a bear woulda jumped off when you started the vehicle. Like you, I dont tent anymore, here is my story on that- i was tenting for the night at a national forest next to my vehicle, (I was on a cross country road trip and it was cheap to tent each night) no one and no cars were around. This particular night, as it got dark, i started to feel uneasy, something wasnt right. like something was watching me, waiting. i shook my german shephard to see if she'd alert or if i was just being paranoid- she wouldnt wake up!! I shook her again. she wouldnt wake up! In all of my life I have never had a dog be unable to wake up. That told me everything I needed to know. I dragged her (literally dragged her by her hind legs) over to my truck, grabbed my rifle, ran back and dragged my tent over to the truck. Turned the truck on and pointed the headlights at the forest. I crammed the fully erect tent into the back of the truck, breaking some of the poles, (did not give 2 shits) then I heaved my still unconscious dog into the truck and got in and peeled out of there. I did not stop until it was daylight and I was in a different state because I did not want to be followed by whatever it was. My dog woke up after we were a few miles away from the campground. I only sleep in my vehicle now. Whatever was going on that night, it wasnt normal.
As a female solo camper I really took heed to your video. I went tent camping last time and had wolfs all outside the tent at Elephant Butte, So this last Camp trip I did truck camping. I felt much safer. Thank you.
From my RV days I had some 12-volt motion lights that would light up the perimeter of my RV if motion was detected. I also had some "stealth" motion sensors that would sound a chime if motion was detected anywhere around the RV. These things aren't very expensive and are essential for tent or van campers.
I was driving across country up 101 stopped overnight in my van in a turn around off the freeway. This was in Northern California in redwoods. My van has window covers and had doors locked. Around 11 pm at night I heard something walking in the gravel heavy slow footsteps. I shut my radio down and interior lights. It was pitch dark in the forest no houses for miles no street lights, it shock my entire van, it walked away, thank God, but I don't stealth camp anymore, unless campground or city on road trip, there's plenty of things that are apex predator larger than man. Ill never camp in a damn tent a van you have protection and dive away!
Thanks. Five years ago I visited USA and drove around this beautiful country. As I didn´t have much money to pay for motels, many times I rested overning inside the rental car. I remember resting at two parks, it was really scary. I always kept the doors closed and with a path clear if I needed to get my rental car moving. Man, some nights were scary because of some sounds.
Those thin scratches do not look like bear claw marks. If a bear had scratched to get in the marks would have been deeper, and about 4 together each time.
I gave up tents around 20 years ago. I do miss them. No thinks. With what is going on now. I went from a camper to a van. I just bought it last Friday. Wind River Mountains in Wyoming broke me of tents. Like you said. A van. You can drive off easily. Thanks for sharing. Take care.
When you were driving fast, you should have slammed on the brakes so the thing on the roof might have fallen off and you might have gotten a good look at it. Scary stuff Also, I think I would sleep with my clothes on...
Well, you have scared this little old lady have to death! I gave up my tent and went to a teardrop for just that reason. But if somebody or something tried to get me, I could not just drive away. I’m in my 70s and have been seriously thinking of giving up the convenience of my wonderful Homebuilt and going to a van for just that reason!
I used to remote wilderness camp - like 20 and 30 years ago! Now, no way. I still camp in my vehicle but ONLY do it where there are tons of other cars parked, like hotels, hospitals, or all night parking lots. It's a lot safer where no one suspects you are sleeping in your vehicle. I'm actually leaving tomorrow for a 12 day stealth camping trip to several Florida beaches - it will be great!
Wow, this is such an important video Why has this never been advised as standard best practice for camping. I did not know this!! All I’ve heard is sleep in a tent! ⛺️ This guy is right!! No more sleeping in a tent for me, I can see how vulnerable you can be… Best to fortify against such possibilities
We living in weird times always play it safe. If you can’t carry a gun, carry a machete, bear spray, crossbow, anything that can help you in a situation, preferably a firearm. Always keep a weapon close when sleeping and keep your van keys on a wrist chain for fast access.
You said it was making horrible noises outside the van. Were they howls, growling, screams, what? At what point as you were driving home, did you sense, that whatever it was, was no longer on the roof?
Most of my camping is in the desert area of California, Arizona, and Nevada. No bear problem. When I was a Boy Scout, I learned one of the fundamental rules is never eat in your tent as these odors will remain for years and will attract bears. I have always slept with a firearm next to me large enough to kill a black bear. If I was in a black bear area, I would also have an air horn and bright search light with me. But I would never camp in a tent in grizzly country, they are too large to reliably stop without a 12 gauge deer slug or 30.06 rifle
Sir I would have been naked driving and blowing the horn all the way back to the city and would not stop til I reached the nearest police officer or station. Thank goodness you are okay.
Thanks for sharing your story. That was really scary. My family and I use to tent camp. It was fun and it saved money on hotel expenses but regular campgrounds are often dark and gloomy at night with no outdoor lighting. There were times we had to walk forty yards or more to the bathroom, if there was a bathroom. Now we have a van and it's safer, more comfortable and requires no setup.
