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Paranormal => The Paranormal & Ghost Society => Topic started by: AngelOfThyCosmos on August 21, 2018, 03:45:57 PM

Title: Our Emigrant & Caples Lake Bigfoot Expedition Report On 8 - 12 -18
Post by: AngelOfThyCosmos on August 21, 2018, 03:45:57 PM
Our Emigrant & Caples Lake Bigfoot Expedition Report On 8 - 12 -18

I have spent the last seven years exploring this region around Caples Lake but never have I actually hiked along it or ascended behind it to find Emigrant Lake which is this little azure gem in the high sierras tucked away in the Mokelumne Wilderness which is part of the ElDorado National Forest. Its amazing how many peaks, lakes and areas we have explored. Almost every single location that surrounds Caples Lake that we have done we have had a Bigfoot encounter, giant tracks, heard tree banging or found some other kind of evidence like UFOs hovering over Red Peak.

Caples Lake is a focal point and is surrounded by many locations that we have camped or journeyed at. I never really liked Caples Lake its kind of touristy do not get me wrong its a gorgeous lake to hike along but there is quite a few fisherman near the spillway and hikers that journey along the SW trail. But I felt we were long overdue to journey along it to a lake that the pioneers and early emigrants had encampments on known as Emigrant Lake.

This is a very unique area like I said focal point for many great sites we have done work at. The hike up to Emigrant Lake is surrounded by Thunder Mountain, Elephants Back, Red Peak, Round Top Peak, Little Round Top and many other lakes nearby. Everyone of those locations I have had a bigfoot experience at so I was excited what we would encounter here especially as we made our way deeper into the wilderness leaving behind Caples Lake.

This is a very special area as back in the mid 1800's the emigrants would travel via wagon trail through the pass ascending the devils ladder just across from Red Peak. The maximum height of that climb through the Carson Pass transpired above Emigrant and Caples Lake. As a matter in fact the emigrants would see Emigrant Lake below then descend down on the wagon trail either camping here or crossing a meadow which had twin lakes and in turn today were dammed off to form Caples Lake. So it did not always look the way it did today as opposed to the past. But many pioneers from the midwest would make the journey west and in order to get into California you had to traverse and cross the high sierras there was not a way around it.

Honestly if you do not find bigfoot roaming this neck of the woods there are definitely ghost just down the road three men were mutilated at a place called Tragedy Springs still today nobody knows who did it some feel it was the natives I feel it was bigfoot since the natives gave them a proper burial this did not sound like a raid. The Mormons and trappers were some of the first to zip past Emigrant Lake or climb the ridge lines above Caples Lake. Quite a few pioneers and emigrants died in these woods from the elements or sickness. The area sort of has a creepy feeling when your exploring them it always has no matter what part of this wagon trail I have done in the area. Most of the old Emigrant trail is overgrown and today is less used by humans and seems to be more in use by bigfoot which is a good enough reason to explore the area.

I would leave before sunup it was still dark out could not wait to get away you see where I live we were under smoke for weeks due to the fires in California. This meant that the air we been breathing is not exactly safe hell I had not seen any blue skies in weeks really. So when I planned this expedition I made sure to plan one that was not in the way of any fire plumes so that we could really get some of the fresh air and thank god I did. Because my eyes were red, agitated, watery, nose stuffed and my breathing was shallow. So one of my hopes was to get out in the high sierras get some fresh air and actually soak up the oxygen. I managed to pick a location that was NOT under smoke although we were a bit worried because that same weekend the Donnel Fire had transpired so we were not sure what was going to happen and Tammy was telling me I probably should not go but I went anyhow I am stubborn lol.

So we climbed the Carson Pass all the way up above Red Lake and around Red Peak just across from the ascension known to the emigrants as Devils Ladder. Back in the day over 250 wagons would be lined up waiting to make the ascension every single one of them had to get to the top of the pass which means they also had to pass by today's Caples and Emigrant Lakes. Once you climb Devil's pass it levels off and just a few miles up the road is Caples Lake and our adventure would begin here.

Caples and Emigrant Lake

I love the history of Caples Lake it was named after Doc Caples which is really a wonderful historical figure of the west. He actually came here in 1849 loved the area so much he established a small farm and trading post here. He also was an anti suffragist and a politician. His wife documented their journey talking about making stew in the sierras while camping not far from Caples Lake. I am sure they simply fell in love with the area with all the scenic views, lakes and nature. Doc almost died in the sierras also but after his trading post came to be a resort would be established here, fishing camp and lodge which still today remains in operation on the north shore along highway 88.

