During a routine descent from Longs Peak in Colorado, two hikers captured something extraordinary yet unsettling in their photography—a seemingly enormous, mysterious figure on August 24.
Two hikers, Jessee Clauson and Camille Avarella, inadvertently photographed a 20-foot-tall figure which later caused a stir among online communities and local hikers, Mail Online reported.
The adventure began in the dark early hours of the morning. Clauson, 29, and Avarella, 28, initiated their challenging hike at 2 am, targeting the summit of the 14,000-foot Longs Peak by dusk the next day.
Seven hours into their climb, around 9 am, the duo paused to capture the picturesque scenery. They continued their journey, unaware of having photographed anything unusual at that time.
It was not until weeks later that the enigma surfaced. While viewing their photos on a plasma screen TV with family, an odd white blot caught their attention in one of the images.
Curiosity piqued, they zoomed into the photo, revealing a large figure that seemed to cling to the mountain's side. The figure appeared distinctly human-like and alarmingly large. "We were all like: 'What the hell is that?'" Clauson recounted the moment of revelation.
"Camille’s father was particularly shocked by the figure's apparent size, estimating it to be at least 20 feet tall," Clauson added. Questions arose immediately about whether to inform the rangers, highlighting the group's bewilderment and concern.
Choosing to share their discovery, Clauson and Avarella uploaded the image to a popular Facebook group, where Colorado hikers gather and exchange information. The photo rapidly gained traction, eliciting a mix of fascination and unease.
"I was shocked to the bone when we were looking at the picture," Clauson said, echoing the sentiment shared by many in the online group. The reactions ranged from logical skepticism to wild speculations about the figure's origins and nature.
Avarella, pondering the bizarre form, stated, "It could be a rock. But it has all the features of something human." Her observation resonated with many who remarked on the figure’s eerily human-like anatomy. "The anatomy is so human-like, it’s freaky as hell," she described.
Despite the viral nature of their discovery, Clauson and Avarella have decided against a repeat hike. "I hope someone else does it and sees it," Clauson remarked, suggesting that the mystery should perhaps be explored by other brave adventurers.
The unexpected has always drawn curiosity and intrigue, often more so when coupled with the unexplained. Longs Peak, known for its scenic views and rigorous trails, has now also become the backdrop for a peculiar mystery.
"We didn’t see anything. We didn’t take the picture because we saw that thing - we just took it because the mountain range was pretty," Clauson recalled their focus during the hike. Given their high-adrenaline push towards the peak, it was likely they were more concerned with their physical exertion than observing such anomalies.
This experience opens up a cadre of questions about what might be lurking unnoticed in the vast, wild expanses of our mountainous terrains. For Clauson and Avarella, their remarkable photographic catch has certainly placed Longs Peak on the map for reasons beyond its natural beauty.