Sounds like it would be a good investment to install a couple of CCTV cams that look down each side of your vehicle. If you have as much of an interest in the anomalies of life as seems you do... it's time to get some decent photographic records of what's going on.
I can barely stomach the idea of pitching a tent in my back yard for fear of something getting in at me in the middle of the night. Pitching a tent in the middle of a wilderness without being armed to the teeth with lead-fire is unthinkable to me. Too many true horror stories out there. Great for entertainment value if you're watchig the action on a youtube video, quite another perspective if you're the poor, unarmed sod in the tent.
i am so glad you are ok. truly terrifying and i am so sorry you went thru this. but i'm kinda glad that this was just the "warning" moment to learn something that might save your life. thank you for sharing your story. i wish others who do this solo thing in the wilderness staying outside or even hiking would really take a hard look at things that are going down out there. people don't want to believe in "critters" beyond the norm and they listen to the gov tell them what to believe instead of the thousands of people w/their stories of what they have experienced. a suggestion... i anoint and pray over my vehicles, my home and land, tech, etc. several times a year. if i was to camp in my van or rv, i'd anoint the 4 corners of my campsite and pray that God would place angels on the 4 corners. no way would i ever not do this.
Remember the story from about a year ago of the creature that was caught on camera in someone’s backyard after an unidentified flying object was seen? police officers saw it, and the media buried the story that’s what this reminds me of
Dude. Why you don’t carry a gun is beyond me. A knife? That’s only good if your cleaning fish. Can you see yourself fighting whatever that was with only a knife and underwear. Cmon man. I carry at least two guns at all times when I’m out in the wilderness. A hand gun and a long gun. AK. The only thing keeping whatever out is a piece of glass of your vehicle. The possibilities of what scratched your van is numerous. A human. A Bigfoot. A dogman. A skinwalker. Or something else. It’s wise that you backed in for quick departure and it’s always good to keep the keys in the ignition. Lights are good surrounding the vehicle as well. I camp in my Tahoe and Im always thinking how to stay a couple of steps away from what’s not seen or understood. My question is what would scratch your vehicle sideways. Some of those scratches on the front look like single scratch marks unlike a bear or lion. And how far did you get when you didn’t hear it on the roof anymore. Better to be over prepared than under prepared. But im Shure you know that now.
A hungry bear or a large wild cat. Both can be very fast too. Best to sleep with cargo pants on that have a zippered pocket down by the calf and keep your ignition keys in there so you can escape more quickly. Get alarms and cameras too, will help scare predators away and you can watch the outside from the inside. Keep in mind, a grizzly can roll a van on its side. And without firepower, at that point, you’re dinner. The second you hear something or it touches your vehicle, leave immediately, won’t wait until it gain some unexpected advantage.
I think what I'd be worried about are the tires. If this was a large powerful bear or mountain lion could they puncture a tire? (I'm not an outdoors person so I don't know much about these animals). This would be a nightmare scenario in a case like yours because now even though the engine is okay and the electrics are go okay you wouldn't be able to drive away. As terrifying as these predators are nothing's more terrifying than a human who's gone off the rails. I see a crazy human as the biggest threat to people hiking alone. They could slash the tires. All of them. Everyone who solo hikes - keep safe out there.
Funny thing is - bears sometimes know how to break in without attacking the bodywork - they use their weight and press down on the windscreen until it fails. They do a pounding action and the glass breaks. 1000 pounds of weight is their weapon. Was it a cougar?
I only sleep in my vehicle. My tents are a screen room for cooking and dining and a privacy tent. I like the option of being able to hop up into my SUV's driver seat and drive away. What a harrowing story. If it wasn't a bear, maybe it was a large mountain lion. None the less, I agree, it is far better to have steel around you, than fabric.
Ever since I was in grade school I used to ride my horse out in the woods. I would go for miles and just toss a sleeping bag down and go to sleep. I felt safe with my horse and dog to warn me of danger but I figured the same stuff was there at night that was there in the daytime. I wasn't scared in the daylight so why be scared at night. Years later my kids talked me into going camping. They wanted a tent so I got a little hikers dome tent the 3 of us could sleep in. The only time I had slept in a tent and that night a bear sniffed my head through the tent. He circled the tent and woofed and circled us for hours. It was horrifying. Never again. I wouldn't even feel safe in a camper. Maybe in a slide in camper with a window that opens so a person could get in the truck cab and take off. But I agree with you a van is the best way to go. The RVs are made of cardboard pretty much and just about anything could dig its way into one of those. Something did follow me home late one night when I was walking. Classic story of it stopped when I stopped and matched me step by step. There's things out there I know now. I was a lucky kid.
Racoon? Those damn things can climb and scratch like a Mofo, and claw size looks about right from the bumper scratches. I've seen them doing some bizarre things on video trail cameras, and really get into manipulating and playing with stuff. On the other hand - it could have been a Dogman. I like to think racoon....
