DATE:     April, 1994

TIME:     Night,  Approximately 11:45 P.M.

LOCATION:    North/Northwestern Pike County,  Alabama

TERRAIN:         Wooded
 

OBSERVED:    The event I relate here happened to me and two other friends in April of 1994 while I was attending Troy State University, Troy.

I was undertaking grad studies at the time. I lived in a campus dorm and had become friends with several people in the dorm and about campus. One of these friends stayed in a room a few doors down. He dated a girl that stayed in a dorm across campus. I had been studying on the night I write of and had become bored with it. My friend knocked on the door and came in, as we talked we agreed to go pick up his girlfriend and go out to "Lookout Mountain".  I had been once before during the day so I offered to drive. I welcomed the break.

  We left campus around 11 pm or so. We headed up Hyw. 231 north turned west/northwest onto Co. Rd.
As we got closer to the "Lookout Mountian" we noticed fewer and fewer houses. After about 15 minutes of all the driving we were there and walked to the top of this large hill. The hill is about 100 feet high from what I remember. It is supposedly the highest point in Pike Co.. The place seemed to be a well known and well used spot with open areas about the path to the top, besides one could see for several miles to the west, south and east from atop this hill. (I recall seeing the rotating beacon that night at the Troy airport several miles to the south). I knew we were not the first people to walk to the top and hang out nor be the last. Everything seemed cool.

 After about 15 to 20 minutes we three decided to head downhill toward the car and find something else to get into. (I think we were going to go to Subway for a late night snack). Now here is where it got weird. Just after we started downhill I began feeling funny and the hairs started rising on the back of my neck. Not being fools, seeing how we were out at night in the country plus having a lady with us, we both had brought along weapons. I had a .38 stuffed in my pants at my back and a few extra rounds in my pocket plus a good replica Samurai sword. (Yes, a sword). My friend had a Glock 9mm and an extra clip of rounds. (My friend was in the National Guard at the time by the way). I pulled the .38 before we got midway downhill. I had looked over to where my friend was to my right, he had already pulled his 9mm so I knew by then he also sensed something as well. It was also about this time that we started hearing rather heavy footsteps. As we moved along I notcied the steps were on both sides of us.

By the time we got midway downhill we were aware that there were five maybe six...somethings out not far from us. I recall that there were two and I'm pretty sure a third distinct grouping of footfalls to my left and two off to my right. My friend was closest to the ones on my right so I'm sure he had heard them a bit better. Also by this time our lady friend was hysterical. I'm sure her few screams did not help matters much. My friend was aware that it might be some other people messing with us. We stopped breifly. He shouted a few warnings that whomever was there had better leave us alone or speak up, he was ready to open fire. No answers. Nothing. I remained quiet listening. We continued to move downhill toward my car but whatever they were kept back a bit and to our sides yet kept moving along with us, not trying to hide their footsteps. As we approached the bottom of the hill we ran for it,  got into the car as quicly as we could,  cranked it up fast,  backed up a bit,  and split the way we had came.

I am not sure if whatever they were moved out into the dirt road behind us or not as we drove off. I looked back but, it was really too dark to tell and besides the road was narrow and had trees about each side of it and I was being as careful as I could so as not to run off this road. (I don't recommend trying to drive out of such a place and look back at the same time). It took a few minutes after we got back onto Hwy. 231 for my lady friend to calm down. I was shaken but not too bad. I'm not sure how my other friend felt. I'm sure his military training had taken over for a time back on that hill.

 We never saw what they were. Except for the footsteps they were otherwise quiet. At first I was not sure what they may have been however later I felt they were most likely Bigfoots. I still feel that is what they were tho I can never be 100% sure. But, what they did to us would seem much like reported and researched Bigfoot behavior.

After a few months and leaving Grad school I eventually lost contact with those two friends. I've not been back to that hill since even though I have traveled up and down that part of 231 near there many times and still do. I'm sure with a little driving about those dirt roads off Co. Rd. 17 I can find that hill again. I'm just not too sure I'd want to find it once again at night.
 

Activities of Witness:  We had all been back at campus and decided to go do something for a while.

Other Notes:    It was quiet on the hill that night. I did not hear any other critters but I did not think much of it. I thought our presence had quieted things. I do not remember if the moon was out that night or not. Considering what went on I suppose that I don't remember if it was or not is a minor thing.
 

Other sightings in this area:     Not that I know of in that area. However, I did leave a story earlier about a "youth bigfoot". The area he was seen and where I and my friends had our encounter are approx. 15 to 20 miles apart if one went in a straight line. Its possible the two events might be somehow related.