MOGOLLONMONSTER.COM

Memorial Weekend, 2008 by Susan Farnsworth and Desert Rat

We decided to check out a well and spring that is about ¼ mile above the Falls.  We worked the area looking for tracks and any sign of the Mogollon Monster.  It was only going to be a quick over-nighter, and we were going to return on Memorial day. 

As usual, we saw nothing around the spring or well.  Of course, and elephant could have walked through that area and not be noticed because of all the pine needles on the ground from the very dense growth.  The day was winding down and we decided to find a campsite in a small clearing.  We were not sure of the fire restrictions, so we decided not to start a fire.  Especially, since we were very near the Forest Service look out tower.  It was getting late and we didn’t want to look for wood in the dark.

I got busy with dinner on the propane stove, while DR set up the dome tent and air matrices.  It was a large 6 man tent with the flexible rods running up over the top to create the dome.  The rain fly was installed over the top when the dome art was up and the tent was staked out.  All-in-all, a pretty stable tent.

After the meal and cleanup of dinner, we decided to turn in early.  I decided to for-go the usually ritual of placing my motion detectors, game camera, and voice activated taper recorder on the edge of  camp.  In fact, I left them locked in the truck along with my hand-held camera. But, I was tired and figured it was safe because we had combed the area pretty well during the day.  Nothing was out there.  ( DOH--a real not so smart thing to do.  I’m suppose to be the expert  (definition of an expert:  A drip under pressure).

About 2:30am I awoke to a very foul stench.  It smelled like decomposing fish.  It was very strong and was turning my stomach.  I was laying on my back facing up when I opened my eyes.   Instantly, I noticed the tent side was about two inches from my nose.  I was terrified.  Something was actually pushing my side of the tent down on top of me. 

I slid my hand out of the bedroll and located my pistol while quietly calling DR to wake up. Suddenly, the tent flipped back up into the dome position.  If course, I screamed my lungs out, and rolled to the center of the tent. 

I never saw a man move so fast as DR did.  He was out of the bed and had pistol in hand almost before I reached the center of the tent.  He started making very angry noises and hitting the sides of the tent with his pillow.  I calmed down enough to turn on an electric lantern, and threw it outside.  This allowed us to see under the rain fly a short distance outside, but hopefully nothing outside could see our shadows from the inside.   Nothing was near the tent.  I must admit, if anything would have touched the tent at that point, we would have blasted it, and the tent would have had a new door!

We waited for a few moments (which seemed like an eternity to me), then DR slipped out side.  He picked up the lantern and did a quick walk around.  Me?  I headed straight for the truck.  Once inside, I started the engine and turned on the lights.  I was ready to hit the gas if anything was spotted, all the while having the door open for DR to jump in. 

We decided to go to the nearest town and come back in the daylight to get our tent and stuff.  We found no foot prints, but there were some places where the pine needles had been pushed back on my side of the tent. 

I still quake in my boots whenever I think about it.  However, I do kick my self for not setting my motion detectors, game cameras, and recorder.  And, if we would have seen the creature, I would not have taken any pictures.  That was the last thing on my mind.  I would have been too busy beating a hasty retreat!  I also know that I sound just about like the woman in the horror film when they get surprised by the monster. 

I wonder why my side?  Was it curious?   Or Hungry?

A week later an expedition of four (Mitch Waite, Preston Smith, and Alex Hearn) returned to the tent site to investigate the event.  While searching the area, they found many impressions that seemed to be made by extemely heavy and large feet.  A couple of bedding areas were located where branches had been piled up under the low brows of a tree to make a bed.  There were broken branches with leaves laying all around the area. 

As the group made their way back to the road, they ran into a Forest Ranger, and they stopped to talk for a while.  The Forest Ranger (Dave) stated there had been no bear in the area for two years, but he had been finding scat that he could not identify.  He had not thought much about it until he ran into us.  While we were talking to the Ranger, Kyle located our first major find.

 As the Ranger drove away, Kyle called  us over to the side of the road.  We were dumb stuck with what he had found.  It was a footprint--19 inches long, 9 inches through the ball and 4 inches wide in the heel.  Alex provided the plaster to cast the print.

We determined that this area needed further investigation.