Stalker in Mt. Rainier National Park? Hiker's Terrifying Wilderness Encounter Raises Alarm
Mount Rainier National Park holds many mysteries, but few are as chilling as the encounter shared by a Reddit user known as Val. In 2019, what began as a simple nature photograph posted online evolved into a haunting tale when Val commented about his disturbing experience while backpacking in the remote wilderness. The story gained traction after he detailed his full account on r/LetsNotMeet, describing an unsettling encounter with a strange man deep in the backcountry where no ordinary hiker should have been.
For Val, a 29-year-old software sales executive, the wilderness trip was meant to be an escape from his people-centric job. His peaceful solitude was shattered when he awoke one night to find a well-groomed stranger in jeans and a hooded jacket sitting by his extinguished campfire. The man fled immediately upon being noticed, carrying no backpack or supplies despite their remote location miles from any marked trail. Though Val attempted to hike random patterns to avoid another encounter, the mysterious presence returned on his second night, lurking just beyond the firelight.
Key Takeaways
A routine wilderness trip in Mount Rainier National Park transformed into a terrifying stalking experience for a solo hiker.
The encounter featured a mysterious visitor without proper wilderness gear who appeared at the hiker's remote campsite.
The incident joins other strange occurrences associated with Mount Rainier, an area already known for unexplained disappearances.
Reddit Origins: Uncovering a Wilderness Mystery
The Black Diamond Photograph
In 2019, a striking image appeared on Reddit showing the lush landscape of Black Diamond, Washington State. The photograph featured vibrant emerald waters surrounded by dense forest, capturing the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. While the image itself was visually impressive, it wasn't the scenery that ultimately captured users' attention. Instead, a mysterious comment on the post sparked interest across the platform. The commenter suggested they had experienced something unsettling in that area, writing: "Hey, if this is where I think it is, I'm pretty sure I was almost killed a few miles from here." This cryptic remark immediately drew curious responses from other Reddit users, who pressed for more details.
Valyrian Jedi's Wilderness Encounter
The original commenter, known as Valyrian Jedi (or "Val"), eventually shared his unsettling experience in the Mount Rainier wilderness. Val, a 29-year-old software sales executive, had ventured into the backcountry seeking solitude from his people-focused career. His initial post received modest attention, but following suggestions from other users, he shared a more detailed account on r/LetsNotMeet, a subreddit dedicated to real-life disturbing encounters.
Val's story described how his peaceful solo backpacking trip took an alarming turn. After several tranquil days deep in the unmarked wilderness:
He awoke one night to rustling outside his tent
Upon investigation, he discovered a man sitting just feet away near his former campfire
The stranger wore jeans and a hooded jacket, appearing relatively normal except for having no backpack
When noticed, the man's eyes widened before he fled into the darkness
Despite hiking 10-15 miles in random directions the following days to avoid being followed, Val experienced another disturbing incident. While sitting by his campfire a night later, he detected something watching him from just beyond the firelight. When Val called out, a deep voice responded from the darkness, escalating the encounter.
The story later gained wider attention when featured in a "Mr. Ballen" video titled "Top Three Scariest Stories," introducing Val's wilderness ordeal to a much larger audience.
Reddit Community Engagement
Initial Forum Responses
The journey of this wilderness account began on a nature-focused subreddit when a user named Valyrian Jedi (Val) commented on a photo of Black Diamond, Washington State. The image showcased beautiful emerald waters surrounded by dense forest. What caught people's attention wasn't the photograph itself but Val's cryptic comment suggesting he was "almost killed" near that location.
Several users immediately responded with curiosity, prompting Val to share a brief explanation about his experience hiking in Mount Rainier State Park. He described feeling stalked by someone or something while alone in the wilderness. Despite the intriguing nature of his comment, this initial thread received minimal engagement - just a few upvotes and replies.
Suggestions From Other Users
Following his initial comment, fellow Reddit users directed Val toward more appropriate communities for his story. One person specifically recommended r/nosleep and r/creepypasta, forums typically dedicated to fictional horror narratives.
However, since Val maintained his experience was genuine, these fiction-focused communities weren't the best fit. Another user suggested r/Missing411, a forum dedicated to unexplained disappearances in national parks, though Val's story didn't quite match this category since he fortunately returned from his experience.
The community guidance proved valuable, helping Val find the right platform to share his complete experience.
Detailed Account on r/LetsNotMeet
Following the recommendations, Val posted his full story to r/LetsNotMeet, a subreddit specifically for true stories about disturbing real-life encounters. This more detailed version gained significant traction compared to his original comment.
The complete account included all the specifics missing from his initial post, describing his solo backpacking trip in Mount Rainier National Park. Val detailed waking up to find a stranger sitting near his campsite, the man's unusual behavior, and subsequent unsettling experiences deeper in the wilderness.
This Reddit submission eventually caught wider attention, later being featured in a popular Mr. Ballen video titled "Top Three Scariest Stories," which introduced Val's unsettling wilderness encounter to a much broader audience outside the Reddit community.
