Mysterious encounters often occur in remote locations, leaving witnesses with more questions than answers. In August 2018, three young hikers experienced an inexplicable series of events while camping in Pyura, Peru. What began as a simple overnight adventure in the mountains transformed into a terrifying ordeal featuring doppelgangers, luminous humanoid figures, and unexplained phenomena that defied rational explanation.

Similar unexplained incidents have been reported by outdoor enthusiasts across the globe. In January 2014, a group of friends embarking on their first winter camping trip near Circleville, Ohio encountered peculiar circumstances when searching for an abandoned mining town. Despite following clear directions along old railroad tracks, the destination remained eerily elusive, while phantom train whistles echoed through the forest without any train ever appearing, challenging the boundaries between perception and reality.

Key Takeaways

Inexplicable encounters with luminous entities and doppelgangers transformed a routine camping trip in Peru into a terrifying ordeal.
Animals react differently to supernatural phenomena, with some becoming defensive while others remain unusually calm.
Geographical disorientation and phantom sounds often accompany strange experiences in remote wilderness settings.

Encounter in Pyura, Peru

Mountain Expedition Preparations

On Saturday, August 4, 2018, three 19-year-old friends—Maria, Emanuel Chumacero, and Nelson Lopez Castillo—embarked on a hiking trip in the hills of Pyura, Peru. They brought along Nelson's dog Sambo, whom they considered their lucky charm. After a three-hour trek, they reached a suitable camping location on the slopes, surrounded by dense woods.

The group efficiently set up their campsite as daylight waned, building a fire and pitching their tents. When clouds rolled in and darkness fell, they decided to continue exploring by flashlight, attempting to reach the mountain summit.

Hiking and Camping Setup

The three friends found their progress toward the peak halted by a large boulder blocking the trail. Considering it too dangerous to navigate around the obstacle in the darkness, they wisely decided to return to camp. They proceeded single-file down the path with Sambo leading, followed by Nelson, then Emanuel and Maria bringing up the rear.

During their descent, Maria stumbled and injured her leg. Emanuel quickly moved back to help her, temporarily losing sight of Nelson and his dog who had continued ahead. After assisting Maria to her feet, they resumed their journey at a slower pace.

Strange Doppelganger of Nelson

As Emanuel and Maria continued down the path, they spotted what appeared to be Nelson standing alone on the trail. Assuming Sambo had gone ahead, they followed this figure without immediate concern. However, they soon realized something was terribly wrong—the figure wasn't leading them back to camp but instead toward a large crevice in the ground.

What happened next defied explanation. The Nelson-like figure stepped out over the empty space of the crevice, walking across thin air without falling, before disappearing into the woods beyond. The friends were stunned, recognizing that this entity—though identical to Nelson in appearance, clothing, and even backpack—couldn't possibly be their friend.

Alarming Noises and Dog's Reaction

Emanuel and Maria called out for the real Nelson while carefully making their way back to the main trail. They soon encountered him searching for them. Despite their disturbing experience, they chose not to tell Nelson immediately about his doppelganger, promising to explain later at camp.

As the group exited the forest, they heard frightening sounds coming from the summit—branches snapping and rocks tumbling as if something large was descending the mountain. Terrified, they rushed back to their campsite and took shelter in one of the tents. Sambo ran toward the forest edge barking, but quickly returned trembling and whimpering, seeking protection behind Nelson.

Decision to Turn off Cell Phones

Inside the tent, the friends decided to power down their phones to conserve battery life for emergency use. Emanuel and Maria finally shared their unsettling encounter with the Nelson lookalike that had attempted to lead them toward danger. As they discussed this bizarre incident, a strange fog settled around their campsite.

Through the tent flaps, they noticed a diffused light approximately three meters away. Initially, they rationalized it as another hiker with a flashlight passing through the area. Emanuel suddenly felt chills throughout his body as the light source changed form.

The Luminous Figures

Four distinct lights materialized outside the tent and began approaching. As they drew nearer, the friends could discern humanoid shapes standing approximately 6.5 feet tall, entirely luminous. They briefly considered whether these might be people wearing glowing bodysuits, but the remote location and late hour made this explanation implausible.