Yup, for many years I back pack camped for days at a time bow hunting for elk in western MT and the ID panhandle. No more. The frequency of encounters with bears, cats, and wolves makes me too nervous now.
We gave up the tent too. Too many crazy camp stories for me. We're comfortable in the van. We aren't equipped for cooking in it yet but I'm working on it so if we need to we are able. I thought maybe the thing had gotten on the roof and that's why you weren't able to see it?
Kevin I watched those videos about 70 or 80 times, I live in the Cruz 60 MLS from Yosemite and I go there with my mountain. Bike and the 4X bronco I learned soo much from your video and I always think about them ya! t.y. brother great job PA pal out
100% bear, we saw a black bear from a distance all over our suv years ago trying to get in, almost the same claw marks (sideways and every which way). It hung around for about 15 min as we watched anxiously in fear. No damage but just scratches. We had no bear spray or anything...lesson learned.
WOW your story is just like me watching a beware of the woods movie! It's strange how u never saw it & how it stayed on the hood while u were driving! It sounds like a bear & it wanted some of what u had inside of yr van lol! I agree with u, you're not safe in a tent especially these days bc not just animals but people may attack u & as long as u have yr door locks I don't think a bear could ever enter the van but a person could simply break a window with no problem so I pray you're very careful where u camp at God bless u my friend
Raccoons thought they found a dumpster and were trying to figure a way in. They were on the roof and low around your van outside the prospective of your rear view mirror. A bear on your roof would surely leave dents.
This is the scariest thing l’ve read this year. I don’t think your red lights coming on would have frightened a bear off anyway; if the thing was clawing at the van’s side near where you were sat in the driving seat, when the brake lights came on, whatever it was would have been visible instantly. Bears certainly aren’t nimble enough to move that quick that it was out of your sight range in a split second. Very intriguing
I never have camp in the tent but I have been pushing the candle many time the other ways around. Up north, with no one in 60 km distance in all directions. I used to be leaving flaps on the camp fully open for the night, the front door was enough to pull on it to open with easy. The front door on the camp was made of just regular storm door !! One thing was I always kept for the night was the camp fire. It was burning bright until the next mornig. I truly believe that someone or something was watching over me.
I am glad you are safe, I also do not feel comfortable with the idea of camping in a tent. My family does it, without personal protection. Total madness as far as I am concerned. Always better to be safe than sorry, and that's not being paranoid either.
I car camp. Lock doors. Black out the windows. Leave keys in the switch. Sleep with a small fan on the console in warm weather. Take along a shower tent for showers. BioLite2 stove that burns hot on twigs ( it also charges my phone )and a hand press My Joe for kurig cups and in 5 minutes I am having my coffee. .Six years now, 71 years old and still love it. Since whatever it was, was still on your roof for a while. makes me wonder if things have been different at your house since you got back from that ordeal.
Thank you for telling us your story. I too have some weird experiences in the past while camping too. How did you install the roof lights that light up the back of your vehicle? Where did you buy them? I want the same thing for my vehicle.
You mean to tell me that you stopped before leaving the trailhead parking area so you could go into the rear of the van and get dressed before driving away...although you knew whatever was outside was still on or near your van?? This makes me wonder about the whole 'story'. Also you camped alone with only a knife for protection...I would have had at least one gun with me.
There was sn incident sometime earlier this year, a lady was camping in her van near Quartzite, a well known and populated camping area, someone threw a rock through her window.
I would ask a mechanic or people on this chat about keeping the keys in the ignition. in my experience I've drained my battery 2 times in the last 3 years by keeping the keys in the ignition and had to get a jump. So in a situation where you want to act fast but not experience a dead car battery, maybe find a handy spot for the keys? Just a thought :) ps nice van!!! New subscriber here!
Don’t leave the keys In your ignition. Keep the keys right next to you. If you have a faub hit the alarm button on it. It likely runs off. I do a one month elk hunt every year alone. I sleep with my keys my knife and bear spray. I also now have a bull horn. My faub is broke. I am completely ready for anything when I’m hunting. I’d rather sleep in a van but I sleep in a tent. Bears generally run away except grizzlies. I did have an elk come by at 3:30 am this year. I called her in until I started to realize she was about 20 feet from my tent. Get a pistol. It could have been a rat. I have rat problems when hunting. I had piles of bear poop 200 yards from my camp. Some bears like to poop in the same spot. That’s the case with this bear. I doubt it would come into my camp but I’m always careful. I pee on all the trees around my camp. I mark my my territory. I’m actually surprised the elk came in. People make me nervous but not concerned about bears. Lots of cougar in the area. Saw one about a mile up the road from my camp. I don’t worry about cougars coming into camps. They are my biggest concern when hunting though. I also do not keep food where I sleep. I did that once and woke up to something sniffing next to my head. I had some corn bread that I forgot to eat. It ended up being a deer. I don’t even keep Gatorade where I sleep. I’ll be honest. I am overly cautious because I’m alone but a bear coming into camp is rare unless you are a sloppy camper. When I’m hunting I’m always thinking about everything. My camp is always cleaned up. I tarp over all the Rubbermaid containers that the food is in. Moving the tarp makes lots of noise. I did have something large come in one night and try to get into my food but I must have woke up. The tarp was lifted where the food was. Lifted in a very obvious manner. Raccoons would scratch your car. I think you encountered a raccoon. Although you sound like you are from the east coast so probably have a lot of bears. I know New Jersey and the Appalachians have a lot of bears. Out west the only bear you have to worry about is a grizzly. They are concerning.
