Episodes

  • BWBS Ep:86 Missing: National Park Nightmares Vol.6

    BWBS Ep:86 Missing: National Park Nightmares Vol.6
    Apr 20 2025
    In this haunting episode, we delve into one of Yellowstone National Park's most perplexing cold cases — the 1991 disappearance of Dan Campbell and his loyal dog Freckles.Our journey begins with Dan Campbell, a 42-year-old Montana man whose life had reached a crossroads by the spring of 1991. Living in Big Timber and struggling with mounting financial troubles, Campbell was looking for a way out. Standing 5'8" and weighing about 165 pounds, with the weathered face of someone comfortable in the outdoors, he had recently begun making plans to relocate to White Sulphur Springs, but needed money to finance the move.According to his brother Billy, Dan had started "running with some pretty shady characters" who introduced him to the lucrative world of illegal shed hunting — a dangerous underground economy that would ultimately lead to his disappearance.The dark underbelly of shed hunting in Yellowstone had evolved into what insiders called "the antler wars" by the early 1990s. With elk antlers selling for up to $15 per pound on the black market, what began as an innocent springtime hobby had transformed into a fiercely competitive criminal enterprise. Reports from the time suggest that certain areas of the park had been carved up into informal territories by competing groups of poachers, some allegedly carrying semiautomatic weapons to guard their claimed hunting grounds. Into this dangerous world stepped Dan Campbell, desperately seeking quick cash.On April 4, 1991, Campbell set off with his Australian shepherd-heeler mix named Freckles from the Hellroaring trailhead, planning a four-day trek to exit near Jardine, Montana, where his girlfriend Tracy Erb would pick him up on April 8. Dressed in blue Levi's jeans and a blue coat, he carried basic survival supplies in his backpack, along with the expectation of returning with valuable shed antlers. What he couldn't have anticipated was the treacherous journey that awaited him.The Hellroaring Trail itself presents a formidable challenge even to experienced hikers. Beginning with a steep 600-foot descent over switchbacks to reach a suspension bridge spanning the Yellowstone River, the trail then traverses an expansive sagebrush plateau before dropping down to Hellroaring Creek. As Campbell navigated this difficult terrain, a powerful spring storm moved in on April 5th, dumping up to a foot of fresh snow across portions of the park and sending temperatures plummeting.This sudden weather change would not only challenge Campbell's wilderness skills but would later severely hamper search efforts.When April 8 arrived with no sign of Campbell at the designated pickup location, Tracy Erb reported him missing. Park rangers immediately launched what's known in search and rescue terminology as a "bastard search" — checking obvious locations to confirm he wasn't simply elsewhere — before initiating a full-scale operation. Ground teams and, when weather permitted, aerial search units scoured Campbell's planned route, battling the aftermath of the snowstorm that had left up to a foot of fresh snow obscuring any tracks or evidence.Despite weeks of intensive searching across multiple locations, not a single trace of Campbell or his dog was ever found — no backpack, no clothing, no equipment, and perhaps most tellingly, not even Freckles.This complete absence of evidence pushed Campbell's brothers to consider darker possibilities. As the search transitioned to an investigation, Rod and Bill Campbell, along with their third brother, transformed from grieving family members into relentless advocates. Bill's own investigation uncovered that there had reportedly been 14 other horn hunters in the area on the day Dan went missing, and one of them claimed to have heard two gunshots. This discovery aligned with the family's growing suspicion that Dan had been murdered by rival shed hunters protecting their territory. The Campbell brothers' frustration with official efforts peaked in July 1991 when they filed a lawsuit against Park County Montana Sheriff Charlie Johnson, seeking $100,000 each for what they claimed was a botched investigation. They were particularly outraged by the sheriff's decision to return potential evidence — ammunition and spent cartridges confiscated from two horn hunters legally camping outside the park's northern boundaries — without subjecting these items to forensic testing. "If Dan's in the park, he's buried," Rod Campbell told reporters, reflecting their conviction that their brother met with foul play rather than a wilderness accident.As investigators weighed the evidence, three main theories emerged about Campbell's fate. The natural causes theory suggested he might have succumbed to hypothermia during the snowstorm, suffered a fatal injury on the rugged terrain, or encountered a grizzly bear emerging hungry from hibernation. The voluntary disappearance theory, which law enforcement initially considered due to Campbell's financial troubles, ...
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    1 hr and 8 mins
  • BWBS Ep:85 Bigfoot And The Moonshiner

