Early release, I will return on Sunday for the members. A listener writes “As a little girl my family would go camping at a place called “Flaming Gorge” it’s in Eastern Utah. It’s divided by a pretty huge Gorge (for Utah anyway) and has mountains all around it. I was somewhere between the age 4/5 when my family went down to the cliffs to Cliff Jump all day. This was back in the late 80’s early 90’s. Since I was so little I didn’t do the cliff jumping with my siblings. I was allowed to play around the cliffs as long as I stayed in eyesight. This was a really safe place with families that just camped in designated camping sections.

Well as little kids do, I was a wanderer. My Dad had given me a whistle in case I got lost so I could blow it and he’d know where I was.
I was just walking along the cliffs (which wrap around the entire Gorge) playing like little kids do. I obviously wasn’t paying attention, so when I looked up I realized I couldn’t see my family, and I could no longer recognize the cliffs.

It started getting darker and darker until dusk hit. I was blowing my whistle but no Dad came running. I remember being pretty close to the cliff edge but kind of hidden in the trees. I remembered that I wasn’t supposed to move once I got lost.

Right around sunset I noticed all the sounds had stopped. I couldn’t hear the waves crashing along the cliffs, the bugs had stopped chirping, and the trees stood silent. I could feel something watching me. I remember looking across the Gorge (about 100 feet) and saw this big black creature on 2 legs that resembled a gorilla I’d seen at the zoo staring at me. I’ll never forget the fear that came over me. I remember it’s eyes, and the meanness in it’s face so distinctly. I instantly stopped blowing my whistle and I just crouched down, covered my head in between my legs and just begged God to send my Dad to me. I’ll never forget the next moment. It felt like it took a lifetime but like it happened instantly at the same time. Arms wrapped around me and my dad’s voice whispered “keep your eyes closed and be quiet” and he took off running. I just clutched onto him until the noises came back before I dated look up. I remember him calmly telling me that I was okay, and I was safe.

It took us forever to get back to camp because by the time we got there, the sky was black, and EVERYONE from the entire campground was searching for me with flashlights. I don’t know how but apparently I had been gone since about noon and it was between 830 and 9 from what my family and Dad have told me. My brother’s and Dad remember it vividly. My Dad remembers the creature and my brothers remember me being lost. I’ll never forget it. I’ll mostly never forget the fear and his eyes.”