Jarrod and I parked at the parking lot spillway for Caples notice I give you the tools to work with otherwise you would not know where we went or how we went in.The parking lot was full I mean the sun was just coming up but there was quite a few fisherman on the dam and the first half mile along the shoreline.  So we continued to hike along the SW portion of the lake shore. The trail is fairly decent it follows the lake with views of Red Peak and even Emigrant Peak. Across the lake you can see the Caples Lake Resort which is historic and to the left Shaelor Lakes area which is three lakes surrounded by beautiful granite cliffs and slabs.

You will follow Caples Lake for at least two miles maybe two and half its hard to say everyone has a different opinion about the hike. But the first mile you will cross the Mokelumne Wilderness Boundary Line which is a 105 thousand acre wilderness full of volcanic peaks and dense forest. Eventually you cross a trail perpendicular to the lake which is called the Old Emigrant Trail which descends right onto the Emigrant Lake Trail. Back in the day the wagons would come down this trail then they could cut across a meadow with two shall 6' lakes but since today both lakes were flooded and it was dammed off you now have Caples Lake so the meadow is gone. I bet if you drained Caples Lake and searched the center of it you would find old wagon parts and artifacts with a metal detector.

The Emigrant Trail does ascend to the top of the ridge line at 9,550' which was the highest point this wagon route went. I can imagine that when the emigrants reached the bottom of this trail some may have crossed the meadow where Caples Lake use to be others may have taken the trail on up to Emigrant Lake to camp for a few days. Jarrod and I enjoyed the hike along Caples there is quite a few areas you can veer off and sit on some rocks or enjoy the open shoreline. We actually found a private cove we took a break in did some track searching on and off as we hiked along the lake. We found quite a few human impressions some hiking boots and a few deer but nothing really that stood out of the ordinary.

The trail is a bit rugged I guess because there are quite a few boulders, rocks and tree roots. So the trail is a bit hard on the feet and when you carry the huge pack I carry it makes it all the more challenging. Not many would be able to endure what we endure on these bigfoot expeditions we always come out of the woods beat and cut up. The tree roots followed by rocks then more tree roots was rugged. The trees along this trail are very old hell some of them were around when emigrants passed by them in their wagons. So this is an old very dense forest and when you look right you can see woods that go on forever up a steep mountain side.

I was drinking coffee while hiking we passed these three hot girls in there 20s they all said hi but the one following way behind was extra friendly to my son and I what a cutie. Like I said if you want to see the prettiest women in the world just hike the trails in the high sierras you will see beautiful women all day long and they are in great shape probably better then my old ass. But there was a few folks we ran into and every group of people I ran into stopped me just to tell me how beautiful Emigrant was. I was getting excited as folks passed me by and are like have you been up there before and I was like no and they were like your going to love it so yeah the suspense was killing me lol.

Eventually when you get to the SW end of the lake there is a little cove its so cut off its hard to see any mountains but if you look through the trees ahead you can kind of see the peaks which form the bowl that Emigrant Lake sites in including Coray Peak. I knew we were getting closer seeing these peaks through the trees. Just on the other side of Caples is Round Top Peak where I had a major bigfoot encounter not tracks but being chased for two miles so I was only a couple miles from that peak which in theory I could say that this creature probably can be found where we were hiking since we were just below it.

The trail veers away as a matter in fact it starts to head south ascending up to Emigrant Lake. Most of the hike at this point is uphill for two maybe two and half miles. The woods on both sides are dense there are rock formations all over one of them had a small den. Its easy to lose site of the trail here it crosses Emigrant creek multiple times and if it was not dried up there are some areas in the Spring I am sure cant be crossed including this huge dip that goes down four feet in this trench that crosses the trail. But in August the creek is hardly flowing for the most part the creek was just that dry no water. Until we came across a second creek intersecting with the dry one and spent a mile following water. That is the best way to reach Emigrant Lake is just to follow the creek.

There were some gorgeous parts of the forest where the creek flowed through this is a decent sized creek when the water if flowing like I said Spring its probably rapids so the lake probably is not very accessible. Jarrod and I seen quite a few wild flowers growing along the trail at one point we came across thousands of purple flowers that just consumed the trail. Their were points where it was easy to get lost because the trail would end then you would have to climb a bunch of granite rocks sometimes it would even split where you could cross it to get across the creek. Either way the main thing is just to follow the creek till you come out to the lake. The creep starts at Emigrant Lake then pours on out into Caples.

