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The Phantom Hiker In the Never Summer Wilderness – Part 1: The Encounter

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Prelude for Part 1: The Phantom Hiker

Ethan and Sarah had always loved exploring the wilderness, craving the serenity that only nature could provide. Their latest adventure led them to the remote mountains, where towering peaks and dense forests promised both beauty and challenge. It was supposed to be an ordinary hiking trip—a chance to escape the hustle and bustle of their daily lives and reconnect with the great outdoors.

But deep within the fog-covered trails, something far more sinister awaited them. The air was thick with tension, and strange, unexplainable sounds began to echo through the trees. As the sun dipped below the horizon, they realized they weren’t alone. A mysterious figure emerged from the mist—an eerie hiker who seemed out of place, out of time.

In Part 1: The Encounter, Ethan and Sarah’s peaceful hike turns into a nightmare as they come face-to-face with the phantom hiker. With the fog closing in and fear taking hold, their journey becomes a desperate bid for survival.

Are they merely imagining things, or has something supernatural awakened in the mountains? Read on to find out how their once-idyllic trip takes a terrifying turn into the unknown.



See our Complete Guide to Hiking to Lake of the Clouds. Nestled between the rocky peaks of Howard Mountain and Mount Cirrus lies the stunning Lake of the Clouds. With sweeping vistas of the Never Summer Mountains and verdant forests, this alpine oasis is a must-see for any outdoor enthusiast.


Part 1: The Encounter

Ethan and Sarah had been planning their trip to the Never Summer Mountains for weeks. Both were avid hikers, always seeking new challenges and the thrill of exploring untouched wilderness. This time, they had set their sights on the Lake of the Clouds, a remote and rugged destination deep in Rocky Mountain National Park. The allure of the wild, combined with the lake’s reputation for its breathtaking beauty, made this trip one they were particularly excited about.

The journey began early one crisp autumn morning at the Colorado River Trailhead. The air was cool, with the faint scent of pine and earth, and the mountains loomed ahead, their peaks partially shrouded in mist. The sun had just begun to rise, casting a golden glow over the landscape, highlighting the vibrant fall colors that dotted the mountainsides.

“This is going to be amazing,” Ethan said, adjusting his pack and taking a deep breath of the fresh mountain air.

Sarah smiled, her excitement matching his. “I’ve been looking forward to this for weeks. Just us, the mountains, and nothing else.”

They had meticulously prepared for the trip, packing everything they needed for a few days in the backcountry. The trail to the Lake of the Clouds was challenging, with steep climbs and unpredictable weather, but they were confident in their abilities and eager to immerse themselves in the wild. Their plan was to camp at the Dutch Town backcountry campsite, a historic and secluded spot that had once been part of an old mining settlement.

The trail began with a gentle ascent through a forest of spruce and fir, the well-worn path winding alongside the Colorado River. The sound of the rushing water was soothing, and the sunlight filtered through the trees, creating dappled patterns on the ground. As they walked, they marveled at the vibrant yellow aspens interspersed among the evergreens, their leaves fluttering like gold coins in the breeze.

The first few miles were relatively easy, the trail wide and well-maintained. They passed Long Meadows, a serene expanse of grassland where the river slowed to a gentle trickle, and the views opened up to reveal the distant peaks of the Never Summer Range. The peaks had an imposing presence, their jagged silhouettes a reminder of the rugged terrain that lay ahead.

After a couple of hours, they reached a junction where the trail began to climb more steeply, leading them deeper into the mountains. The path narrowed and became rockier, winding through dense stands of trees that blocked out much of the light. The forest here was thick and dark, the air cooler as they gained elevation.

It was here, as they ascended the steeper section of the trail, that they heard the sound of footsteps behind them. Turning, they saw a man approaching—a fellow hiker by the looks of it. He was dressed in old-fashioned hiking gear, with a well-worn pack slung over his shoulder. Something about him seemed slightly out of place, but Ethan and Sarah couldn’t quite put their finger on it.

“Morning,” the man greeted them, his voice warm but with a hint of something else—something distant. “Heading up to the Lake of the Clouds?”

“Yes, we are,” Ethan replied, feeling a bit more at ease. The man seemed friendly enough, though there was something about his demeanor that Sarah found unsettling.

“Mind if I join you for a bit?” the man asked. “I know these trails pretty well. Been hiking them for years.”

