Columbia River Gorge's Magnetic Anomaly: Unexplained Disappearances at Broke Leg Barrows
The Columbia River Gorge harbors a mysterious location known as Broke Leg Barrows, an ancient lava field approximately the size of Manhattan Island yet completely uninhabited. This primeval landscape, estimated to be 8,000 years old, consists of jumbled volcanic rock forming micro canyons and hidden caves. The area's peculiar characteristics include pristine silence, magnetic rock formations that disrupt compasses and electronics, and a labyrinthine terrain that has earned a reputation for unusual occurrences.
The region has gained attention following several disappearances, most notably that of Christopher Ztz in 2013, who vanished despite being only 100 yards from a road. His disappearance triggered an unusually large search effort that curiously involved military personnel, including elite Air Force Para Rescue teams—a response typically reserved for more significant incidents. Margie's Outdoor Store, operated by Army veteran and wilderness expert James Shupi, has become a trusted location where visitors and locals alike can share their unexplained experiences in this enigmatic wilderness.
Key Takeaways
Broke Leg Barrows is an ancient, uninhabited lava field where magnetic anomalies disrupt navigation tools and communication devices.
The disappearance of hiker Christopher Ztz in 2013 led to an unusually large search operation involving specialized military teams.
Local wilderness expert James Shupi has established a reputation as a trusted confidant for those experiencing unusual phenomena in the Columbia River Gorge region.
James Shupi's Background
James Shupi currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer at Margie's Outdoor Store, which is located in the Columbia River Gorge. His professional background includes significant military service as a decorated U.S. Army infantry veteran. Shupi has developed expertise in outdoor environments through his work as a mountain guide and wildland firefighter.
Roles and Responsibilities
As Chief Operating Officer at Margie's Outdoor Store, Shupi manages daily operations in a retail environment that serves outdoor enthusiasts exploring the Columbia River Gorge region. The store has established a unique reputation under his leadership by creating a welcoming environment for customers who wish to share unusual experiences they've encountered in the wilderness areas surrounding the Gorge.
Shupi has personally become known throughout the region as someone approachable who listens respectfully to reports of strange occurrences. His policy involves:
Treating all visitors with respect regardless of their stories
Asking thoughtful questions without imposing personal interpretations
Carefully documenting experiences without bias
Creating a safe space for sharing unusual encounters
This approach has made him a recognized figure in the community, with people often approaching him in public places to share their experiences.
Search and Rescue EMT
Shupi volunteers his time and expertise as a Search and Rescue Emergency Medical Technician. His role requires exceptional wilderness competence and navigation skills to locate and assist people who become lost or injured in challenging terrain. He has participated in numerous search operations throughout the region.
His search and rescue experience includes:
Participating in extensive multi-day search operations
Working with specialized search teams and equipment
Understanding the coordination of resources during emergency responses
Navigating challenging environments like the area known as Broke Leg Barrows
Shupi's work in search and rescue has given him valuable insights into some of the region's most treacherous and mysterious locations, particularly the lava fields and wilderness areas between Mount Adams and Mount St. Helens.
The Natural Marvels of the Columbia River Valley
Geographic Features
The Columbia River Valley contains a remarkable volcanic area known as "Broke Leg Barrows," also labeled as "Big Lava Bed" on some maps. Located approximately five miles north of the river, this ancient lava flow sits between Mount Adams and Mount St. Helens, adjacent to the Indian Heaven Wilderness. The size of this geological formation is comparable to Manhattan Island in New York, though instead of housing millions of people, it remains completely uninhabited. The area represents one of the most recent volcanic events in the region, with scientists estimating the lava flow occurred approximately 8,000 years ago.
Environmental Acoustics and Spatial Characteristics
Broke Leg Barrows possesses unique acoustic properties that visitors notice immediately upon arrival. The jumbled rock formations absorb sound waves, creating an environment of profound silence rarely experienced elsewhere. This pristine quiet adds to the otherworldly atmosphere of the location.
The area contains numerous microterrain features including:
Hidden cave systems
Narrow, maze-like canyons
Acute rock formations at unpredictable angles
The landscape has earned comparisons to fictional dangerous terrains like "an impassible labyrinth of razor-sharp rocks."
