Bigfoot Hunters

by Rick Gualtieri

  “Why this place, Dan?” Harrison had asked when she first mentioned it.

  She had replied with barely contained enthusiasm, “A friend of mine went hiking around there for a few days last year. It’s supposed to be beautiful. She said it’s like stepping back in time to another era.”

  “And?”

  “And what?”

  “There’s obviously more,” he had pointed out. His sister wasn’t particularly good at hiding things when she was excited.

  “Okay, fine. My friend said there’s an abandoned ranger station out there. If we can find it, it’ll be like exploring a haunted house. How awesome would that be?”

  Harrison had to admit that it sounded potentially cool. Despite his active life at school, a little adventure seemed like a good thing. He could feel a glimmer of excitement at the possibility of doing some exploring in a place where they were highly unlikely to run into other people.

  They agreed upon their route and then on the passenger split. Due to its roomier capacity, Greg would ride in the Xterra with Danni and her group. Considering the appreciative glances Greg had been making toward her, Harrison wasn’t surprised when he didn’t exactly balk at this proposition. Harrison’s Wrangler, though old, was equipped with heavy duty tires and a tow-winch. He would take the lead once they got off-road. If there were any obstacles his vehicle couldn’t make it past, then they wouldn’t risk the other car in an attempt to do so.

  By the time Rob made it back to the group, they were ready to climb in and start their engines. Adventure awaited.

  Chapter 3

  The ride out of Alamosa was fairly uneventful. Most of the departing spring-breakers were headed in other directions. Though camping and hiking were popular in the area, this time of year called the younger demographic toward where crowds of their peers would be gathering. Those who chose to stay local would most likely have their eyes set on the ski slopes. Others would be flying out toward points sunny and sandy. As such, the two car caravan had Route 160 more or less to themselves once they got past the town of Monte Vista.

  After a few hours on their route, they began to leave civilization behind, the evergreens on either side of the road beginning to grow denser with each passing mile. Even so, it was a pleasant drive. Light traffic coupled with good company was enough to put all the travelers in a cheery mood. If asked, most of them would have probably agreed it was a particularly fine day to be young and on an adventure with friends, both new and old.

  Eventually, Danni’s Xterra slowed. Harrison knew they were searching for the turnoff that would signal their final wave goodbye to the modern world. Their GPS was no doubt telling them they were close, but you couldn’t count on street signs or a nice, wide turnoff way out here. What they were looking for would amount to little more than a slightly wider than normal gap amongst the trees. Pick the wrong one and they’d end up backing out and trying again, assuming they didn’t get stuck first.

  They were in luck, though. As they came upon the dirt road, they saw fresh tire tracks leading the way into the wilderness. From the look of things, it wasn’t as untraveled as they had assumed it would be. It was either local traffic going toward Bonanza Creek or, worst case scenario, they’d be sharing the woods with a few other campers. On the upside, at least there was no mistaking the road when they found it.

  Danni’s car pulled to the side to let Harrison go first as planned. It seemed to be an unnecessary precaution, though. The road was a little rough, but it was dry with firmly packed dirt. There was nothing even remotely challenging about it for either vehicle. Even as the miles wore on and the terrain became rougher, they were able to maintain a fair pace.

  Harrison had to admit he was surprised at the time they were making. Normally, he’d have expected at least a few downed branches to force them to stop. It appeared, however, that whoever had recently traveled this road had already taken care of that job. He wasn’t about to complain, though. He’d take a relatively smooth ride over grunt work any day of the week.

  Nearing the halfway point, Harrison spotted flashing lights ahead. As they got closer, he could make out the red and blue lights of a police car. It was heading in his direction fast, a little too fast for the narrow road. He pulled the Wrangler off to the side as far as it would go without bumping the thick foliage that surrounded them. He checked the rearview and saw the Xterra doing the same. Last thing they wanted was a collision with a cop in a hurry.