Jarrod and I could hear rushing water there was some fast moving water when we hiked along the creek. As a matter in fact we heard waterfalls so we decided will try to find them. Well Jarrod and I came out to this 30' waterfall it had a lower and an upper pool it was so gorgeous. On many of my hikes we break every 15 to 20 mins this is to have some fluids and food or just to take the pack off do some bigfoot research. We took a half hour break at the falls I mean you kind of had to it was a little hidden gem. Along the right side of the falls further up the mountain I did spot movement it looked like a set of legs moving between this large tree then near some rocks along the falls. My son said dad let me climb the granite rocks with the cam and see if I can film what it was you seen. I mean trust me I seen this out of the corner of my eye and 200' away my son did not believe me.

He climbed this big rock quicker then I could have then climbed the hill looking past some rocks near the falls he came face to face with a big cat. He described it to me and it sounds to me like he came across a bobcat but who knows. We were having a focusing problem with the camera so I had to clean and change a few video settings so I am not sure he even got it on film but told me that he seen this cat like creature sunbathing on the rocks near the creek just above where the falls drop off. I looked at his film and you can see this big triangular den in the rocks right along the creek before the falls drop off I am wondering if this is a big cat den.

 I also noticed from studying the footage there appears to be a bigfoot like face watching him through the brush and trees staring at him over the rocks? Bigfoot? Could be I know what I seen with my eyes! Falls like these would be an ideal place for wildlife to lurk maybe even a bigfoot like creature since the water is fresh and its very primitive. I mean once your above the falls there is brush, foliage, trees and just massive rocks everywhere anything and I mean anything could be hiding back here.

Eventually we moved on you could see on one of the peaks an old weather station I knew that is how we were close people claim if you see that your almost at the lake. We kind of left the trail once we hit this open meadow where the creek was widest. There was very pretty peaks in the background, meadow, wildflowers and then Emigrant Creeks early beginnings. Just a short distance later after crawling under some fallen limbs and through brush we came right out onto the shores of Emigrant Lake. Its just this rounder lake surrounded on one side by woods the other side the cliffs of Corlay, Fourth Of July and Covered Wagon Peaks. Corlay Peak is a 1000' above the lake and those massive cliffs behind it give the lake true meaning.

Their was a few people that pitched tents near the lake funny thing is almost everyone that was chilling at this lake were women most of them in bikinis lol. I guess I chose the right lake to hike out to the skies were blue, clean air and beautiful women I reached freaking paradise man. Unlike most lakes you could only hike on the trail around half of the lakes shore the other half was cliffs, rocks, steep embankments and brush. This makes it real hard to look for bigfoot tracks but I bet up here camping alone at night can get real spooky I mean this is the heart of bigfoot country and I just got done seeing something massive walking up on a hill between this tree and rocky waterfall so who knows what might lurk out here.

The road for the emigrant trail runs on the top of the peak and ridge line but you cant see it because your a 1000' below in this bowl. I heard this is a warm shallow lake but I found out differently. As a matter in fact there is still snow up here in August you can see bands of it just hanging off the cliffs where the sun barely reaches. I have seen what this place looks like in the winter and its amazing the cliffs are draped and peaks. But its also very dangerous and a huge avalanche risk with that snow just hanging off them cliffs above you. Jarrod and I walked about halfway around the lake and onto this rocky peninsula.

There was this 10' cliff we sat up on above the lake with at least 12' deep water you could see the bottom it was clear. But this may have been one of the deepest areas of the lake. I did not find it as shallow as some claim but Jarrod was happy said it was his favorite lake because you can actually dive into this lake and the water is deep enough. On this peninsula you can jump right off the end of the rocks and below is a flat area you can swim to then climb right back up only to do it again. No I did not dive but my son dove over and over. He also pointed out to me massive trout swimming around this area we seen some pretty big fish. It does not surprise me the record they pulled out of Caples was 35 lbs the fish up here get big and there were some very large yummy trout swimming right below the rocks where we took a two hour break at.