    BWBS Ep:85 Bigfoot And The Moonshiner
    Apr 15 2025
    In this chilling episode, we dive deep into the mysterious Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina, where moonshine and monsters collide in a story that spans generations. Join us as we unravel the tale of Jim, a master moonshiner whose knowledge of the mountains led to prosperity—and ultimately, his mysterious disappearance in 1972.This haunting narrative, told from the perspective of his grandson, explores how Jim used the feared presence of Sasquatch creatures to keep revenue agents and competitors away from his illegal stills in an area locals called "Booger Holler." But as we'll discover, nature always collects its debts, and some territories should never be trespassed—no matter how profitable they might be.

    This haunting tale explores themes of territory, respect for nature, and the price of hubris. The Appalachian Mountains have long been home to tales of strange creatures and unexplained phenomena, with "Booger" being a common mountain term for ghost or monster. While science may not acknowledge the existence of Sasquatch, many mountain communities have their own stories of encounters with something not quite human that protects the deepest, most isolated hollows.Moonshining itself has a rich history in the Appalachians, where distilling skills were passed down through generations and became both an economic necessity and a point of cultural pride for many families. The tension between moonshiners and "revenuers" (federal agents) created a perfect environment for legends to thrive—especially those that kept strangers away from secret still locations.

    Listener DiscretionThis episode contains descriptions of implied violence and intense situations that may not be suitable for younger listeners. While not graphically depicted, the story suggests the fate of those who venture too far into territories they aren't welcome in.

    What did you think of this episode? Do you have your own strange tales from isolated mountain hollers? Let us know on our social media channels or leave a review.

    Website: https://paranormalworldproductions.com/ Instagram: @bigfootbks TikTok @bigfootbks
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    47 mins
  • BWBS Ep:84 Bigfoot Vs. Humans: The Shadow War

    BWBS Ep:84 Bigfoot Vs. Humans: The Shadow War
    Apr 11 2025
    In this bone-chilling episode of "Into the Unknown," Brian narrates the extraordinary firsthand account of a man who survived multiple encounters with Sasquatch in the remote Alaskan wilderness. Brian brings to life the story of a former architect who abandoned city life in Anchorage to build his dream home on a hundred-acre property in the Kenai Peninsula, only to discover he had unwittingly entered territory claimed by creatures most believe exist only in legend. Through meticulous research and exclusive interviews with the survivor, Brian reconstructs this harrowing tale of territorial conflict and survival. Listeners will hear how the man's experience began with mysterious knocking sounds in the forest and quickly escalated to an orchestrated campaign of intimidation—rocks hurled at his trailer, destruction of construction equipment, and ultimately, coordinated attacks by multiple Sasquatch displaying disturbing levels of intelligence and strategic thinking. The narrative details the physical characteristics of these massive bipedal beings, their communication methods, and their apparent ability to remember specific humans and hold grudges against those who intrude on their territory. The survivor's account of narrowly escaping death during a night-long siege provides some of the most credible and detailed testimony ever documented about Sasquatch behavior.

    This hidden conflict has remained largely unknown to the public due to skepticism, misclassification of deaths as wilderness accidents, and potentially even governmental reluctance to acknowledge the existence of another intelligent species with territorial claims to North American lands. The episode concludes with sobering reflections on what these encounters suggest about humanity's place in the wilderness—that in certain remote regions, we may not be the apex predators we believe ourselves to be, but rather intruders in territories long claimed by something more ancient and unwilling to share. Whether you're fascinated by cryptid phenomena or a committed skeptic, this meticulously researched account will make you reconsider what might really be watching from the shadows when you venture into the deep wilderness.
    Content warning: This episode contains descriptions of violence and situations that some listeners may find disturbing.
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    1 hr and 21 mins
  • BWBS Ep:83 Ape Canyon: Terror In The Night