Sarah hesitated, her instincts warning her to be cautious, but Ethan, ever the optimist, nodded. “Sure, the more, the merrier.”

As they continued, the trail grew steeper, the ground beneath their feet a mix of packed dirt and loose rocks. The trees pressed in closer, their branches forming a canopy overhead that blocked out the sun. The forest was dense, and the air was filled with the earthy scent of moss and decaying leaves. Occasionally, the trees would part just enough to offer glimpses of the surrounding mountains, their snow-dusted peaks standing stark against the deep blue sky.

The man led the way with an ease that suggested he knew every inch of the trail. He began to share stories about the mountains, describing them in vivid detail—the hidden waterfalls, the ancient trees, the views from the highest ridges. His knowledge was impressive, but it was his manner that unsettled Sarah the most. He spoke as if he belonged to the mountains, as if he had been part of them for far longer than seemed possible.

“I’ve been coming here since I was a kid,” the man said, his voice carrying a nostalgic tone. “Back when the trails weren’t even marked. You had to know the land to find your way around.”

Ethan nodded, intrigued. “That’s amazing. You must have some great stories from all those years.”

The man chuckled softly, but there was no joy in the sound. “Oh, I’ve got stories, alright. These mountains… they’ve seen things, and they remember. People think they can conquer the wilderness, but out here, it’s the other way around.”

Sarah shivered involuntarily, though the morning was warm. The man’s words seemed to linger in the air, as if the mountains themselves were listening. She exchanged a glance with Ethan, who seemed equally intrigued but didn’t share her growing unease.

As they continued hiking, the trail began to climb steadily, leading them deeper into the forest. The trees grew thicker, their branches forming a dense canopy that filtered the sunlight into eerie patterns on the ground. The air felt heavier here, and the silence was almost oppressive, broken only by the sound of their footsteps and the occasional rustle of leaves.

After another hour of hiking, they reached a small clearing where an old man sat on a fallen log, whittling a piece of wood. His presence was almost expected—a familiar sight from their previous adventure.

It was the same old man who had warned them in the Indian Peaks Wilderness, and he was here again, with his old Skyblue Jeep parked nearby. He looked up as they approached, his eyes narrowing slightly when he saw the man leading them.

“Morning,” the old man said, his voice gruff but not unkind.

“Morning,” Ethan replied, recognizing him immediately. “We’re heading up to the Lake of the Clouds. This guy’s been giving us some great tips about the area.”

The old man’s gaze flicked to their companion, his expression unreadable. “Is that so?”

The man nodded, returning the old man’s look with one of his own. “Just helping out some fellow hikers. Always good to share what you know.”

The old man grunted, clearly unimpressed. “You be careful up there. These mountains aren’t always what they seem.”

Ethan nodded, though he didn’t seem to take the warning seriously. “Thanks, we will.”

The old man returned to his whittling, but as they left the clearing, Sarah could feel his eyes on them, a weighty, watchful presence that seemed to follow them long after they had returned to the trail.

As the day wore on, the trail became more rugged, the path narrowing as it wound through a series of rocky outcrops. The trees thinned out, replaced by alpine tundra, the ground covered in hardy shrubs and wildflowers. The air grew thinner and cooler as they gained elevation, and the views opened up to reveal the distant peaks of the Never Summer Range, their jagged silhouettes stark against the sky.

“This is where it gets interesting,” the man said, his tone almost gleeful as they approached the final stretch before the campsite. “Not many people make it this far.”

They followed him up a steep incline, the trail barely visible among the rocks. As they climbed, the sky began to darken, the clear blue giving way to a thick layer of clouds that seemed to roll in from nowhere.

“We should hurry,” Ethan said, glancing at the sky. “Looks like a storm might be coming.”

But the man seemed unconcerned, leading them onward with an almost reckless determination. Finally, they reached Dutch Town, the backcountry campsite they had planned to stay at. The site was nestled in a small basin, surrounded by towering peaks that loomed like silent sentinels. The remnants of the old mining settlement were scattered around—a few crumbling foundations and rusted tools, evidence of a time long past.

“This is perfect,” Ethan said, setting down his pack. “Thanks for showing us this spot.”

The man smiled, but there was something in his eyes that made Sarah’s heart race—a look of satisfaction, as if he had led them exactly where he wanted them to go.

“I’ll leave you two to settle in,” the man said, his voice carrying a strange finality. “But I’ll be around if you need anything.”