We ate our lunch with a nice panoramic view of the lake and the cliffs before us. Oh man we had it all cheese, dried up fruit, chocolate, pizza, eggs, coffee, nuts, fruit snacks, juice, granola mix and so much more. I have to say we ate like kings I bought 80 dollars worth of food for this hike and all of it was great. I drank a beer smoked a couple bowls took off my shirt went for a dip on the other side of the peninsula there was some blonde near us sunbathing and that my friends is how you do lunch with Lord Rick lol. To the right of where we sat was this giant meadow of purple flowers. Actually we also found lots of wild berries growing to up here so a bear or bigfoot's wildest dreams I am sure because their was no shortage of them. All in all the lake was paradise and although their are signs no camping on the lake there still was a couple tents  not sure why they do not allow it part of exploring the sierras is being able to camp, hike and explore wherever you want primitively..

We spent a couple hours here I was not in any rush skies were blue, views were beautiful and we had a nice meal at the lake before we had to make our journey back which was a descent which made it easier. Its quite easy to get turned around up here when heading back since there are so many large rocks, fallen trees and dense forest but since we came out on the west end of the lake we just had to make our way to the southern end then follow the creek back down Emigrant Lake Trail. Jarrod and I searched a couple muddy marshy areas along the lake shore and trust me there was not many places like this. Most of the shoreline is to overgrown or rocky to search for bigfoot but that does not mean this creature is not roaming the cliffs and steep inclines behind the lake areas that are nearly impossible for us to get too.

Our day at the lake was fun I did not get a signal or I would have facebooked some photos live as I was taking them. Sometimes I get a signal and sometimes I don't in this case unlike our Donner Three Lakes trip where we had good signals all day we had nothing up here at this secluded lake. I have been on the other side of those cliffs as just on the other side is 4th of July Lake even the ghost town of Summit City which I been to. This is the heart of the Carson Pass and the sierras so many of the sites are just prestigious and its a must to see them especially this little lake we found recently that I never even knew existed till recently.

 On our hike we also came across at least seven dogs when I was getting ready to leave a German Shepherd came right up to me wanted me to pet him on the head we also seen a husky, boxers and even golden retrievers. I love dogs should have taken mine on this hike but was afraid with there frail age they may have had some issues hiking that far and rock climbing all day since they are getting old.This is a special place one you just cant get out of your hand like a lost world that nobody else knows about. I wish I had camping gear id just slept here the entire night I mean honestly the lake is tucked away in a rugged area that is in a league of its own and is very unique. I can imagine when the emigrants were on the ridge with their wagons they probably seen the lake below and thought how nice it would be just to take a dip or catch some fish for dinner.

Jarrod and I spent the first mile descending doing bigfoot vocalizations and we also picked up a large rock to bang on any of the dread trees along the trail. I was hoping at sunset we could maybe get some vocalizations back or hear some tree banging back to us. Tree banging and vocalizations are something I try to do every bigfoot expedition. You do not have to do it all day they will hear it these creatures are very much in tune with nature. We would actually try doing vocalizations along the creek and tree banging. There was also this massive boulder we found as big as a house with a small den at the bottom of it. We would hike for about ten minutes stop to vocalize then bang on the trees despite that valiant effort still nothing. But I figured something might be hiding in the brush along Emigrant Creek the forest around it is dense and this was a fresh water source perfect for any outdoors creature. With it being sunset with hardly anyone around we gave it a good go.

Our hike back was swift we were booking it did not see one human on the way back those that were camping in the lake were there for the night and it was almost sunset which meant no hikers. Well we seen one lady by herself no backpack or anything and she looked lost who knows. People should not like in the high sierras alone unless you know what your doing and if you go out you better have supplies even something to deter bears which also roam these parts since wild berries grow all throughout this area. It was a quiet hike we followed the creek the first half mile descending down from the lake then eventually we could see Caples Lake through the trees. When we nearly had arrived back near Caples Lake something did catch my eye it was this large hand impression in the soft hand. Not the palm but like a closed fist with something that had some pretty large appendages.

The only reason why it was in good shape is because it was fresh you could see older hiking boot impressions nearby. Not saying someone did not fall and make a closed fist but whoever did had a large hand and its very random to find in the soft sand something like this. Generally when Bigfoot run or want to move quicker they run on all fours similar to a gorilla in how they run. They will run on their hind legs while applying pressure on their fist that is what this reminded me of besides the fact this is not the first time we have found evidence like this high up in the sierras. Whatever made it was very close and could have still been watching. Hell maybe it was what we encountered up at the falls just upstream from where we were at.But this was the only evidence we could find so I filmed it we as bigfoot researchers take what we can get and you may spend miles hiking before you find one shred of evidence.