    BWBS Ep:83 Ape Canyon: Terror In The Night
    Apr 8 2025
    Deep in the shadows of Mount St. Helens, five gold prospectors experienced a night of terror that would forever mark their lives and give birth to one of America's most enduring wilderness mysteries.In this episode, we transport you to July 1924, when Fred Beck, the steady leader of a small mining operation, fired three shots at a strange, towering figure glimpsed across a canyon. Little did he know that as darkness fell, his cabin would become a fortress under siege.Join us as we follow Fred, Gabe Lefever, John Peterson, Marion Smith, and his son Roy through their harrowing ordeal—rocks and massive objects raining down on their roof, glimpses of seven-foot creatures moving through moonlit shadows, and the heart-stopping moment when a massive, hair-covered arm reached through their window.As dawn broke over Mount St. Helens, the men discovered fourteen-inch footprints surrounding their cabin, evidence of something science couldn't explain.

    Their story would reach The Oregonian newspaper under the headline "Ape Men Sought," and a remote gorge would forever be known as "Ape Canyon. "Ninety-nine years later, we examine what really happened during that midsummer night and why Fred Beck maintained the truth of their encounter until his death, insisting they had confronted something unknown in the wilderness of the Pacific Northwest.

    Share your own wilderness encounter: brian@paranormalworldproductions.com
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    51 mins
  • BWBS Ep:82 Missing: National Park Nightmares Vol. 5

    BWBS Ep:82 Missing: National Park Nightmares Vol. 5
    Apr 6 2025
    This week, we journey into the heart of two of America's most magnificent national parks to unravel mysteries that have confounded investigators for decades. Two young men, four years apart, both vanished without a trace while hiking alone on well-established trails. Their disappearances share disturbing similarities that suggest these weren't simply cases of lost hikers, but perhaps something far more inexplicable.The Story of Timothy Barnes takes us to the crystalline waters of Tenaya Lake in Yosemite National Park. On July 5, 1988, 25-year-old Timothy "Tim" Barnes set out on what should have been a routine day hike. Standing 6'3" with shoulder-length dark brown hair, Tim was an experienced outdoorsman who had hiked Yosemite's trails many times before.At 9:00 AM, he was spotted by a family from Michigan, walking north from the Murphy Creek Trailhead toward Poly Domes. Tim exchanged pleasant greetings with them, appearing relaxed and confident in his white t-shirt with a distinctive red anti-fascism symbol, gray sweatpants, and yellow daypack. This would be the last confirmed sighting of Timothy Barnes. When Tim failed to return, one of the most comprehensive search operations in Yosemite's history was launched. For weeks, professional search and rescue teams with trained dogs scoured the landscape. Helicopters swept the terrain from above while technical climbing teams explored every crevice of the granite domes.Yet they found nothing. No backpack, no clothing, no signs of struggle or injury. Tim had seemingly evaporated into the wilderness.As we explore in this episode, the Barnes case is riddled with bizarre elements that defy conventional explanation:Search dogs exhibited unusual behavior, becoming agitated and confused in certain areasMultiple hikers reported compass malfunctions and static electricity phenomena on the day Tim disappearedTwo search teams heard what sounded like distant calls for help coming from areas that had already been thoroughly searchedHikers described strange, localized fog banks that formed and dissipated rapidly against prevailing windsThree months after his disappearance, a fragment of yellow fabric resembling Tim's backpack was discovered in an area that had been meticulously searched multiple timesPerhaps most chilling were the revelations from Tim's mother that in the weeks before his hike, Tim had experienced unusually vivid dreams about being lost in a landscape where "the geography kept shifting" and had developed a sudden, intense interest in the geological formations of Poly Domes.The David Morrison mystery then takes us to the spectacular alpine scenery of Glacier National Park, Montana. On October 12, 1992, 26-year-old David Morrison parked his rental car at Logan Pass Visitor Center and began hiking the famous Highline Trail. Like Timothy Barnes, Morrison was physically fit, experienced in wilderness navigation, and hiking alone. He had checked in with rangers that morning and planned to return before sunset. He, too, would never be seen again.The parallels between the Morrison and Barnes cases are uncanny:Both men were in their mid-twenties with athletic buildsBoth disappeared in the morning hours from well-marked trailsBoth had clearly intended to return the same dayBoth cases featured a complete absence of physical evidence despite extensive searchesBoth searches encountered unexplained phenomena with search dogsBoth disappearances coincided with reports of unusual, localized weather anomaliesThe most perplexing development came thirteen months after Morrison's disappearance, when a distinctive pendant he had been wearing was discovered by a hiker on a trail more than twelve miles from his last known location—an area that had been thoroughly searched during the initial investigation.The Unsettling PatternIn this episode, I delve into how these cases connect to a larger pattern of similar disappearances across North America's wilderness areas. We examine:The profile of those who vanish—predominantly young, physically fit menThe geographical clustering of these incidents in certain national parks and wilderness areasThe consistent lack of physical evidence despite modern search techniquesThe repeated reports of unusual weather phenomena, equipment malfunctions, and strange behavior of search animalsWhile this episode explores the strange circumstances surrounding these disappearances, it also serves as a reminder of the very real dangers of solo hiking. We discuss:The importance of filing detailed hiking plans with park rangers or trusted contactsWhy carrying emergency communication devices can be lifesavingHow to prepare for unexpected weather changes in alpine environmentsWhy even experienced hikers should approach unfamiliar trails with cautionGet Our FREE NewsletterGet Brian's Books Leave Us A VoicemailVisit Our WebsiteSupport Our SponsorsVisit Untold Radio AM
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    1 hr and 15 mins
  • BWBS Ep:81 Dogman Killed Our Neighbor!

