated

It was opening day of modern gun deer season in Logan County Kentucky, Nov. 14, 2015. My husband took me to my deer stand at the edge of the hay field. There was no moon, and I couldn't see

both described red lights

undated

About three hours after eating dinner I was sitting around a campfire with 3 friends and my husband.We were just sitting around the campfire and talking when we heard a loud crashing and rus

both described red lights

Has this happened to you?

Write it down while you still remember the details. We will look for the others.

Tell us what you saw

This account was written by a member of the public and published in the BFRO archive. We reproduce it with thanks and remove anything on request. Location shown is approximate.