In the quiet summer nights of 1978, three young men—cousins Kevin and Tim, along with their friend Steve—made a habit of fishing at the Oakley River near the Barstow bridge. Their peaceful routine was shattered one June night around 3:00 a.m. when they spotted something inexplicable downstream. Standing on a fallen tree was a tall, silvery figure that appeared to glow with its own light.

The entity, which the friends would later call "the aluminum guy," stood motionless in eerie silence. It wore what resembled a streamlined astronaut suit with a helmet and opaque faceplate. After a few terrifying seconds, the figure took one step off the tree and vanished completely—not falling into the water, but simply disappearing. This encounter left the three friends badly shaken, with Steve so traumatized he never returned to their fishing spot.

Key Takeaways

Three friends encountered a glowing, humanoid entity during a late-night fishing trip that disappeared after stepping off a fallen tree.
The mysterious figure stood six to seven feet tall, wore what appeared to be a metallic suit, and vanished without a trace.
Though Kevin and Tim eventually returned to the fishing spot, their friend Steve remained too traumatized to ever discuss the incident again.

The Oakley River Encounter

Fishing Near Barstow Bridge

In the summer of 1978, two cousins named Kevin and Tim, both around 20 years old, along with their friend Steve, established a routine of fishing 4-5 nights weekly at the Oakley River. Their preferred spot was just west of Barstow Bridge, a few hundred feet upstream from where the Oakley met the Chippewa River. The location offered some natural seating on rocks, with brick buildings lining the south bank and a weak yellow bridge light providing minimal illumination. They would spend hours there, casting lines and talking as darkness enveloped the water.

Unusual Presence on the Fallen Tree

During one June night around 3:00 AM, as the three friends quietly waited for fish to bite in the darkness, Kevin noticed something peculiar downstream. An entity was standing motionless on a fallen tree that had long ago toppled into the river. Tim's attention was drawn to it as well, though neither could explain why—there had been no movement or sound to alert them. Tim looked at Kevin, then back at the figure, whispering, "You might think I'm crazy, but what is that?" By this time, Steve had also noticed the strange presence.

The Metallic Entity's Appearance

The figure standing on the fallen tree exhibited several distinctive features:

Height: Approximately 6-7 feet tall
Build: Extremely thin and willowy with elongated proportions
Covering: A silvery, metallic-looking tight suit with wrinkles
Texture: Reflective like burnished aluminum
Illumination: Self-luminous, glowing softly against the dark background
Head: Wore a close-fitting helmet with an opaque face shield
Extremities: Long, spindly arms and legs; appeared to wear gloves

Kevin later compared it to a streamlined astronaut suit, noting it wasn't bulky but rather form-fitting. The entity cast no reflection in the water below despite its luminous appearance. Most unsettling to the friends was the sense that it was staring directly at them, though no facial features were visible through the helmet.

Vanishing Act and Aftermath

The encounter lasted only about five seconds, though it felt much longer to the witnesses. After this brief period of mutual observation, the entity turned slightly away from them, took one step off the tree into the air—and completely vanished. It didn't fall into the water or walk away; it simply disappeared. This sudden disappearance triggered immediate panic, especially in Steve, who threw his fishing pole into the river before running toward their truck.

All three fled the scene rapidly, with Kevin later explaining, "What really got us to run was when it stepped off that tree and disappeared—it didn't drop into the water, it just disappeared." The following day, Kevin and Tim returned to search for evidence but found nothing unusual. Their fishing routine was disrupted for a considerable time, with Steve never returning to the location again. When the cousins eventually resumed fishing there, they spent their first visit simply sitting and staring at the spot where they'd seen what they came to call "the aluminum guy."

Even twenty years after the incident, Kevin remained convinced of what they witnessed, stating firmly, "I don't care if you think I'm crazy or not. I know what I saw." Meanwhile, Steve has consistently refused to discuss the encounter, even with his friends who shared the experience.

Aftermath of the Unusual River Sighting

Emotional Reactions and Hurried Exit

The encounter with the metallic entity left the three friends in a state of shock. Steve, visibly the most affected, threw his fishing pole into the water and fled toward their truck in panic. Kevin and Tim quickly followed suit, abandoning their fishing spot. According to Kevin, what truly propelled their hasty departure was witnessing the entity step off the fallen tree and vanish into thin air rather than falling into the water below. The three young men sped away in their truck, kicking up gravel in their desperate escape from what they had just witnessed.

Daylight Investigation

The following day, curiosity drove Kevin and Tim back to the Oakley River to search for any evidence that might explain or validate their experience. Despite careful examination of the area, they found nothing unusual—no physical traces to confirm what they had seen the previous night. When they eventually resumed fishing at their regular spot, their behavior changed noticeably. "We came out, set our worms down on the ledge, set our poles down, climbed up and hung our feet over the edge, and just sat there and stared," Tim recalled. They spent long moments simply gazing at the spot where the entity had appeared, processing their experience before resuming their normal activities.