    BWBS Ep:81 Dogman Killed Our Neighbor!
    Apr 4 2025
    Today, Brian brings you the chilling first-person account of Jack, a former farm owner whose family experienced a series of terrifying encounters with what can only be described as a Dogman.
    • Jack describes how the encounters began with mysterious livestock disappearances and strange predator tracks that were "too big for a wolf, shaped wrong for a bear"
    • The family's increasing terror as the creature progresses from killing animals to stalking their home, including a hair-raising incident where it was seen looking through their 10-year-old son's second-story window
    • Vivid descriptions of the entity: standing 7-8 feet tall with canine features, possessing disturbing intelligence, and displaying unnaturally long limbs with hand-like appendages
    • The terrifying escalation when the creature attempts to prevent the family from leaving their property, leading to a violent confrontation on a rural road
    • The heartbreaking loss of Bill Thompson, an elderly neighbor who believed in Jack's accounts and ultimately sacrificed himself helping the family escape
    • The family's desperate flight across country, only to discover the creature might have abilities beyond what they imagined, including possible shapeshifting
    • Jack's current life in coastal Oregon, where he's connected with others who've had similar experiences and tracks missing persons cases that match the Dogman's hunting patterns
    LISTENER DISCRETION ADVISED This episode contains graphic descriptions of animal deaths, human injury, and psychological trauma. Not recommended for younger listeners or those sensitive to content involving threats to children.
    • What was the creature's unusual fixation on Jack's son Ethan?
    • Could these entities be interdimensional beings rather than flesh-and-blood creatures?
    • Why do they seem to be increasing in number according to witness accounts?
    .#DogmanEncounters #CryptidCreatures #SupernaturalSightings #MonstersAreReal
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    1 hr and 23 mins
  • BWBS Ep:80 Bigfoot On The River

    BWBS Ep:80 Bigfoot On The River
    Apr 2 2025
    In this episode Brian shares a remarkable story from a man named Dale who had an extraordinary encounter in the North Georgia mountains back in 1983. As teenagers, Dale and his friend Brad embarked on what they thought would be a routine fishing and camping trip down the Chattooga River, only to experience something that would change their lives forever.