  The car, a Ford Taurus with a police bubble on top, slowed as it came upon them, but just enough to pass without scraping itself along the side of anything. It passed them, with only inches to spare, then accelerated again back toward the main road.

  “He was in a hurry,” Rob commented from the passenger seat.

  “Yeah,” replied Harrison. “This isn’t exactly the Autobahn. Wonder what’s going on.”

  “Maybe some campers got eaten by wolves,” Paula joked from the backseat. She knew Rob wasn’t particularly easy about this type of trip and was pushing his buttons.

  “Not funny,” he retorted, taking the bait.

  “Aw come on,” Harrison said. “Would the Crypto Hunter be afraid of a few scrawny canines? Hell no. He’d probably take an out-of-focus picture and declare them werewolves.”

  “Bite me.”

  “Relax,” Harrison said with a sigh. “It was probably just an accident on the main road. Maybe someone hit a deer.”

  “What was he doing all the way back here?” Paula asked.

  “Beats me.”

  “I think it makes sense,” chimed in Rob. “The place we’re heading toward is probably not much more than a ghost town. Might not even be big enough for their own police department. They probably check in every so often.”

  “Guess they don’t have a good doughnut shop,” Paula quipped, eliciting groans from her two traveling companions.

  * * *

  Bonanza Creek had been founded in the early twentieth century by a prospector looking to incite a new gold rush. Unlike other boom towns, though, it had never really taken off. No more than a handful of nuggets had ever been procured from the surrounding countryside. Even during the best of times, the town’s population had never swelled past a few hundred. With no major source of precious minerals and little arable land for farming, the town had quickly settled into a tiny haven for lumberjacks, hunters, and families who appreciated the quiet.

  Even though none of the travelers were aware of this history, the size and rustic conditions spoke volumes toward its story. Entering the town proper, little more than a good-sized clearing in the woods, it was evident this was a whole other world from the one they had left only a few short hours ago. To Danni, it vaguely resembled Walnut Grove from Little House on the Prairie, which she used to adore as a child.

  Only the occasional satellite dish sticking from the rooftops broke the illusion of quaintness. Everything else seemed like a hole in time had just opened up and deposited the town there.

  Almost everything, she thought as she spied a pair of sleek black SUVs parked in front of a bait shop. Each towed an empty trailer, and next to them was a large van similarly devoid of color. The three vehicles were neither old nor in disrepair. They weren’t local, either. Gleaming “District of Columbia” license plates stared back at them from the bumpers.

  Danni thought that a bit odd as they drove past. It would be one thing for locals to be there. Hell, she could even imagine hunters or hikers from neighboring states making their way to these parts. But to traverse almost two thousand miles just to come to this little backwater town? There were far more interesting places in Colorado to travel that distance for.

  Oh well, their business is their own. She indicated what appeared to be a general store to Wild Feather. A few aged pumps sat outside of it. That’s convenient, she noted. They could gas up, stretch their legs, and grab a few last-minute supplies before starting the final leg of the journey. From what her friend had told her, the logg
ing road ran through the town and would get them a few more miles into the woods before they’d need to park and head off on foot. From there, they’d be on their own.

  The prospect excited her. Perhaps for more than one reason, she mused as she glanced at Wild Feather from the corner of her eye.

  Both cars pulled in and their occupants disembarked. A sign instructed them to pump their own gas, then pay inside. Greg volunteered for gas duty as the remainder of the group met up outside the doors to the store.

  “So, should we see if Ma and Pa Olson are tending shop?” Danni asked in a playful manner. When she got nothing but confused stares back, she sighed. “Never mind,” she said and walked inside, silently lamenting how culturally bereft her companions were.

  The interior of the shop wasn’t quite as quaint as the outside. Half of it resembled a modern day 7-Eleven, complete with a slushie maker. The other half appeared to be a mishmash of general goods. There were camping supplies, a rifle rack, gardening equipment, and even a small shelf full of video games. It was no Walmart, Danni considered, but for a town of this size, it would probably suffice.

