My Backpacking Horror Story (Yosemite)

For the first time solo backpacking, I went to Yosemite National Park (if you want to skip the intro, its starts at paragraph 4). I wanted to do my first trip in a popular spot, thinking it was less risk, but I happen to be only backpacker at this area since it was the off season. I always bring some sort of weapon when hiking but wanted to bring a gun for my solo trip, just in case. But I wasnt 21 at the time, so I brought the next best thing, a BB gun was a replica of a 357 revolver, it looked real and the hammer pulls back and makes the same click as the real thing, main reason why I bought it. Its C02 powered and strong enough to break the skin, its more of a scare tactic than anything.

I got the wilderness permit for 4 nights, my plan was to go up Yosemite Falls for 2 nights and Half Dome for 2 nights. I was excited when I got there, late spring, I think, its the best time to go because the snow is still present at the peaks. The best part is that tourism is at a minimum. Im an avid hiker, and I dont like standing behind slow groups that stop at every switchback. These trials are narrow that I cant just walk around most of them, even though Im carrying a 40 pound ruck, Im still passing up people.

When I made it up to the top, I was surprised that there was snow everywhere except for the trail, the temperature was around 50F. I found a nice campsite about 1 mile off trail, 100 feet off the river. The river made it easier to find my way back. I set up camp and did a little exploring/sightseeing, took a lot of pictures and got familiar with the area.

(Horror Story)
At night, I was freezing, around 28F. It was a full moon so there was a nice glow of the terrain and my tent kinda reflected light, which made it easier to spot at night. I didnt get that much sleep that night, mostly because I did not prepare enough, my sleeping bag was not rated for that low temperature, it was more of a summer bag. My arms and legs were starting to get numb, constantly shivering. I kept checking the time and was always disappointed, it was around 1130 at this point. Each time I check the time only 5 minutes passed by, it was a long nigh. I was contemplating going out and starting a fire, but I just brought out the MRE heater. My tent was vented so I figured it was safe. It warmed me up enough I finally fell asleep.

But then after what felt like 30 minutes, I heard heavy footsteps coming from the trail out in the distance. I couldnt tell what it was, thinking it was a bear or a deer, but as the steps got closer, I could here they were bipedal. The footsteps stopped for like 30 seconds, I started to go over contingencies. The footsteps started walking again, directly towards my tent. They were getting louder, and louder, and they were so close that I could hear the rocks skipping across the ground. The footsteps stopped right next to my tent.

(i.ytimg.com/vi/cQmMBnevVjs/maxresdefault.jpg)
What was going through my mind at this point.

At this point, I already had my “gun” in my hands and my kaybar ready. (getting chills as I write this) After a few seconds, I felt a thump on the top of my head, who ever that was just kicked me. It was a tap, Im guessing it was to see what was bulging out of the tent side. At that point, my adrenaline was in high gear, my mind was going a million miles a second. I was on a slight incline that my body slid to the edge of the tent, MY HEAD WAS BULGING OUTSIDE OF THE TENT!!! I did not want to let them know that what they kicked was my head.

Im in a sleeping bag, so my movement was minimum, I would not be able to move out the way fast enough if they figured out that was my head. I didnt want to run outside my tent because they may not be alone, I could have been lead to some trap. My best bet was to stay silent and to make small movements, enough to not compromise the position of how I was laying. My body started to get hot, I could feel my blood circulating to my arms, my extremities no longer numb, I grabbed my ‘gun’ and pointed at where I thought they were. I pulled the hammer back to hear that click, and just sat there, hoping they would hear it and get the picture. There was silence, I held my gun up there for about a minute, it probably was less but it felt like forever.

Eventually, the footsteps turn back to the trail and start walking away. I had a big sigh of relief, re-positioned myself and I did not sleep the rest of the night. That person didnt say a word, I didnt know what their intention were and what would of happened if I did not have that revolver. Its in the off season, so the rangers would not be patrolling, I was on my own. It was around 0300 when I checked the time. When morning came, I packed up camp and hiked back down the cliff and straight to my car. I just went home.