DATE:         March 29, 2000

TIME:           4:30 P.M.

LOCATION:    North Carolina, Cherokee County, Nantahala National Forest, Hanging Dog Primitive Campgroung Area, About 5 mi east of Lake Hiwasee, off of NC route 74

TERRAIN:  Wooded, National Forest

OBSERVED:   I was doing some pack in camping in the Nantahala. I had just set camp and was going to go out and do some hiking on some of the trails marked in the area. I always bring a pair of bionoculars with me, in case I want to observe any wild life in the area. At the midway point on the trail I was hiking on I came to a high point overlooking the snowbird mountain range. I caught a glimpse below me of what i thought might have been a black bear. it was perhaps 500-600 yards away from me and moving a way at a slow steady pace. When I looked at the creature through my bionoculars I saw that it was not a bear!  It was definitely walking upright, making long strides in a semi erect position. It was covered in dark brown to an black fur. It was impossible to
tell the height of the creature due to the distance from which I was viewing him from plus it had been moving away from me. At one point the creature paused for almost 30 sec.  It looked as if it was looking skyward from the angle from which I was viewing him at.  It then disappeared into the woods. I went back to the camp area packed up my tent and left.

Description of Creature:   It was definitely walking upright, making long stides in a semi erect position. it was covered in dark brown to an black fur.

Activities of Witness:  Hiking there were others on that same trail and said they saw something strange that day, but they dismmissed it as probably being just a bear.

Other Notes:  I'm not what you call A big foot enthusiast or any thing like that.

Other Other Notes:  N/A