Applegate Lake, OR

Nestled in the woods of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest lies a Bigfoot trap, the only one of its kind in the United States. It was built in 1974 by the (now-defunct) North American Wildlife Research Team, after a local miner claimed to see 18-inch footprints similar in shape to human feet.

Sightings of Bigfoot in Oregon go back as far as the late 19th century. The big-limbed cryptid is generally described as being a large human-like creature covered in dark brown hair with humongous feet. Though many declare it a hoax, the Sasquatch became an urban legend surrounded by famous sightings and stories.

The trap is a 10 x 10-foot square, built using thick slabs of wood held together with metal bands and secured to the earth with a telephone pole. For six long years, the research team refilled the trap with carcasses of dead animals hoping to discover the monster and forever go down in history. However, when the trap was set off it was usually by an angered bear or, in one instance, a confused hunter. In 1980, the hatch was locked open as the trap was becoming a safety hazard.

The odd contraption is located on the Collings Mountain Trail, named for two brothers who mined in that area. Along the trail there is also a fallen mining cabin once used as a Sasquatch lookout. Hoping to prevent the Bigfoot trap from sharing the same fate, the U.S. Forest Service repaired the wooden trap in 2006. It stands today as a physical testament to the idea that there is still mystery in the world.

This was an adventure far beyond what I had bargained for. I hiked in to see the Bigfoot trap on a cold, very still Monday morning at 7:30 am. Nobody else in sight - no other cars anywhere near the trailhead. In fact, the day use area where this is located is closed for the season. While hiking out after seeing the trap, I heard a very deep growl on the hill up to my left - maybe 200 yards away. I froze and listened for movement but heard nothing and kept on my way. When I got back to my truck and started stowing things away, I heard an incredibly loud echoing shriek coming from up the valley where I'd just hiked. It was like nothing I'd ever heard before - certainly not human. Very loud and powerful. It lasted about a minute, and then I stood there listening for maybe another 5 minutes... but it was absolute silence. Then the birds all around started making noises. They had been completely quiet until then. I have no clue what the source of that noise was.