I absolutely agree. I was at grand Teton Park one night years ago and I was at the signal Mountain campground sleeping in a tent when I heard a bear just on the other side of the fabric and they have grizzly bears there. What was interesting but I heard was his breath And you can’t mistake that sound that deep sound and what happened was he got up on his hind legs and put his paw his paws on the ribs of the tent and he gently shook it. I thought it was gonna cave in, but he was so gentle. He just shook it gently Meantime I’m trying to get my pants on and I had a knife also so at that point once I had my pants on I just had my knife. I wasn’t gonna try to kill the bear with the knife. I was just figuring by this point he was around the front of the tent And if he was coming in, I was making a back door and diving out so I could get in my van anyway he started drinking out of the tarp because it had had rained, long story short wandered off after that I got into my van and the next night was another story, but it’ll have to wait for another time. Thanks for telling the story, though you might save some folks because of it.
In times of stress, panicking will almost always make you a casualty. I know what it's like to face real fear and how to deal with it. However, the first time you're exposed to the unknown, almost everyone would have felt exactly how you did, and some would have even acted in a way that could have gotten them severely injured or killed. All in all, you did very well.
I'm 75 and tent camping is ok, if you're a boy scout ! I love the solitude of the woods and mountains. At my age, a small cabin, stocked and plenty of firewood! Trout stream 200 ft away ! I'm at peace !😂😂❤
I'm a long-distance hiker and fortunately have not had any bear encounters. I'm glad you are okay. When you said you didn't have your pants on when you drove off reminded me of Breaking Bad when Walter drove off in the RV with his pants hanging from the mirror.
I'm envious. 70 years old and ready to quit camping. Not because this old grey mare ain't what she used to be, but because camping ain't what it used to be. Here in the eastern US, the trailer courts they call campgrounds have some of the most concentrated population densities in the country, and to keep the density high, they close off half or more of the campsites in each of the campgrounds during the off-seasons. If a beast like that marauded one of these campgrounds, the odds would be hundreds to one against my sleep being disturbed by him.
That wasn't a bear. A black bear couldn't reach up to or climb onto the roof, and if a Grizzly did, it would have crushed the roof in. That was something a lot weirder than a bear. Tens of thousands of people go missing in the national parks, and who the hell knows what is out there.
a bear woulda jumped off when you started the vehicle. Like you, I dont tent anymore, here is my story on that- i was tenting for the night at a national forest next to my vehicle, (I was on a cross country road trip and it was cheap to tent each night) no one and no cars were around. This particular night, as it got dark, i started to feel uneasy, something wasnt right. like something was watching me, waiting. i shook my german shephard to see if she'd alert or if i was just being paranoid- she wouldnt wake up!! I shook her again. she wouldnt wake up! In all of my life I have never had a dog be unable to wake up. That told me everything I needed to know. I dragged her (literally dragged her by her hind legs) over to my truck, grabbed my rifle, ran back and dragged my tent over to the truck. Turned the truck on and pointed the headlights at the forest. I crammed the fully erect tent into the back of the truck, breaking some of the poles, (did not give 2 shits) then I heaved my still unconscious dog into the truck and got in and peeled out of there. I did not stop until it was daylight and I was in a different state because I did not want to be followed by whatever it was. My dog woke up after we were a few miles away from the campground. I only sleep in my vehicle now. Whatever was going on that night, it wasnt normal.
I use my tent for cooking, washing/showering, and relaxing during the day. I never sleep in it for safety reasons, always in the truck.
I would drive all the way home naked.
Always carry a pew pew. Never bring a knife to a gun fight.
Couldn’t imagine living somewhere I can’t carry while camping. Blows my mind. Between crazies , bears, cats I don’t camp without lead therapy
A tent is like a Burrito for a bear!
As a female solo camper I really took heed to your video. I went tent camping last time and had wolfs all outside the tent at Elephant Butte, So this last Camp trip I did truck camping. I felt much safer. Thank you.
Big black bear. You had food inside. You need a gun, not a knife .
From my RV days I had some 12-volt motion lights that would light up the perimeter of my RV if motion was detected. I also had some "stealth" motion sensors that would sound a chime if motion was detected anywhere around the RV. These things aren't very expensive and are essential for tent or van campers.
