Two men are hunting in Northern California when they see RVs. As they approach a huge bonfire, various robed figures are conducting a strange ritual. Very bizarre behavior ensues.
I received the following weird encounter report:
"I was hunting with a friend of mine, Tony, deep in the mountains of Northern California. We went to the top of a ridge to get a good look at the area and try an pick a likely place to find some boar. I saw a dirt road to the east, a fire trail actually, and was about to write it off when I noticed a row of campers driving along it. They disappeared behind a hill at the edge of a valley. I scanned the valley floor and found several other campers near the tree line.
Tony suggested we go over and see if they would share a meal and a warm fire with two worn-out hunters. It was dark by the time we got to the hill they disappeared behind so we climbed up to get a good last bearing and distance estimate. What we found was surreal.
About half a mile away, in the middle of the clearing was a bonfire. Instinctively, we both dropped to the ground and crawled to some brush for cover overlooking the valley. I scanned the area looking for the camp and any security they might deploy. Tony surveyed the other side of the valley. When he grabbed my arm I turned and followed his gaze. There were two groups of people standing near the edge of the valley right below us. One was wearing black hooded robes and the other white. A figure carrying a staff and wearing a red hooded robe walked out of the trees towards the fire; the others followed in two single-file lines.
At the fire, the red figure stopped and raised his arm; the black robes circled clockwise and the white robes counterclockwise until they completely encircled the fire alternating black and white. We could hear chanting, but we couldn’t make out any words. After about an hour of chanting and walking around the fire, first in one direction then the other the stopped, and a naked man was brought out from the tree line bound and blindfolded. He was presented to each of the robed figures clockwise around the fire before being presented to the red figure. He was then made to lie down at the red figure's feet. Then a naked and bound woman was brought out and the process was repeated counterclockwise before she was laid next to the naked man. I, at least, had no idea what I was watching or what I should do.
There was more chanting and then silence as four black-robed figures emerged from the tree line carrying a black robe much like a flag. They circled the fire clockwise, once behind the figures and once in front of them. Each black figure touched the robe as it passed. When they arrived at the red figure, they stopped over the naked man. The red figure said something and the other responded. He then pointed his staff at the naked man and the four laid the robe over top of him. After another chant, a white robe was brought out and the process was repeated counterclockwise stopping over the naked woman. The red figure said something and the other responded. He then pointed his staff at the naked woman and the four laid the robe over top of her.
The red figure waved his hands and staff over them and raised the staff over his head. The robe bearer then picked up the robes as they had before and the two rose from the ground. The robe bearers then lifted the robes over their heads. The two then circled the fire twice embracing each member; first the robes of their color and then the other. When they got back to the red figure, he pointed towards the camp with his staff and the new members led the procession back to camp. I watched them enter the tree line then looked back to fire for the red figure. He hadn’t moved. When the last couple was out of the clearing, the bonfire flashed green then red and the red robe collapsed to the ground.
We ran all the way back to our truck that night. We were too scared to stop. The next morning we stopped at a Denny’s for breakfast. We had put more than sixty miles between us and the clearing and felt safe. While we were eating, two couples came in. One sat behind Tony and the other behind me so that we each saw one of them. They just smiled at us while we ate. When we left, we saw two campers in the parking lot. Tony and I never spoke about that night, and we found a better hunting area far away from that clearing. It has been nearly forty years since that night, but each time I see a camper it reminds me of the incident!" J
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