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This Mini Monster episode takes us to the country of Austria, and the year 1709. It's the night before Christmas in a forgotten valley high in the mountains of Carinthia. It's a black, cold night. And we're about to learn about the creature that haunts the castle halls, bringing to the naughty boys and girls a fate much worse than coal in their stocking.

We're sure you’ve all heard of the Sasquatch. Possibly the best-known legendary creature of all time, with entire groups dedicated to finding it. There have even been scientists who have dedicated their life to proving that Bigfoot does indeed walk this earth. And in this bonus episode, we're handing the mic to Harvest Moon. Harvest Moon is a Quinault native elder, a renowned storyteller and an honored historian. Her stories evoke the vivid spirituality and moral lessons of a rich culture, while allowing listeners to experience the heartfelt tales of a traditional storyteller.But why are we doing this extra special bonus Sasquatch episode now? It's in celebration of the film The Dark Divide, which is the first full length film from REI Co-op Studios. It’s based on Robert Pyle’s book, Where Bigfoot Walks: Crossing the Dark Divide. The film stars David Cross and Debra Messing, and is a story of adventure, grief and the healing power of nature, with a healthy dash of Sasquatch thrown in. You can rent or buy The Dark Divide now on Amazon, Apple TV, Google Play and On Demand everywhere. To learn more about the movie visit darkdividefilm.com.

Down along the coast of South Carolina, the people of the Sea Islands have a name for that dream that some of them have.  They call it the “Boo,” and it’s been around for a very long time.  As long as anyone can remember.  And the strange thing is that, just in this area, in the Sea Islands, the descriptions of the Boo are so consistent, even from people who have never heard of this dream-creature before.  If it is a dream.  But if it is a dream, no one has it for very long.  They get rid of it, or… or the other way around.  Season sponsor:YETI

What is the Hidebehind supposed to be?  Just what it sounds like: a creature you never see directly, that always ducks back behind the nearest tree or rock when you turn to look at it.  It sounds harmless enough, but so does any nightmare once you’re awake.  And there are places where it can be a bit harder to awaken.  Places where dreams come closer to reality.  Places like the forests of the Pacific Northwest where the idea that something may be just behind that tree, watching you, drawing back when you turn your head to look, seems a bit too plausible.Go ahead.  Take a quick look over your shoulder.  There’s nothing there, of course.  But then, the Hidebehind wouldn’t be there for you to see, would it?Season sponsor:YETISeason artwork by Tyler Grobowsky. 

Bring a flashlight.  Or a headlamp, if you have one.  Bring a sweater, no matter what the weather is like outside.  The further we go, the cooler and darker it will get.  Bring boots too, the higher the better.  The walls and ceilings drip and ooze, the floors are wet with muck.  Down there, under the city.  Down in that... wilderness?  Well, it may be uncultivated and inhospitable, but it certainly is inhabited.  What inhabits it depends on how deep you go.  In this episode we’ll go as deep as we can.  Deeper than perhaps we should.

You’re out swimming when you feel a pinch on your leg. Is it a harmless fish or something a bit more sinister? Meet this week’s Camp Monster… The Letiche. A creature that lurks in the swamps and bayous of Louisiana. Season sponsor:YETISeason artwork by Tyler Grobowsky. 

In this episode we’re going out right to the very edge of the firelight, watching and listening.  We’ll go out where others swear they’ve seen something, heard something … something ancient, large, and threatening. Something from those dark old times when someone around the fire always had to stay awake, to keep watch.  It’s your turn.  So stay awake.  Keep your eyes open.  Stare into the night and listen for what you think you might have heard out there … in the darkness.Series sponsor:Yeti 

If you’re looking for a beautiful sunset, go to the Mogollon Rim in Arizona.  They call it the Rim because that’s what it is: the rim of the giant Colorado plateau, where it drops off into the pine forest lowlands below.  Most of the Rim is National Forest, so you can drive or hike or bike or even ride horseback to countless viewpoints where you can watch the descending sun turn everything a glowing red. But you know this episode isn’t about beautiful sunsets.  It’s about what has sometimes been seen along the Mogollon Rim after sunset. When it gets dark out. When the shadows start to lengthen and take on shapes ...People call it the Mogollon Monster, a Bigfoot like creature sneaking around in the wilderness out there.  But those who have seen it, they don’t like to describe it at all.  Because describing it takes them back out into the dark desert night, into an all-surrounding darkness ... a darkness that suddenly reaches out to grab them.Season sponsor:YetiSeries artwork by Tyler Grobowsky. 