I was driving across country up 101 stopped overnight in my van in a turn around off the freeway. This was in Northern California in redwoods. My van has window covers and had doors locked. Around 11 pm at night I heard something walking in the gravel heavy slow footsteps. I shut my radio down and interior lights. It was pitch dark in the forest no houses for miles no street lights, it shock my entire van, it walked away, thank God, but I don't stealth camp anymore, unless campground or city on road trip, there's plenty of things that are apex predator larger than man. Ill never camp in a damn tent a van you have protection and dive away!
What a scary story and so glad you were not in a tent. It really scared me listening to you tell it. Thanks for sharing it.
I agree, no tent for me!!
Thanks. Five years ago I visited USA and drove around this beautiful country. As I didn´t have much money to pay for motels, many times I rested overning inside the rental car. I remember resting at two parks, it was really scary. I always kept the doors closed and with a path clear if I needed to get my rental car moving. Man, some nights were scary because of some sounds.
I’ve lost a couple of fiends that were camping. Animals were not the problem.
Cant even go camping anymore in these end days. Everything feels so spirtually dark
That is a scary and freaky story. It does seem like the whole world - even out in nature - has got more dangerous recently.
Those thin scratches do not look like bear claw marks. If a bear had scratched to get in the marks would have been deeper, and about 4 together each time.
I gave up tents around 20 years ago. I do miss them. No thinks. With what is going on now. I went from a camper to a van. I just bought it last Friday. Wind River Mountains in Wyoming broke me of tents. Like you said. A van. You can drive off easily. Thanks for sharing. Take care.
When you were driving fast, you should have slammed on the brakes so the thing on the roof might have fallen off and you might have gotten a good look at it. Scary stuff Also, I think I would sleep with my clothes on...
Well, you have scared this little old lady have to death! I gave up my tent and went to a teardrop for just that reason. But if somebody or something tried to get me, I could not just drive away. I’m in my 70s and have been seriously thinking of giving up the convenience of my wonderful Homebuilt and going to a van for just that reason!
I used to remote wilderness camp - like 20 and 30 years ago! Now, no way. I still camp in my vehicle but ONLY do it where there are tons of other cars parked, like hotels, hospitals, or all night parking lots. It's a lot safer where no one suspects you are sleeping in your vehicle. I'm actually leaving tomorrow for a 12 day stealth camping trip to several Florida beaches - it will be great!
Mountain lion? It jumped quietly onto the roof, a bear would climb onto a roof and it would be noisy. Thanks for the warning!
Wow, this is such an important video Why has this never been advised as standard best practice for camping. I did not know this!! All I’ve heard is sleep in a tent! ⛺️ This guy is right!!
No more sleeping in a tent for me, I can see how vulnerable you can be… Best to fortify against such possibilities
When I was about 8 years old, my dad was too cheap for hotel and we tent camped at Yellowstone. It's a wonder we are alive.
We living in weird times always play it safe. If you can’t carry a gun, carry a machete, bear spray, crossbow, anything that can help you in a situation, preferably a firearm. Always keep a weapon close when sleeping and keep your van keys on a wrist chain for fast access.
You said it was making horrible noises outside the van. Were they howls, growling, screams, what? At what point as you were driving home, did you sense, that whatever it was, was no longer on the roof?
Strange events are happening with increased frequency, also sighting of strange creatures are accelerating.
Used to tent camp when I was young but them days are looooong gone.
Definitely not a bear trust me,been through that..roof would be caved in from the weight,secondly claw marks aren't a bear
Most of my camping is in the desert area of California, Arizona, and Nevada. No bear problem. When I was a Boy Scout, I learned one of the fundamental rules is never eat in your tent as these odors will remain for years and will attract bears. I have always slept with a firearm next to me large enough to kill a black bear. If I was in a black bear area, I would also have an air horn and bright search light with me.
But I would never camp in a tent in grizzly country, they are too large to reliably stop without a 12 gauge deer slug or 30.06 rifle
Sir I would have been naked driving and blowing the horn all the way back to the city and would not stop til I reached the nearest police officer or station. Thank goodness you are okay.
I would have layed on the horn the entire time. I’m so glad that you are ok and have given this advice.
Thanks for sharing your story. That was really scary.
My family and I use to tent camp. It was fun and it saved money on hotel expenses but regular campgrounds are often dark and gloomy at night with no outdoor lighting. There were times we had to walk forty yards or more to the bathroom, if there was a bathroom. Now we have a van and it's safer, more comfortable and requires no setup.
Please elaborate on the ‘weird’ stuff happening at the campground that caused you to leave.
Sounds like it would be a good investment to install a couple of CCTV cams that look down each side of your vehicle.
If you have as much of an interest in the anomalies of life as seems you do... it's time to get some decent photographic records of what's going on.
I live in bear country. That was not a bear.
Scary. Now I’m second guessing ever sleeping in a tent again!