  Speaking of nicely sufficing, she noticed her brother immediately perk up as a shapely female stepped out from behind the counter. She was tall, at least five-eight, wearing close fitting jeans and a loose blouse. Her hair was a medium shade of brown and done up in a functional ponytail. She wore no makeup, but she didn’t really need to. Judging by her appearance, Danni put her at late twenties, maybe early thirties. Not quite up in the cougar range, but judging by her brother’s glances, Danni doubted Harrison would have objected much if this woman decided to make him her plaything.

  “Well, aren’t we turning into the little tourist trap?” the woman mused, approaching them. Seeing the confused expression on their faces, her tone changed. “Sorry. It’s just been busier here these past few days than it usually is. Welcome to Bonanza Creek!”

  * * *

  There were murmured thanks from the group as a whole, except for Wild Feather, who did some hand gesture and a nod of his head. To Harrison, it looked vaguely like something he had seen in a kung-fu movie. He mentally chided himself upon that thought. He really needed to get over it. If his sister was into this guy, then that was her business. They weren’t in junior high anymore. He didn’t need to watch out for her. Besides, at the moment he had more interesting things to watch.

  He turned to their shapely host. “Thanks. We’re just passing through. Some gas and maybe a few bags of chips, and we’ll be on our way.”

  She shrugged. “Passing through? You’re a bit far from the highway.”

  “We’re going camping for the week,” he continued, wondering why he felt the need to justify himself. What was it about a pretty face that made guys want to confess as if they had just committed a crime?

  “I kind of figured,” she replied with a grin. “I was only teasing. Just make sure you’re careful out there. We have enough shenanigans going on right now.”

  “What do you mean?” Danni asked.

  “A couple of hikers got lost again. That’s why it’s been busier here than usual. The state troopers and some of the locals have been combing the woods looking for them. Been keeping everyone on their toes.”

  “Again?”

  “Yeah, it usually happens at least once or twice a year. Some idiots head out with no map, compass, or common sense – probably thinking they’ll somehow get cell service out there if they get lost. But this is the third time in two months. We seem to be attracting the stupid ones lately. Must be a leap year,” she joked.

  “Well, if we see anyone, we’ll help if we can,” Harrison replied.

  “Just make sure you don’t wind up with them. People are starting to get a little testy about it.”

  “Don’t worry. We’re all geared up,” Danni said, pulling an old analog compass out of her pocket. “Besides,” she added with another glance toward Wild Feather, “I think we have an ace in the hole with us.”

  Wild Feather again just nodded and replied in that same slow tone he kept using, “Yes. I have walked the path of my forefathers many times. The spirits have never failed me.”

  Danni and Allison practically swooned in their shoes as he spoke. Hell, even Paula seemed to be making doe eyes at him. In fact, the only female present whose facial expression wore the same dubious look as Harrison’s was the shopkeeper. That cemented her coolness in his book.

  “Yeah, okay...” she replied in a doubtful tone. “Well, spirits aside, I have just about everything you’d need to survive out there: sleeping bags, bear spray, trail rations, you name it. If I were you kids, I’d double check my gear before heading out. Pick up anything you think you might need. Trust me, it’ll be cheaper than the bill the state will hit you up with if we need to come out and save your butts.”

  That last part was said with a smile, but Harrison had little doubt there was truth behind it. It was one thing for accidents to happen, but the authorities tended to take a dim view on people getting lost on account of their own stupidity. He’d heard of hikers being hit with heavy fines when such things had happened. Truth be told, he didn’t really see an issue with it. Sometimes an idiot tax needed to be levied – he just preferred it not be on him.

  “I think we’re good,” he replied, “although it probably wouldn’t hurt to stick around for a little bit and do one last inventory. I don’t suppose you’d like to help make some suggestions for anything we might have missed?” Even as he said that last part, he regretted it. It probably sounded like one of the lamest pickup lines ever. No doubt he’d be hearing about it later from Rob, and probably Danni, too.