Volcanic Origins
The Indian Heaven Wilderness represents a different type of volcanic activity than its neighboring mountains. While Mount Adams and Mount St. Helens rose vertically as classic cone volcanoes, the Indian Heaven area resulted from a volcano that spread outward horizontally. This created extensive lava fields throughout the region, with Broke Leg Barrows being the most recent flow.
The area contains:
Multiple lava tubes and caverns
Rock formations dating back hundreds of thousands of years
Magnetically charged stone that disrupts navigation equipment
Terrain Characteristics
The terrain at Broke Leg Barrows presents significant challenges to navigation and exploration. The jumbled volcanic rocks create a disorienting maze where even experienced outdoorspeople become disoriented. Compasses malfunction due to the magnetic properties of the rock, while GPS devices struggle to maintain satellite connections. Cell phones and radios experience limited functionality in the area.
The harsh environment supports minimal vegetation, with stunted trees covered in lichen being the primary plant life. This creates an almost primeval landscape that appears untouched by time. The treacherous nature of the terrain has made it notorious among search and rescue teams, who have conducted extensive operations in the area following disappearances. Even elite military rescue units have reported difficulty navigating through the challenging landscape.
Indian Heaven Wilderness
Indian Heaven Wilderness is a unique volcanic region nestled between Mount Adams and Mount St. Helens. Unlike these towering volcanoes that rise dramatically upward, Indian Heaven represents a volcano that spread outward, creating a landscape characterized by extensive lava flows. This wilderness area contains numerous lava caves and flows of varying ages, some dating back hundreds of thousands of years.
Cultural Significance
The name "Indian Heaven" derives from an original Native American designation for the area. This name reflects the dual nature of the region—both as a natural paradise and as a place for spiritual connection. Local indigenous peoples considered this area significant for its role in connecting the physical world with the spirit realm. The wilderness has developed a reputation as a mysterious place where unusual experiences occur, leading some visitors to report their encounters at nearby establishments where they can share their stories in a respectful environment.
Volcanic Landscape
Indian Heaven features a distinctive geological formation known as "Broke Leg Barrows" (also referred to as "Big Lava Bed" on some maps). This formation represents the most recent volcanic activity in the area, estimated to be approximately 8,000 years old. The lava field is remarkably vast—comparable in size to Manhattan Island—but remains completely uninhabited.
Key characteristics of Broke Leg Barrows include:
Terrain features:
Jumbled rock formations at acute angles
Micro-canyons throughout the landscape
Hidden caves scattered across the area
Razor-sharp rocks forming an almost impassable labyrinth
Environmental conditions:
Profound silence (rock formations absorb sound)
Magnetic rock that disrupts compasses
Poor cellular reception
GPS satellite acquisition issues
Limited radio range
The vegetation in this primeval landscape consists mainly of stunted trees covered with lichen, contributing to its untouched, timeless appearance. Despite its natural beauty, the area has gained notoriety for disappearances, including a 2013 incident involving a hiker who vanished just 100 yards from the road, prompting an extensive search operation.
The challenging terrain affects even elite search teams, as the jumbled magnetic rocks create disorientation and communication difficulties for those attempting to navigate this distinctive wilderness area.
Disappearance of Christopher Ztz
On a seemingly ordinary hiking trip in 2013, Christopher Ztz vanished without a trace in an area known as Broke Leg Barrows, part of the Big Lava Bed region near the Columbia River Gorge. Located between Mount Adams and Mount St. Helens, this volcanic terrain spans roughly the size of Manhattan Island but remains virtually uninhabited due to its treacherous landscape.
The Vanishing
Christopher was exploring the ancient lava field with a friend when he disappeared approximately 100 yards from the road. Despite being separated by only about 20 yards from his companion, he seemingly evaporated into the jagged landscape. His friend immediately called out for him without response and left notes at their vehicle before seeking additional help at a nearby campground.
The area where Christopher disappeared is characterized by its absolute silence, as the jumbled volcanic rock formations absorb sound completely. These formations create micro-canyons, hidden caves, and razor-sharp rock formations at acute angles, making navigation extremely challenging.
Recovery Efforts
The search operation quickly escalated into an extensive mission involving:
Dozens of specialized search teams
Tracking dogs
Helicopter support
Over 1,000 man-hours of search time
Unusual Military Presence: Strangely, military personnel were called in—a rare occurrence for civilian search operations. Air Force Pararescue teams (PJs), known as the elite among search and rescue professionals, participated in the effort. These highly-trained specialists are typically reserved for military emergencies rather than civilian hiking incidents.