I can barely stomach the idea of pitching a tent in my back yard for fear of something getting in at me in the middle of the night. Pitching a tent in the middle of a wilderness without being armed to the teeth with lead-fire is unthinkable to me. Too many true horror stories out there. Great for entertainment value if you're watchig the action on a youtube video, quite another perspective if you're the poor, unarmed sod in the tent.
i am so glad you are ok. truly terrifying and i am so sorry you went thru this. but i'm kinda glad that this was just the "warning" moment to learn something that might save your life. thank you for sharing your story.
i wish others who do this solo thing in the wilderness staying outside or even hiking would really take a hard look at things that are going down out there. people don't want to believe in "critters" beyond the norm and they listen to the gov tell them what to believe instead of the thousands of people w/their stories of what they have experienced.
a suggestion... i anoint and pray over my vehicles, my home and land, tech, etc. several times a year. if i was to camp in my van or rv, i'd anoint the 4 corners of my campsite and pray that God would place angels on the 4 corners. no way would i ever not do this.
CLASSIC Sasquatch
or some such…
there, but often not seen.
Interesting side note:
National parks don’t keep a list of the folks who go missing….
Remember the story from about a year ago of the creature that was caught on camera in someone’s backyard after an unidentified flying object was seen? police officers saw it, and the media buried the story that’s what this reminds me of
I went camping with the boy scouts once. I pitched our tent on a pallet rather than use
stakes. It rained so hard we floated into the parking lot.
Dude. Why you don’t carry a gun is beyond me. A knife? That’s only good if your cleaning fish. Can you see yourself fighting whatever that was with only a knife and underwear. Cmon man. I carry at least two guns at all times when I’m out in the wilderness. A hand gun and a long gun. AK. The only thing keeping whatever out is a piece of glass of your vehicle. The possibilities of what scratched your van is numerous. A human. A Bigfoot. A dogman. A skinwalker. Or something else. It’s wise that you backed in for quick departure and it’s always good to keep the keys in the ignition. Lights are good surrounding the vehicle as well. I camp in my Tahoe and Im always thinking how to stay a couple of steps away from what’s not seen or understood. My question is what would scratch your vehicle sideways. Some of those scratches on the front look like single scratch marks unlike a bear or lion. And how far did you get when you didn’t hear it on the roof anymore. Better to be over prepared than under prepared. But im Shure you know that now.
The van is the way to go. I have a minivan. I have to say it is one of my favorite vehicles ever! I like the way you have yours set up and equipped.
Crazy/scary stuff brother. Glad you’re still around to tell the story 🙏🏼
Damn straight ! I’m ALWAYS camping in a vehicle so I have a defensive advantage AND can bail as long as my truck hasn’t been disabled.
Something was definitely trying to get in. Some very creepy sounding things in the woods, glad you made it out of there safely!!!
A hungry bear or a large wild cat. Both can be very fast too. Best to sleep with cargo pants on that have a zippered pocket down by the calf and keep your ignition keys in there so you can escape more quickly. Get alarms and cameras too, will help scare predators away and you can watch the outside from the inside. Keep in mind, a grizzly can roll a van on its side. And without firepower, at that point, you’re dinner. The second you hear something or it touches your vehicle, leave immediately, won’t wait until it gain some unexpected advantage.
Definitely not a bear. The claw marks aren’t right.
Where was this? If you don't want to give the exact location, tell us the state, and city or county.
My old boyfriend’s cousin loved camping out all the time.
That’s exactly how he died. A bear attacked him in his tent and ate him.
I think what I'd be worried about are the tires. If this was a large powerful bear or mountain lion could they puncture a tire? (I'm not an outdoors person so I don't know much about these animals). This would be a nightmare scenario in a case like yours because now even though the engine is okay and the electrics are go okay you wouldn't be able to drive away. As terrifying as these predators are nothing's more terrifying than a human who's gone off the rails. I see a crazy human as the biggest threat to people hiking alone. They could slash the tires. All of them. Everyone who solo hikes - keep safe out there.
Funny thing is - bears sometimes know how to break in without attacking the bodywork - they use their weight and press down on the windscreen until it fails. They do a pounding action and the glass breaks. 1000 pounds of weight is their weapon. Was it a cougar?
I only sleep in my vehicle. My tents are a screen room for cooking and dining and a privacy tent. I like the option of being able to hop up into my SUV's driver seat and drive away.
What a harrowing story. If it wasn't a bear, maybe it was a large mountain lion. None the less, I agree, it is far better to have steel around you, than fabric.
I was in the Allegany National forest camping on a trail head alone . This is a wake up call !! Even know I have bear spray and a side arm .
Sounds like a mountain lion. Scratches jumping up, pacing around it. Normal behavior. Yikes
Ever since I was in grade school I used to ride my horse out in the woods. I would go for miles and just toss a sleeping bag down and go to sleep. I felt safe with my horse and dog to warn me of danger but I figured the same stuff was there at night that was there in the daytime. I wasn't scared in the daylight so why be scared at night. Years later my kids talked me into going camping. They wanted a tent so I got a little hikers dome tent the 3 of us could sleep in. The only time I had slept in a tent and that night a bear sniffed my head through the tent. He circled the tent and woofed and circled us for hours. It was horrifying. Never again. I wouldn't even feel safe in a camper. Maybe in a slide in camper with a window that opens so a person could get in the truck cab and take off. But I agree with you a van is the best way to go. The RVs are made of cardboard pretty much and just about anything could dig its way into one of those. Something did follow me home late one night when I was walking. Classic story of it stopped when I stopped and matched me step by step. There's things out there I know now. I was a lucky kid.