We came out eventually onto a cove at Caples Lake sat on some rocks out near the water and ate fresh oranges. We could see a small island a few feet off shore my son hopped rocks to get to it with nice views of Red Peak. To our left we could not see an end to the lake or the spillway it would take us another fifteen minutes where we once again seen the lodge across the lake and then eventually the spillway which still looked so small. We had about a mile of rugged trail to go and while its easy to see the trail the rocks and mix of tree roots is very annoying.

My son fell behind I was jogging almost the last mile hopping rocks, par coring it and trying to be careful not to get my feet entangled. I mean if you get a foot caught in a root and you lunge forward you may break an angle or hit your face on rocks busting your face in so you have to really pay attention because its a mile of hell. Caples Lake really is a reservoir so the smooth flat meadow is underwater while technically were above it on a steep mountain side so lots of rocks and trees.My son has not seen me hike that quick in ages but when I want to book it I can book it I been journeying in these mountains for years and all I wanted was to get the bag off my sore bruised shoulders and turn on some music back at my truck.

By the time we had gotten to the parking lot spillway most folks had gone home a couple cars only. There was a few folks fishing off the dam cant blame them they have five species of awesome fish and trout's here. They have caught some records from this dam over the years ago so that was my only regret that I did not have my fishing gear in the back of the truck. But we were at least back to the truck after ten miles of hiking and exploring. But we also knew that the fresh air was not going to last forever we still had to go home and where I live the valley has so much smoke in it you cant even see the mountains. My lungs and throat never felt so good breathing all this fresh mountain air on in I was sad to have to leave.

I drove around Caples Lake the northern show through the Carson Pass pulling off to get some photos of the other side of the lake. The sun was this reddish ball just going behind the sierras and everything looked orange briefly. You could see the scenic backdrop of the cliffs behind Emigrant Lake from afar all the way from the north shore in the distance. Just standing there and looking up puts things into perspective as to where not only we were but how far we went. While you cant see the lake you can see where it resides just below these snowy cliffs. Also to the left was good views of the Elephants Back which is this volcanic dome we climbed a few years ago and found a nice bigfoot track below it.

It was brief but the mountains on the east end of the lake including Elephants Back all were illuminated orange maybe for about five minutes. I was busy filming so I did not get a good photo once the orange glow was gone I was like awwwe damn because I thought the sunset setting on those peaks would last longer then a few minutes. But my entire reasoning for parking on the other end of the pass and lake was so I could admire Corlay Peak from afar and the very bottom of the pass. Its hard to believe we journeyed that far we were way up at the top of the sierras. Its just like with Red Peak, Elephants Back and Roundtop Peak we climbed them all but when you start off miles away at the bottom it almost looks hopeless like you wont ever reach the top but we did reach Emigrant Lake between the history and its beauty this turned out to be a great trip. I wish we had more results from tree knocking and vocalizations but we didn't.

Their was one vocalization we heard while being up at the lake it may have been human we do not k now. I figured if I continued to do them and tree knock a short time after hearing it we would get results but we didn't. The ride home was very tiring I was beat to the bone and as we descended into the Carson Valley we cold see a thick layer of smoke from the fires. All I could think of is how much it sucked to have to leave this lost paradise and succumb to the smokey air from all the fires. We had a nice dinner when I came home we had these provolone burgers, rice and veggies it was so good while catching Preacher and Fear Of The Walking Dead which just came back to finish up the second half of the season.I was so tired that by the time I ate and watched Fear I was out till the next morning.

This was an awesome trip I never knew how beautiful Caples could be even just hiking along its shore is a nice day outing while doing some fishing. But if you feel brave and your willing to veer on off for a few miles you can take the Emigrant Trail up to Kirkwood or you can go up to Emigrant Lake. I know Bigfoot roams this area we have spent years camping and doing research here. We just finally were able to get Caples and Emigrant Lake into the books.

I have had more bigfoot evidence and encounters in this ten mile area then anywhere in my cryptozoology career they are here these are the biggest of the biggest as far as mountains go in this range. The Eldorado Forest and Mokelumne Wilderness all together are a million acres of lush vast back country anything could be back here awaiting discovery whether its ghosts of the pioneers, UFO with little green men from other worlds or Bigfoot just lurking these mountains in search of its next meal. I will be looking forward to seeing so much more in the future here and every time we journey reveals something new to us that we can log into our case files.

Peace,
Lord Rick
PGS Founder