The Label: Aluminum Guy

Over time, Kevin and Tim developed a name for the mysterious figure they encountered—they began referring to it as the "Aluminum Guy." This designation likely stemmed from the entity's distinctive metallic appearance, which Kevin had described as similar to burnished aluminum. The name helped them discuss and process their shared experience, giving form to something that defied conventional explanation.

Impact 20 Years Later

Even two decades after the incident, the encounter continued to affect the three men differently:

Friend Long-term Reaction Willingness to Discuss Kevin Remains convinced of the reality of what they saw Open and adamant about the experience Tim Continues to discuss and process the event Comfortable referencing the "Aluminum Guy" Steve Experienced lasting trauma Refuses to discuss the incident, even with Kevin and Tim

The emotional impact proved most severe for Steve, who never returned to fish at that location again. Kevin maintained unwavering certainty about what they witnessed that night in 1978, stating firmly, "I don't care if you think I'm crazy or not. I know what I seen." The encounter left an indelible mark on all three men, shaping their relationship with both the location and each other for decades afterward.

The Forest Encounter Incident

Greg and Stephanie McKay's Woodland Retreat

On July 5, 1985, Greg and Stephanie McKay sought a peaceful weekend getaway in the woods near Green Water, Washington. The married couple drove approximately five miles from Highway 10, finding what they believed was an ideal camping location in Pierce County. They spent the afternoon setting up their campsite, collecting firewood, and preparing their tent before enjoying dinner and retiring for the night.

The Unexpected Wildlife Confrontation

The tranquility of their retreat was shattered early the following morning on July 6th. Just before dawn, the McKays emerged from their tent to find themselves face-to-face with what they described as an enormous forest creature. According to their statements to Pierce County Sheriff's deputies, they encountered what appeared to be a massive bear standing approximately eight feet tall on its hind legs. The couple reported the animal was particularly intimidating with its unkempt brown fur and powerful build.

Interaction and Communication with the Creature

In what became one of the most unusual aspects of their encounter, Stephanie McKay, 35, later told a United Press reporter by telephone: "The creature actually communicated with us verbally. It inquired about our names and whether we had permission to use the campsite." When the McKays claimed they had proper authorization, the entity reportedly demanded they vacate the property immediately. Stephanie described the voice as distinctly non-human with an unusually high pitch, unlike anything they had ever heard before.

Stone-Throwing and Hasty Retreat

The encounter escalated when the creature allegedly began throwing rocks at the couple as they hurriedly gathered their belongings. Throughout this frightening ordeal, the McKays insisted this was no person in costume but a genuine wildlife encounter. Stephanie emphasized its intimidating size, stating, "It must have weighed nearly a ton."

Following the incident, local authorities including Sheriff's deputies and Green Water Fire Department officials investigated the site. Sergeant Terry Schmidt reported finding no evidence of a struggle, though they did discover what appeared to be tracks from "a very large dog." While not ruling out the possibility of a hoax, Schmidt acknowledged the couple likely encountered some kind of animal, though he did not specifically validate their claims about communication.

Investigation and Public Response

Initial Police Findings

Authorities responded to both incidents with skepticism and limited investigative action. In the 1978 Oakley River case, no formal report appears to have been filed by Kevin, Tim, or Steve following their encounter with the "aluminum guy." When Kevin and Tim returned to the location the following day, they found no physical evidence of the entity's presence, which is consistent with the lack of official documentation.

The 1985 Pierce County incident received more official attention. Sheriff's deputies and Green Water Fire Department officials investigated the McKays' campsite after their report of the talking bear. Sergeant Terry Schmidt noted they found no signs of a struggle at the site. However, investigators did discover tracks they attributed to "a very large dog" rather than a bear. While not dismissing the report outright, Schmidt's statements suggest authorities were inclined toward natural explanations.

Alternative Explanations and Hoax Possibilities

The unusual nature of both encounters has led to various interpretations. For the 1978 sighting, the late-night conditions (approximately 3:00 a.m.) and the entity's brief appearance (about five seconds) could suggest misidentification of a conventional object. However, the consistency between all three witnesses' accounts – particularly regarding the entity's metallic appearance, height, and sudden disappearance – makes simple misidentification less likely.

Regarding the talking bear incident, Sergeant Schmidt indicated that authorities hadn't ruled out a hoax but seemed to consider this unlikely. As he noted, it "seems highly unlikely that a couple would make up a false report involving something so ludicrous... unless it actually happened." The McKays remained adamant about their experience, providing detailed descriptions of the creature's appearance, smell, and distinctive high-pitched voice.

Several factors complicate both cases:

Psychological impact: Both incidents caused significant emotional reactions in witnesses
Lack of physical evidence: Despite searches, no tangible proof was recovered
Witness credibility: All parties maintained their accounts consistently over time
Environmental factors: Limited visibility in the 1978 case may have affected perception

The McKays specifically rejected the possibility that their bear was someone in a costume, insisting it was a genuine animal weighing "almost a ton." Similarly, Kevin has repeatedly stated about his experience: "I don't care if you think I'm crazy or not. I know what I seen."

"Terrifying Alien Encounter at Eau Claire: The 1978 Barstow Bridge Paranormal Incident"