I would never Camp Out anywhere or in anything unless I had a Decent Caliber Gun...
They might not be able to see you but they can smell you bro 😎 clad to see you safe..
Racoon? Those damn things can climb and scratch like a Mofo, and claw size looks about right from the bumper scratches. I've seen them doing some bizarre things on video trail cameras, and really get into manipulating and playing with stuff. On the other hand - it could have been a Dogman. I like to think racoon....
My heart was pumping listening to your story…wow!
Wow! Dude, this would make one hell of a Halloween story! (And even more scary because it's true!)
Yup, for many years I back pack camped for days at a time bow hunting for elk in western MT and the ID panhandle. No more. The frequency of encounters with bears, cats, and wolves makes me too nervous now.
Bigfoot, seriously. And I wouldn't have a given a damn if I was driving NAKED down the highway, anything to get outta there.
We gave up the tent too. Too many crazy camp stories for me. We're comfortable in the van. We aren't equipped for cooking in it yet but I'm working on it so if we need to we are able.
I thought maybe the thing had gotten on the roof and that's why you weren't able to see it?
Omg this van saved your life. I would never use tent.
Big Mountain Lion
Kevin I watched those videos about 70 or 80 times, I live in the Cruz 60 MLS from Yosemite and I go there with my mountain. Bike and the 4X bronco I learned soo much from your video and I always think about them ya! t.y. brother great job PA pal out
Mr. Spock had Scotty electrify that shuttle crafts exterior.
100% bear, we saw a black bear from a distance all over our suv years ago trying to get in, almost the same claw marks (sideways and every which way). It hung around for about 15 min as we watched anxiously in fear. No damage but just scratches. We had no bear spray or anything...lesson learned.
WOW your story is just like me watching a beware of the woods movie! It's strange how u never saw it & how it stayed on the hood while u were driving! It sounds like a bear & it wanted some of what u had inside of yr van lol! I agree with u, you're not safe in a tent especially these days bc not just animals but people may attack u & as long as u have yr door locks I don't think a bear could ever enter the van but a person could simply break a window with no problem so I pray you're very careful where u camp at God bless u my friend
Raccoons thought they found a dumpster and were trying to figure a way in. They were on the roof and low around your van outside the prospective of your rear view mirror. A bear on your roof would surely leave dents.
This is the scariest thing l’ve read this year. I don’t think your red lights coming on would have frightened a bear off anyway; if the thing was clawing at the van’s side near where you were sat in the driving seat, when the brake lights came on, whatever it was would have been visible instantly. Bears certainly aren’t nimble enough to move that quick that it was out of your sight range in a split second. Very intriguing
I never have camp in the tent but I have been pushing the candle many time the other ways around. Up north, with no one in 60 km distance in all directions. I used to be leaving flaps on the camp fully open for the night, the front door was enough to pull on it to open with easy. The front door on the camp was made of just regular storm door !! One thing was I always kept for the night was the camp fire. It was burning bright until the next mornig. I truly believe that someone or something was watching over me.
You should have your spare key alarm next to you when you sleep. Then first sound you can have flashing lights and horn blowing
I am glad you are safe, I also do not feel comfortable with the idea of camping in a tent. My family does it, without personal protection. Total madness as far as I am concerned. Always better to be safe than sorry, and that's not being paranoid either.
I car camp. Lock doors. Black out the windows. Leave keys in the switch. Sleep with a small fan on the console in warm weather.
Take along a shower tent for showers. BioLite2 stove that burns hot on twigs ( it also charges my phone )and a hand press My Joe for kurig cups and in 5 minutes I am having my coffee.
.Six years now, 71 years old and still love it.
Since whatever it was, was still on your roof for a while. makes me wonder if things have been different at your house since you got back from that ordeal.
I'm glad you're still here, thankyou for sharing and always be safe.We thank God ❤
Thank you for telling us your story. I too have some weird experiences in the past while camping too. How did you install the roof lights that light up the back of your vehicle? Where did you buy them? I want the same thing for my vehicle.
Might be a Dogman!
You mean to tell me that you stopped before leaving the trailhead parking area so you could go into the rear of the van and get dressed before driving away...although you knew whatever was outside was still on or near your van?? This makes me wonder about the whole 'story'. Also you camped alone with only a knife for protection...I would have had at least one gun with me.
Omg I would’ve had a heart attack. Terrifying event. I wouldn’t even want to know what’s out there.
We had a scary encounter in N.Y. in a truck camper
I stopped sleeping in a tent a long time ago, mostly cause of rain/ moisture, it’s now a full size 88 Suburban/Tank. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you!! No more tent camping for me!! I sent this to my adult children because we usually go together. ❤🙏🏼
There was sn incident sometime earlier this year, a lady was camping in her van near Quartzite, a well known and populated camping area, someone threw a rock through her window.