Media Coverage and Analysis
Mr. Ballin's Video Investigation
Mr. Ballin featured this mysterious Mount Rainier encounter in his popular video "Top Three Scariest Stories." The video brought significant attention to the experience originally shared by Reddit user "Val" (Valyrian_Jedi). The content creator first discovered Val's account on the r/LetsNotMeet subreddit, a community dedicated to real-life unsettling encounters rather than fictional tales.
The video presentation elevated what had begun as a simple comment on a nature photograph into a widely-known wilderness mystery. What started as a brief response to a beautiful image of Black Diamond, Washington's emerald waters became a featured story in Mr. Ballin's content, reaching thousands of viewers who might never have encountered it otherwise.
Mr. Ballin's video introduced the encounter within the context of Mount Rainier's existing reputation for strange occurrences and disappearances. The mountain, called Tacoma by local Salish peoples, has been the site of several documented Missing 411 cases, including the disappearances of Eric Lewis, LEL Lynn, Joseph Wood Jr, and Marcelo R.
Unlike those who vanished without explanation, Val's experience was noteworthy precisely because he survived to share his unsettling tale. The video presentation helped place his experience within the broader pattern of unusual incidents reported around Mount Rainier National Park.
Mount Rainier's Mysterious Presence
Local Tales and Unexplained Phenomena
Mount Rainier, known as Tacoma by the local Salish peoples, stands as a dominant fixture in Washington State's landscape. The mountain's emerald green waters and dense forests create a picturesque wilderness that attracts hikers and adventurers year-round. However, beneath this natural beauty lies a complex tapestry of strange occurrences that have become part of the mountain's identity.
The forests surrounding Mount Rainier have generated numerous accounts of unusual experiences. In 2019, a Reddit user shared a striking photograph of Black Diamond, Washington, which sparked an unexpected revelation in the comments. Another user described being stalked by an unidentified presence while backpacking in Mount Rainier's backcountry.
This particular incident involved a 29-year-old sales executive who had ventured into the park seeking solitude from his people-oriented profession. His peaceful retreat was disrupted when he awoke to find a stranger sitting near his extinguished campfire. The mysterious man, wearing jeans and a hooded jacket, fled immediately upon being noticed. What made this encounter particularly unsettling was the absence of any backpack or camping gear, despite being miles from any marked trail.
Connection to Unexplained Disappearances
Mount Rainier has become a focal point for researchers documenting patterns of strange disappearances in North American wilderness areas. The park has recorded several notable cases, including the vanishings of Eric Lewis, Lel Lynn, Joseph Wood Jr., and Marcelo R.
These disappearances share distinctive characteristics that set them apart from typical missing persons cases:
Case Features Common Elements Location Remote areas within Mount Rainier National Park Circumstances Often unexplained with limited evidence Search results Minimal traces despite extensive efforts
The account of the sales executive differs from these cases primarily because he escaped whatever strange situation he encountered. After his initial experience with the mysterious stranger, he took preventative measures by hiking 10-15 miles in random directions to avoid being followed. Despite these precautions, he later sensed he was being watched while at his campfire and heard rustling in the surrounding brush beyond the firelight.
When he called out to the unseen presence, a deep voice responded from the darkness, creating another layer to this puzzling wilderness encounter. These types of experiences, while not resulting in disappearances, contribute to the mountain's reputation as a place where conventional explanations sometimes fall short.
Val's Wilderness Ordeal
Remote Forest Isolation
Val, a 29-year-old software sales executive, sought solitude in Mount Rainier National Park to escape his people-focused career. He packed his vehicle with essential supplies for several days of backcountry hiking, eager to experience the pristine wilderness. Parking east of a large stream, he ventured deep into the forest beneath the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States. For the first few nights, Val enjoyed precisely the peaceful, tranquil environment he had hoped for. The untouched landscape offered a welcome respite from his typically social professional life.
Midnight Visitor Confrontation
The serenity of Val's camping trip was shattered during his third night in the wilderness. He awoke to unusual rustling sounds outside his tent. Upon investigating, Val discovered a man sitting just feet away from his extinguished campfire. The stranger appeared relatively ordinary—wearing jeans and a hooded jacket similar to Carhartt style, and seemingly well-groomed.
What struck Val as particularly bizarre was the man's lack of backpacking equipment. Given their remote location far from any marked trails, survival without proper gear seemed impossible. Before Val could process the situation fully, the stranger's eyes widened with apparent shock at being discovered, and he immediately fled into the darkness.
Persistent Tracking Concerns
Following this unsettling encounter, Val took defensive measures by hiking 10-15 miles in random directions over the next two days. His strategy aimed to prevent anyone from following his unpredictable route through the wilderness. The first night after the incident passed uneventfully, restoring some of Val's confidence.