    Episode Highlights:
    • Dale recounts how he and Brad, just 14 years old, set out on a seven-day journey down the Chattooga River in a flat-bottom aluminum boat
    • The boys' initial encounters with strange sounds and wood knocking that couldn't be explained by known wildlife
    • The discovery of massive, unexplainable footprints along the riverbank
    • A terrifying moment when an unknown creature tears apart their steel mesh fish basket to steal their prized catfish
    • Multiple nighttime encounters with what appears to be a group of Sasquatch creatures
    • How these beings seemed not to threaten the boys, but rather to warn them away from continuing downstream
    • Dale's reflection on the experience forty years later, and why he and Brad chose to keep their story private until now
    Dale's firsthand account provides a unique perspective on Sasquatch encounters - not as the menacing creatures often portrayed in popular culture, but as territorial yet protective beings. The story raises fascinating questions about what might exist in the most remote corners of our wilderness and why these creatures might choose to interact with humans in rare circumstances.Whether you're a believer in cryptids or a skeptic, this riveting tale of two boys' unexpected adventure offers a thought-provoking glimpse into the mysteries that may still lurk in our forests.


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    1 hr and 1 min
  • BWBS Ep:79 Missing: National Park Nightmares Vol.4

    BWBS Ep:79 Missing: National Park Nightmares Vol.4
    Mar 30 2025
    Welcome back to National Park Nightmares, the podcast that explores real-life disappearances, survival stories, and unexplained events from deep within America's most iconic wilderness areas. In Volume 4, we dive into some of the most chilling—and unforgettable—cases yet. We begin with a rare story of survival. Christy Perry, a seasoned hiker, vanished in Big Bend National Park in Texas in November 2023. For eight days, she endured freezing temperatures, rain, and isolation with no food and only rainwater to drink. Most feared the worst.

    Then, against all odds, she was found alive. Her story is a reminder that sometimes, hope really does make the difference. But not every story has a happy ending.Next, we explore the mysterious disappearance of Eric Robinson, a veteran adventurer who set out to solo-hike Utah’s High Uintas in 2011—and never made it back. Years passed with no trace until, in 2016, a group of hikers stumbled on his remains in one of the most rugged areas of the park. What happened in those final days remains unclear, but the discovery offered long-awaited answers.Then there’s Morgan Heimer—a young river guide who vanished in broad daylight in the Grand Canyon in 2015. One moment he was assisting guests at the water’s edge… the next, he was gone. No struggle. No sound. No trace.

    Despite an extensive search, his case remains one of the canyon’s most baffling mysteries.We also revisit the strange disappearance of George Penca, who was hiking with his church group on Yosemite’s popular Upper Yosemite Falls Trail in 2011. It was a busy day, surrounded by people. And yet, George simply disappeared. Search efforts came up empty. The trail gave no clues. And like Morgan, George was just… gone.Michael Ficery’s case takes us deeper into Yosemite’s backcountry. In 2005, the experienced solo backpacker set out from Hetch Hetchy and was never seen again. His backpack was found along a trail—but nothing else. No remains. No other belongings. Just a pack, sitting in silence, in the middle of nowhere.And finally, not every mystery is about a disappearance.

    In 2005, in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, 44-year-old Arman B. Johnson was found murdered just off the highway. A single gunshot wound. No suspects. No clear motive. A life taken violently in a place known for its beauty—and still, no justice.Some of the people in this episode came back. Some didn’t. Some are still missing. And in every case, one thing is clear: even in the most beautiful places on earth, the wild doesn’t play by our rules.These stories aren’t just about mystery. They’re about real people. And if you know anything about the cases of Morgan Heimer, George Penca, Michael Ficery, or Arman Johnson, we urge you to contact authorities. Even one small tip can make all the difference.If this episode stayed with you, subscribe, rate, and review the podcast. Share it with someone. And if you want more, head over to our YouTube channel, Backwoods Bigfoot Stories, for deep dives into more strange disappearances and true crime in the wild.Until next time—stay safe, stay aware… and stay curious.



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    Show more Show less
    41 mins
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