Before they could respond, he turned and walked into the forest, his figure quickly disappearing among the trees.

Ethan watched him go, then turned to Sarah. “Strange guy, but he knows his stuff.”

“Yeah,” Sarah agreed, though her unease had turned into a knot of fear in her stomach. “I’m not sure I trust him.”

Ethan shrugged, already setting up the tent. “He seemed harmless enough. Probably just one of those guys who spends too much time alone in the mountains.”

Sarah nodded, but as she helped Ethan with the tent, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was very wrong. The forest around them felt too quiet, too still, as if the mountains themselves were holding their breath.

As night fell and they prepared to settle in, Sarah’s unease grew stronger. The wind picked up, rustling the leaves in a way that sounded almost like whispers, and the darkness seemed to press in on them from all sides.

“Do you think he’ll come back?” Sarah asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“I doubt it,” Ethan said, though he didn’t sound entirely convinced. “He’s probably just wandering around, enjoying the night.”

But as the hours passed and the night deepened, the sense of dread that had been building all day became impossible to ignore. The wind howled through the trees, and strange noises echoed in the distance—footsteps, branches snapping, and what sounded like low, murmured voices.

Sarah lay awake, listening to the sounds outside, her heart pounding in her chest. She didn’t know how much time had passed, but she suddenly heard a familiar voice—soft, almost friendly—calling from the darkness.

“Is everything alright?”

It was the man, his voice drifting through the trees like a ghostly echo. Sarah sat up, her breath catching in her throat. She could see nothing outside the tent, just the inky blackness of the forest, but she knew he was out there, watching.

“Ethan,” she whispered urgently, shaking him awake. “He’s back.”

Ethan sat up groggily, rubbing his eyes. “What? Who?”

“The man,” Sarah said, her voice trembling. “He’s outside.”

Ethan frowned, grabbing the flashlight and unzipping the tent flap. He shone the light into the forest, but there was nothing there—just the trees swaying in the wind.

“Hello?” Ethan called out, but there was no response. The only sound was the rustling of the leaves.

“See? There’s no one there,” Ethan said, trying to sound reassuring, though his own unease was growing. “It was probably just the wind.”

But Sarah wasn’t convinced. She lay back down, pulling the sleeping bag tighter around her, but sleep wouldn’t come. The man’s voice echoed in her mind, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that he was still out there, watching, waiting for the right moment to return.

As the night wore on, the sense of dread grew stronger, and the wind outside seemed to carry whispers—soft, unintelligible words that sent shivers down her spine. She tried to ignore them, telling herself it was just her imagination, but deep down, she knew that something was terribly wrong.

And then, just as she was beginning to drift off, she heard it again—the man’s voice, closer this time, almost inside the tent.

“Is everything alright?”

Sarah bolted upright, her heart pounding. She shook Ethan awake again, but before he could respond, a sudden gust of wind tore through the campsite, shaking the tent violently. The sound of footsteps echoed outside, circling them, growing louder and more frantic.

“What the hell?” Ethan whispered, grabbing the flashlight again. But before he could turn it on, the tent suddenly collapsed, the fabric pressing down on them as if an invisible force was trying to trap them inside.

Panic surged through Sarah as she struggled to free herself from the collapsed tent. The wind howled around them, and the sound of footsteps grew louder, more insistent, as if someone—or something—was closing in on them.

“Get out! We need to get out!” Ethan shouted, tearing at the tent’s fabric. They finally burst free, stumbling into the night air, only to be met with an eerie silence.

The wind had stopped, the footsteps were gone, and the forest was still once more. The only sound was the frantic beating of their hearts.

But as they stood there, catching their breath, they both knew the truth—the man was no ordinary hiker. He was something else, something that didn’t belong in this world.

And he wasn’t finished with them yet.


Read Part 2 Phantom in the Fog: A Night of Terror in the Never Summer Mountains:

Ethan and Sarah’s nightmare deepens as the phantom hiker returns, revealing sinister intentions. With the fog closing in and their escape uncertain, they must confront the haunting figure or risk becoming lost forever.


What to Read Next:

Echoes in the Indian Peaks: A Haunting Start to a Colorado Wilderness Thriller

Best Mountaineering Boots of 2024: A Comprehensive Guid

Descent into Fear: Part 2 of the Indian Peaks Wilderness Thriller