  The shopkeeper appeared to consider this for a moment. If she had a snide comment to make, she kept it to herself. Finally, she answered, “Okay. Just be warned, I might go a little nuts on my suggestions. I do have a business to run, after all.”

  Inwardly, Harrison breathed a sigh of relief. He was normally a pretty cool character with the ladies. It was unlike him to sputter like an idiot.

  It was definitely time for him to move on. No point in delaying the inevitable. He’d break it off with Amy the second he got back to school. He had known couples to break up via text message or Facebook, but that struck him as excessively tacky. Even in this modern world, there were some things that needed to be done in person to maintain one’s integrity.

  But that was for later. For now, he got to spend some time with a helpful stranger who just so happened to be easy on the eyes. He decided he might as well enjoy it – although, perhaps he’d try to keep the lame come-ons in check while doing so. No point in embarrassing himself further. Otherwise, it could wind up being a long week for him.

  Chapter 4

  One half hour, two full gas tanks, and maybe a hundred dollars’ worth of extra supplies later, they were making final preparations to get back on the road. Kate, the shopkeeper, had been fairly impressed by their overall preparedness. She had told them that over the years she had seen far too many campers heading out with barely a sleeping bag to their names. Nevertheless, she had given them some decent suggestions to add to their already sufficient gear – and maybe a few nonessential ones, too; business tended to be slow in Bonanza Creek.

  They had loaded up on extra rations, a second water purification kit, a hand axe, and a machete. Harrison wasn’t quite convinced on that last one. After all, they weren’t going on an expedition through the Amazon. However, in the end, it could prove useful ... maybe. Besides, Kate’s smile was pretty intoxicating. If she had wanted to, she could have probably taken him to the cleaners as long as she kept batting her eyelashes.

  “We about ready to go, or do you want to stare at the counter girl’s ass some more?” Rob finally asked.

  “Robert!” Paula exclaimed.

  “What? Don’t tell me you didn’t notice. Jeez, I thought he was practically getting ready to propose to her.”

  “Asshole,” Harrison huffed with a grin. He did
n’t think he would be getting out of this without at least one shot in his direction. He was just surprised his sister didn’t get a dig in as well before climbing back into the Xterra with Allison, Greg, and Wild Feather. Actually, upon thinking about it, it made perfect sense. Considering the way her eyes were practically glued to him, Harrison could have taken a piss right in the middle of the store and Danni might not have noticed.

  Speaking of the devil, Harrison could see Wild Feather sitting in the driver’s seat of the Xterra. No doubt he was busy filling Danni’s ears with some bullshit about how he wished it were a horse instead. Why was she unable to see through all of his crap? He was very obviously playing her.

  Of course, on the flipside, why was he so busy harping on it? Harrison sighed and once again reminded himself that she was an adult.

  “Are we going, or are we just gonna sit here all day, staring out the window?” Rob asked, breaking him out of his reverie.

  He’s right, Harrison mused. Plenty of time to mull it over once they had set up camp. He was putting them at risk of not making it in before dark. If that happened, then he’d really have to hear about it.

  He gave a wave toward the other vehicle and started his engine. He pulled out, and it quickly fell in line behind him. From there, it was only a few minutes to find the far end of the town and the beginning of the logging road as it led into the increasingly dense forest.

  Once they started down it, Harrison actually felt a sense of relief. Concentrating on the trail ahead required more than enough effort so that he was able to put images of his sister and Wild Feather communing with nature out of his head.

  * * *

  Whereas the drive into Bonanza Creek had been relatively free of issues, the road – if it could even be called that – on the far side of the little town proved to be somewhat less friendly. They went no more than a mile before they came across their first obstacle, a downed branch. It wound up being small enough so that both vehicles could drive over it with no problem. Unfortunately, it was just a precursor for what awaited them as they journeyed further into the wilderness.