Each witness experienced different physiological reactions to the entities:

Emanuel began shaking uncontrollably
Maria was overwhelmed by inexplicable grief and began crying
Nelson started hyperventilating severely

Oddly, Sambo—who had been terrified earlier—now slept peacefully. As the entities approached the tent, the friends began praying aloud. Emanuel found himself reciting Bible verses he had never read before. The luminous figures lingered briefly before retreating toward the forest, becoming distant points of light.

Giant Luminous Entity Appearance

As the three friends watched the retreating figures, something even more extraordinary occurred. The four luminous forms appeared to merge into a single massive humanoid entity. This giant being radiated light that illuminated the surrounding area as brightly as daylight.

The enormous luminous figure extended its arms forward before vanishing completely. Simultaneously, the mysterious fog that had engulfed their campsite began to dissipate. Believing the strange encounter might be over, the friends cautiously exited their tent.

While scanning the forest, they spotted several large panther-like creatures prowling among the trees. This final frightening sight sent them scrambling back into their tent, where they remained until 6:00 AM. At first light, they quickly packed up, hiked back to their vehicles, and left the mountain with their inexplicable experience permanently etched in their memories.

Return to Civilization

The hikers' harrowing experiences in the wilderness culminated in their eventual return to safety. After witnessing the transformation of four luminous figures into one giant entity near their campsite, Maria, Emanuel, and Nelson remained hidden in their tent until dawn. The strange fog that had settled around them dissipated after the glowing entity disappeared.

Around 6:00 a.m., the three friends finally emerged from their shelter. Fearful of the "panther-like" creatures they had spotted prowling the forest, they quickly packed their belongings and made their way down the mountain trail. They reached their vehicles without further incident and immediately drove back to town, leaving behind the supernatural encounters on the slopes of the mountain in Piura, Peru.

In a separate incident in January 2014, Michael and his friends had a different but equally puzzling experience. After spending a night camping near Circleville, Ohio, they attempted to locate an abandoned mining town reportedly also called Circleville. Despite following railroad tracks for what seemed much longer than the expected three miles, they never found the ghost town.

During their return journey, the group heard a train whistle that appeared to maintain the same distance regardless of how far they walked. The sound never grew closer or farther away, leading them to wonder if it was merely the wind creating an acoustic illusion. Unable to find their destination, they eventually returned to their vehicles and made their way back to their campsite.

Both groups of campers shared similar experiences of disorientation and unexplained phenomena in remote wooded areas. Their decisions to return to civilization came after encountering events they couldn't explain, highlighting the mysterious nature of their respective wilderness adventures.

Winter Camping Near Circleville, Ohio

Michael's First Winter Camping Trip

In mid-January 2014, Michael ventured into the wilderness outside Circleville, Ohio with a group of friends for his first camping experience. Despite having no prior camping experience, Michael was intrigued by the opportunity to explore nature during the winter months. The group drove their vehicles to a wooded area and set up camp, excited for their outdoor adventure.

Journey to the Ghost Mining Town

During the first evening around the campfire, the group discussed an intriguing destination—an abandoned mining settlement approximately three miles from their campsite. This overgrown ghost town, supposedly also named Circleville, captured everyone's imagination. By morning, the friends had developed a plan to hike to the mysterious location and packed essential supplies for their expedition.

The group drove to the trailhead before beginning their trek on foot. Their path led them to a small river, which they crossed by carefully walking along a fallen tree that conveniently bridged the gap between the shores.

Longer Trek Than Expected

After continuing deeper into the forest, the hikers discovered some old, unused railroad tracks. According to local information they had received, following these tracks for three miles would lead directly to the abandoned mining community. However, as they proceeded along the tracks, they realized they had been walking significantly longer than the expected distance.

The group began questioning whether they had somehow passed the town without noticing it. After careful consideration, they decided to turn around and head back toward their vehicles, unable to locate the mysterious ghost town despite their efforts.

Mysterious Train Sounds

As the friends made their way back along the tracks, they began hearing something peculiar—a train whistle echoing through the forest. What made this sound particularly strange was that it maintained a consistent distance, never growing louder or closer.

The whistle continued to sound periodically during their return journey, yet no train ever appeared on the tracks. The hikers found this phenomenon unsettling and discussed various explanations. Some wondered if it might simply be the wind creating unusual sounds through the trees or terrain. The mysterious whistle remained unexplained as they completed their journey back to camp.

Unexplained Paranormal Encounters: High Strangeness Cases From Peru to Circleville