The search teams faced significant challenges in the terrain. Even the elite pararescue operators reportedly struggled with the hostile environment of Broke Leg Barrows.
Impact on the Community
The disappearance created a ripple effect throughout the Columbia River Gorge community. Local officials now actively discourage hikers from entering the area due to its dangers. The case has become something of a local legend, with residents sharing information about the incident in casual settings like restaurants and stores.
The area presents unique challenges that complicate both navigation and communication:
Magnetic rock formations interfere with compass readings
Cell phones lose service
GPS satellites become inaccessible
Radio range is severely limited
These factors have made Broke Leg Barrows particularly notorious among local outdoor enthusiasts, with even experienced hunters avoiding the region. The mysterious circumstances surrounding Christopher's disappearance continue to provoke questions and discussions among residents of the Columbia River Gorge area.
Military Operations and Unexplained Events
The Columbia River Gorge harbors a mysterious volcanic landscape known as broke leg barrows (also called big lava bed on some maps). This ancient lava flow, estimated to be about 8,000 years old, covers an area comparable to Manhattan Island. Unlike densely populated Manhattan, this terrain remains completely uninhabited.
The area features a challenging landscape of jumbled volcanic rock, micro-canyons, and hidden caves. Sharp rocks sit at precarious angles, creating what some describe as an "impassable labyrinth." The terrain absorbs sound, creating an unusually quiet environment that adds to its eerie atmosphere.
Military Response Anomalies
In 2013, a hiker named Christopher Zetz vanished while exploring broke leg barrows with a friend. Despite being separated by only about 20 yards and just 100 yards from the road, Christopher disappeared completely. The subsequent search operation was unusually extensive, involving dozens of search teams, dogs, helicopters, and over a thousand man-hours.
What raised questions among local search and rescue professionals was the uncharacteristic military involvement. Typically, military resources are rarely deployed for civilian search operations, except occasionally for helicopter support. The presence of military personnel on the ground for a single missing hiker seemed disproportionate to standard protocols.
Pararescue Team Deployment
The involvement of an Air Force Pararescue Team was particularly noteworthy. These elite specialists represent the highest tier of search and rescue capability, typically reserved for military emergencies such as downed pilots or other critical military incidents.
Pararescue teams are considered superior to even the most skilled civilian search and rescue professionals. Their deployment to locate a single civilian hiker raised significant questions about why such specialized military resources were allocated to this particular search operation.
Even these elite military personnel reportedly struggled with the challenging conditions of broke leg barrows. The area's unusual properties affect navigation equipment - compasses malfunction due to the magnetic properties of the jumbled volcanic rock, GPS satellites cannot be acquired, cell phones lose service, and radio range becomes severely limited.
This combination of navigational challenges and unexplained military interest has contributed to the area's reputation as a place of mystery within the Columbia River Gorge region.
Magnetic Disturbances and Transmission Challenges
The Columbia River Gorge contains an extraordinary geological formation known as Broke Leg Barrows, sometimes called the Big Lava Bed on maps. This ancient lava flow, estimated to be approximately 8,000 years old, covers an area comparable in size to Manhattan Island. Unlike its urban counterpart, this vast expanse remains completely uninhabited. The terrain consists of jumbled volcanic rock forming micro-canyons, hidden caves, and razor-sharp surfaces at precarious angles. The acoustic properties of this rock formation create an eerily silent environment, as the jagged surfaces absorb sound waves.
Navigation Problems
Broke Leg Barrows has become notorious for disappearances and search difficulties. In 2013, a hiker named Christopher vanished while exploring the area with a friend, despite being separated by only about 20 yards and positioned just 100 yards from the road. The subsequent search operation was extensive:
Multiple search teams deployed
Search dogs utilized
Helicopter support
Over 1,000 man-hours committed
What made this case particularly unusual was the reported involvement of military personnel, specifically Air Force Pararescue teams—elite specialists typically reserved for military emergencies rather than civilian search operations. Even these highly trained professionals reportedly struggled with the challenging landscape.