However, on the second evening, his concerns resurfaced. While sitting beside his campfire, Val detected movement in the surrounding vegetation just beyond his firelight's reach. Initially attributing the sounds to wildlife, the persistent nature of the rustling convinced him a person was watching from the darkness. When Val finally called out to the unseen presence, a deep voice responded from the shadows, escalating his alarm about being stalked through the remote forest.
Comparative Analysis
Fascination with the Unusual
The phenomenon of encountering strange presences in wilderness areas represents a recurring theme in outdoor exploration narratives. Mount Rainier National Park, with its vast expanses of unmarked wilderness, provides an ideal setting for both peaceful solitude and unexpected encounters. These experiences often blur the line between rational explanation and the inexplicable.
The 29-year-old sales executive's encounter in Mount Rainier's backcountry illustrates how isolation can heighten perception and awareness. His discovery of an unequipped stranger sitting near his extinguished campfire represents a particularly unsettling example of unexpected human contact in remote areas. The stranger's lack of essential gear (no backpack) and abrupt departure upon being observed added significant elements of mystery to the encounter.
Several factors distinguish this incident from typical wilderness encounters:
Location: Deep backcountry, miles from marked trails
Stranger's appearance: Well-groomed but lacking essential survival equipment
Behavior: Silent observation followed by immediate flight
When examining similar accounts from wilderness areas, certain patterns emerge. The sensation of being watched or followed is remarkably common among hikers and campers who venture into remote locations. Many report experiencing a heightened sense of unease that precedes actual visual confirmation of another presence.
The area around Mount Rainier has accumulated numerous unusual accounts over the years, creating a tapestry of unexplained experiences that contribute to the mountain's mystique. The Salish peoples' traditional name for the mountain, "Tacoma," reflects its long-standing cultural significance predating modern recreational use.
The Salesman's Retreat
Solitary Escape from Professional Life
Val, a 29-year-old software sales executive, often sought isolation as a respite from his career demands. His profession required constant communication with clients and colleagues, making solitude a precious commodity. The daily grind of presentations, negotiations, and endless conversations left him craving quiet and isolation during his time off.
Unlike many who seek vacation destinations with social activities, Val deliberately planned getaways where human interaction would be minimal or nonexistent. This preference reflected the stark contrast between his professional requirements and personal needs.
Exploring Untamed Territories
Mount Rainier National Park offered the perfect environment for Val's desire to disconnect completely. The vast wilderness areas beyond marked trails provided an ideal setting for true isolation, away from both professional obligations and casual hikers.
He meticulously prepared for self-sufficiency, packing:
Camping equipment
Several days' worth of provisions
Navigation tools
Emergency supplies
The initial days of his journey delivered exactly what he sought—peaceful solitude surrounded by pristine nature. He established camps far from designated trails, enjoying the rare experience of being completely removed from human contact.
The tranquility of his wilderness retreat was unexpectedly interrupted on the third night when he discovered a stranger sitting near his extinguished campfire. This unexpected human presence—a well-groomed man in jeans and a hooded jacket but notably without any backpacking equipment—shattered the isolation Val had carefully cultivated.
When spotted, the mysterious visitor fled into the darkness, leaving Val unsettled. Despite attempting to rationalize the encounter, the incident prompted him to adopt evasive measures, hiking in random patterns for 10-15 miles daily to prevent being followed.
Though the following night passed without incident, his second evening after the encounter brought disturbing sounds from just beyond his campfire's light. The rustling noises confirmed his growing suspicion that someone was deliberately tracking him through the wilderness, directly challenging the solitude he had sought in these remote woods.
Unsettling Forest Encounter
Physical Appearance and Actions of the Woodland Stranger
Val's peaceful backpacking trip in Mount Rainier National Park took an unexpected turn when he discovered a man sitting just feet away from his campsite. The stranger appeared relatively ordinary - wearing jeans and what resembled a Carhart hooded jacket, with a generally well-groomed appearance. Despite being deep in the wilderness, far from marked trails, the man carried no visible backpack or camping equipment - a concerning detail given their remote location where survival supplies would be essential.
When the stranger realized Val had spotted him, his eyes widened in apparent surprise before he quickly disappeared into the surrounding darkness. This unusual behavior raised immediate concerns for Val, who struggled to explain why someone would be silently watching his campsite in such an isolated area.
Mental Processing and Defensive Strategies
Following this disturbing encounter, Val spent the next day hiking 10-15 miles in completely random directions to ensure no one could follow his path intentionally. He attempted to rationalize the experience, suggesting to himself that perhaps the man was intoxicated or had established his own campsite nearby by coincidence.
The first night after the encounter passed uneventfully, temporarily easing Val's concerns. However, during his second evening, while sitting beside his campfire, he detected movement in the surrounding brush just beyond the firelight's reach. Initially attributing the sounds to wildlife, Val grew increasingly convinced that a human presence was watching from the darkness.
When he finally called out to the unknown observer, a deep voice responded from the shadows, confirming his suspicions that something truly unusual was occurring in the wilderness around him.
