Date: May 18, 2025
Location: Twin Pines Trail, Oregon
Submitted by: “J.A., park ranger”

I’ve worked at Twin Pines for nine years. I know the trees, the terrain, and the weather patterns like the back of my hand. But nothing prepared me for what I witnessed last Friday evening around 6:20 p.m., on the South Ridge trail near marker 14B.

I’d received a radio call from another ranger reporting a strange burst of static that overwhelmed his comms for about ten seconds — nothing unusual during storms, but the sky was clear. I hiked up to investigate.

About 200 feet beyond marker 14B, the trail bends sharply east. That’s when I noticed the woods ahead were unnaturally silent. Even the wind had stopped. As I scanned ahead, I saw a shimmer in the trees — not light, but like heat distortion. From the shimmer, a figure emerged. At first I thought it was a hiker, but as I approached, I saw she wasn’t quite… right.

She appeared to be a woman in her 40s, wearing a mid-century dress — blue with white trim, like something out of the 1950s. Her edges flickered, like a paused VHS tape. Her hair floated slightly, as though underwater. I froze. She looked directly at me, opened her mouth to speak — and static poured from her lips.

My radio began screeching again, even though I hadn’t touched it. The woman stepped back into the shimmer and vanished. The sound ceased. A moment later, the birds returned.

I’ve gone back several times. No trace. The static hasn’t returned — yet.