I would ask a mechanic or people on this chat about keeping the keys in the ignition. in my experience I've drained my battery 2 times in the last 3 years by keeping the keys in the ignition and had to get a jump. So in a situation where you want to act fast but not experience a dead car battery, maybe find a handy spot for the keys? Just a thought :) ps nice van!!! New subscriber here!
Don’t leave the keys In your ignition. Keep the keys right next to you. If you have a faub hit the alarm button on it. It likely runs off. I do a one month elk hunt every year alone. I sleep with my keys my knife and bear spray. I also now have a bull horn. My faub is broke. I am completely ready for anything when I’m hunting. I’d rather sleep in a van but I sleep in a tent. Bears generally run away except grizzlies. I did have an elk come by at 3:30 am this year. I called her in until I started to realize she was about 20 feet from my tent. Get a pistol. It could have been a rat. I have rat problems when hunting. I had piles of bear poop 200 yards from my camp. Some bears like to poop in the same spot. That’s the case with this bear. I doubt it would come into my camp but I’m always careful. I pee on all the trees around my camp. I mark my my territory. I’m actually surprised the elk came in. People make me nervous but not concerned about bears. Lots of cougar in the area. Saw one about a mile up the road from my camp. I don’t worry about cougars coming into camps. They are my biggest concern when hunting though. I also do not keep food where I sleep. I did that once and woke up to something sniffing next to my head. I had some corn bread that I forgot to eat. It ended up being a deer. I don’t even keep Gatorade where I sleep. I’ll be honest. I am overly cautious because I’m alone but a bear coming into camp is rare unless you are a sloppy camper. When I’m hunting I’m always thinking about everything. My camp is always cleaned up. I tarp over all the Rubbermaid containers that the food is in. Moving the tarp makes lots of noise. I did have something large come in one night and try to get into my food but I must have woke up. The tarp was lifted where the food was. Lifted in a very obvious manner. Raccoons would scratch your car. I think you encountered a raccoon. Although you sound like you are from the east coast so probably have a lot of bears. I know New Jersey and the Appalachians have a lot of bears. Out west the only bear you have to worry about is a grizzly. They are concerning.
Glad to see the channel growing
I was waiting for the Smith and Wesson commercial…..😮 big bear would not of quit. You were defenseless..357 MINIMUM bro
This possibly could be a dogman. Doesn't sound like Bigfoot behavior.
I only camp out in hotel rooms.
I absolutely agree. I was at grand Teton Park one night years ago and I was at the signal Mountain campground sleeping in a tent when I heard a bear just on the other side of the fabric and they have grizzly bears there. What was interesting but I heard was his breath And you can’t mistake that sound that deep sound and what happened was he got up on his hind legs and put his paw his paws on the ribs of the tent and he gently shook it. I thought it was gonna cave in, but he was so gentle. He just shook it gently Meantime I’m trying to get my pants on and I had a knife also so at that point once I had my pants on I just had my knife. I wasn’t gonna try to kill the bear with the knife. I was just figuring by this point he was around the front of the tent And if he was coming in, I was making a back door and diving out so I could get in my van anyway he started drinking out of the tarp because it had had rained, long story short wandered off after that I got into my van and the next night was another story, but it’ll have to wait for another time. Thanks for telling the story, though you might save some folks because of it.
There are many cryptids and spirit beings in the woods. Feral people as well.
In times of stress, panicking will almost always make you a casualty. I know what it's like to face real fear and how to deal with it. However, the first time you're exposed to the unknown, almost everyone would have felt exactly how you did, and some would have even acted in a way that could have gotten them severely injured or killed. All in all, you did very well.
I'm 75 and tent camping is ok, if you're a boy scout ! I love the solitude of the woods and mountains. At my age, a small cabin, stocked and plenty of firewood! Trout stream 200 ft away ! I'm at peace !😂😂❤
I'm a long-distance hiker and fortunately have not had any bear encounters. I'm glad you are okay. When you said you didn't have your pants on when you drove off reminded me of Breaking Bad when Walter drove off in the RV with his pants hanging from the mirror.
I'm envious. 70 years old and ready to quit camping. Not because this old grey mare ain't what she used to be, but because camping ain't what it used to be. Here in the eastern US, the trailer courts they call campgrounds have some of the most concentrated population densities in the country, and to keep the density high, they close off half or more of the campsites in each of the campgrounds during the off-seasons. If a beast like that marauded one of these campgrounds, the odds would be hundreds to one against my sleep being disturbed by him.
OMG! This sounds like a horror movie. I was going to try vanlife but I think I should rethink that decision.😳
That wasn't a bear. A black bear couldn't reach up to or climb onto the roof, and if a Grizzly did, it would have crushed the roof in. That was something a lot weirder than a bear. Tens of thousands of people go missing in the national parks, and who the hell knows what is out there.