Whistle Mimic

#Location/US/Virginia #Area/Woods/Appalachian #Creature/Mimic

So this happened last year in Virginia and is also the reason I never backpack alone anymore.

I was taking summer courses at the time and we ended up with a 3 day weekend in June so I thought it was a great time to go explore some of the Virginian wilderness all. I did a google search found a state park with a trail that looked nice and let my roommate and family know the trail I was going to be on.

When I got close to the park area I saw a little outdoor shop where people hiking the Appalachian trail stop. I went in to grab a map of the area just in case I got lost. As I was talking to the owner he mentioned a trail that’s not well known that has a pretty cool waterfall and swimming hole. This piqued my interest so I had him show me on the map, it took me outside the state park but he said it was a great place to go. I paid for the map and thanked the owner. I texted my roommate and parents about the new trail and I parked my car and set off on my adventure.

I should note that the waterfall was going to be a side trip from my journey. I was planning 3 days 2 nights.

I started on part of the Appalachian trail and it was pretty packed with people and some of them were really fun to talk to. As expected as I got further and further from the main trails I saw less and less people. Around early afternoon 3 miles from my destination I noticed it was unnaturally silent no birds, no bugs not even wind and I had a feeling of being watched. I shook it off as me over analyzing the situation.

I got to the waterfall and it wasn’t too spectacular but it was cool to look at. Plus it had a good size area to swim in so naturally I stripped down to my skivvies and took at dip. It was pretty refreshing. As I was getting my clothes back on I started whistling to myself (it was chill bill because it was stuck in my head). That’s when I heard something whistle the same tune back. I thought it was a bird copying me so I went back and forth with it and it’ll repeat whatever I whistled. I thought ir was pretty neat. As I was setting up camp I couldn’t shake this feeling that I was being watched again like I’d get goosebumps and my hairs would stand up. As night fell I built a small fire and lit my jet boil to make dinner as I did this I became hyper aware that again there was no sound just deafening silence. Some part of my brain was telling me that I’m not safe and to leave. I ignored it and crawled into my tent with my flashlight and book.

I went to sleep without incident. When I woke up the next morning my site was trashed. My camp stool was nowhere to be found, my bear bag with my food was cut down and the contents were thrown across the site. My first thought was a crafty animal chewed through the rope and got at the bag but I looked at the rope and it was cut with something very sharp. Plus none of the food was even touched. I also noticed bare footprints all around my campsite. Keep in mind I’m at least 6-8 miles from a road.

As I was looking at the mess I heard a branch snap off in the distance I turned to look in that direction. I saw nothing but I heard that whistling again my whistle from yesterday but it was different it sounded more sinister. It made my hair stand on end and this is when I listened to my instincts to get the hell out. It sounded like it was a little off in the distance so I packed up my camp as fast as I could. The whistling got closer as I finished stuffing the tent into my bag. I didn’t bother with putting anything away properly. The whistling was incessant and sounded like it was coming for all directions I got fed up with the whistling stood and I yelled into the woods “Shut Up” and “What the fuck do you want”. It stopped whistling and it was quite for a moment then it repeated what I said in MY voice. It sounded just like me but distorted like it came from an old tv. After I heard this I immediately threw my pack on and ran the direction I came. I heard it moving just behind me fast switching between the whistle and my voice. It felt like it was toying with me not coming too close but not being too far. Eventually it sounded like it got further and further away from me. Then it stopped suddenly. When it stopped I stopped and turned around I wished I didn’t because I heard the most bone chilling screech ever coming from right next to me. That’s when I started running again I didn’t look I only ran. Less than a half mile I ran into a couple that was also backpacking.

They saw the look of terror in my face and asked if that was me that screamed and asked if I was okay. I told them about what happened and they decided to not go down where I just can from. We moved to a more populated trail in a quickly as we could. As soon as I got back in my car I drove to one of the park’s ranger stations and reported what happened. Since the site was off park grounds they told me it wasn’t in their jurisdiction but they’ll send a ranger to investigate. The ranger station’s parking lot run right up to the woods and when I was getting into my Jeep I heard the chill bill tune coming from woods just in front of me. I never drove so fast in my life. When told my roommate why I was back after only one night all he said was “bro I’m never going camping with you”.
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