Technical Disruptions
The geological composition of Broke Leg Barrows creates significant problems for both basic and advanced navigation tools. The area consists of magnetic volcanic rock that cooled and solidified thousands of years ago, creating a jumbled magnetic field throughout the region. This geological feature disrupts multiple technologies:
Compasses
Effect: Complete malfunction
Cell phones
Effect: No service available
Drones
Effect: Unable to acquire GPS satellites
Radios
Effect: Severely limited range
Local hunters typically avoid the area entirely due to these navigational hazards. The combination of treacherous terrain and technological interference creates an environment where even experienced outdoorspeople can become disoriented. The stunted trees covered with moss add to the primeval atmosphere of this location that seems largely untouched by time.
Local and Visitor Perceptions
The Columbia River Gorge area contains a remarkable volcanic landscape known as Broke Leg Barrows (sometimes labeled as Big Lava Bed on maps). Located approximately five miles north of the river, this ancient lava flow—estimated to be about 8,000 years old—covers an area comparable in size to Manhattan Island.
Unlike Manhattan's 1.7 million residents, Broke Leg Barrows remains completely uninhabited. The terrain consists of jumbled rocks at acute angles, forming micro-canyons and hidden caves throughout the landscape. A notable characteristic of the area is its profound silence, as the rock formations absorb sound completely.
The Wilderness Reputation
Broke Leg Barrows has developed a distinctive reputation among locals and wilderness experts for several unusual characteristics:
Magnetic anomalies: The jumbled volcanic rock interferes with compass readings
Communication difficulties: Cell phones typically don't function in the area
GPS failures: Drones and navigation systems struggle to acquire satellite signals
Limited radio range: Standard communication devices experience significant restrictions
Even experienced hunters typically avoid the area due to these navigation challenges. The landscape resembles what some compare to the fictional "Aman Wheel" from Lord of the Rings—"an impassible labyrinth of razor-sharp rocks."
Warnings Against Visitation
The disappearance of Christopher Zietzke in 2013 highlights the dangers of Broke Leg Barrows. Despite being only about 100 yards from the road, Zietzke vanished completely during a hike with a friend who was merely 20 yards away at the time.
The subsequent search operation was extensive:
Dozens of search teams deployed
Search dogs utilized
Helicopter support provided
Over 1,000 man-hours expended
Unusually, military resources were allocated to the search, including an Air Force Pararescue Team—elite specialists normally reserved for military personnel recovery operations. Even these highly-trained experts reportedly "got chewed up" by the challenging terrain.
Margie's Outdoor Store, located about 20 minutes from Broke Leg Barrows, has become known as a place where people can safely report unusual experiences in the area, with staff taking a respectful approach to all visitor accounts.
George Nori's Role in the Community
George Nori has established himself as a significant presence in the paranormal community through his work with Coast to Coast AM. His reach extends across multiple platforms including YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and the Coast to Coast AM mobile app. The website, coasttocoast.com, serves as a central hub for articles and information about paranormal topics and featured guests.
Creating a Safe Space for Sharing Experiences
Nori has cultivated an environment where individuals feel comfortable sharing their unusual encounters. At locations like Margie's Outdoor Store in the Columbia River Gorge, a clear policy exists for treating everyone with respect regardless of how unusual their story might seem. Staff ask thoughtful questions without imposing preconceived interpretations on the experiences shared.
This approach has built a reputation for providing a trustworthy space where people can discuss their paranormal encounters openly. Many individuals specifically seek out these venues to share their stories, knowing they won't face ridicule or dismissal.
Connecting with Insider Information
Through his established reputation, Nori has become a conduit for information that might otherwise remain private. Local officials, including county council members, have approached him directly to share details about unusual incidents in the area. This has included information about military involvement in search operations that seemed disproportionate to the circumstances.
For example, in the case of Christopher Ztztz's disappearance in the area known as Broke Leg Barrows (or Big Lava Bed), Nori received information about the unusual deployment of Air Force Para Rescue teams - elite specialists rarely utilized for civilian search operations. These connections allow him access to puzzling inconsistencies in official responses to strange occurrences.
The Columbia River Gorge region, particularly the volcanic areas like Broke Leg Barrows, presents numerous anomalies:
Geographical challenges: An ancient lava flow approximately the size of Manhattan Island
Unusual properties: Magnetic rock formations that disrupt compasses
Technical difficulties: Areas where cell phones lose service and drones cannot acquire GPS signals
Unexplained disappearances: Multiple cases of individuals vanishing with no explanation
Through his platforms, Nori helps document and disseminate this information, serving as an important link between witnesses and the wider community interested in unexplained phenomena.