You've probably heard the fairy tale about the troll under the bridge, but have you heard of the creature at Owl Creek? This monster is rumored to haunt an abandoned train track in the Kentucky wilderness. Series sponsor:YetiArtwork by Tyler Grobowsky. 

There are certain places around the country where you can never feel sure. The central coast of California is one of those places — a desolate, rugged, beautiful area where there have long been whispers about something haunting the cliffs. An outline, a figure, watching you from above. A creature you can’t identify… but know you don’t want to meet.

This season we'll go to the coast of the Carolinas and the cliff edges of California. From underground creatures lurking beneath New York City to a monster that sneaks up on you while you're fast asleep... it's a lineup you won't forget. Gather 'round the fire for the newest season of the Camp Monsters podcast, coming to your ears September 9th. This season's monster artwork was done by the talented Tyler Grobowsky. You can find his work on Instagram at @g_r_o_b_o. Season sponsor:Yeti 

We’re very excited to announce that YETI, known for their ridiculously strong and durable coolers, bottles, bags, chairs, and other much-needed outdoor gear, is this season’s sponsor.  To welcome YETI to our campfire, we naturally asked if they’d heard of any monsters prowling around their hometown of Austin, Texas.  They told us this story of a close encounter with a creature you’ve probably heard rumors about.  A nocturnal monster known to pick off livestock in a very vampiric way.  Do we believe the story?  Well, listen for yourself: do you?  Learn more about YETI. 

This month we are traveling to Europe, to tell the story of a creature that has haunted that continent for centuries.  Nowadays it is the stuff of legend, the kind of thing you see on old coats-of-arms or hear about in the colorful tales of local folklore.  But the further you go into the more remote, forgotten corners of the European countryside, the darker and more forceful the folklore gets. The harsher the stories, the starker the warnings.  Until the history of this most deadly of creatures begins to seem more immediate than history should be.  And you begin to wonder whether there is some fatal truth to the old tales… some hidden secret, surviving from times long past.Sources:Smithsonian MagazineFandomWikipedia 

Summer is right around the corner which means it’s time for campfires, s’mores and spooky tales. Even if it’s just in your own backyard, there’s something very special about gathering around the fire to tell stories late into the night. And while our second season of Camp Monsters is still a couple of months away, we figured now was a good time to re-share the episode that started it all — The Batsquatch. This creature, born out of the explosion of Mt. Saint Helens 40 years ago, was known to roam the area called the dead zone.  Gather round and kick off your summer with season one of Camp Monsters. There are eight episodes that’ll keep you entertained long into the night with our new season coming to your ears in early September. You can find all of season one anywhere you listen to podcasts or at rei.com/camp-monsters. 

This month, we’re doing something a bit different. Our friends over at West Elm—you know, the ones with all the great furniture and home decor—reached out and asked us if we could find out more about a creature that washed up near their corporate headquarters in Brooklyn a few years ago. We did some digging and found enough to write about, and enough to make you a little nervous the next time you hear something scurry in the dark.Sources:Brooklyn Bridge Monster May Be Distant Relative of Long Island Montauk MonsterWhat The Heck is the Terrifying Creature Found Under the Brooklyn Bridge?Manhattan Monster

One of Camp Monsters biggest fan, a 4.5-year-old named Albie, was given the opportunity to record his version of season one's Batsquatch, a creature that was born from the ashes of the Mt. St. Helens explosion. While somewhat unintelligible, this version of a Camp Monsters classic is guaranteed to make you smile. Want more spooky stories that are a little easier to understand, albeit nowhere near as cute? Check out season one of Camp Monsters.

Deep in the wilds of Zambia, Tanzania, and Congo, there are stories of a creature that exists beyond the furthest bounds of known science. First-person accounts trickle out of something fearsome, something prehistoric, that calls the skies over the rivers and swamps home. It must just be a local legend, a case of mistaken identity. Or is it? Sources:Genesis ParkOccultopedia Wikipedia - Kongamato

We're back! Well sort of. Because we know monsters are an all year interest, we're bringing you our mini-monster series; a new story every month that'll keep you spooked until our new full-length season launches in September. This month's monster is something that calls the Scottish Highlands home. Something that makes a lonesome mountain in the mist of Scotland feel all the more ominous. Do you hear those footsteps behind you? 

There are more than just birds and shadows in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. For centuries, legends have told of a cursed, winged creature that haunts the Barrens by night, terrifying visitors and residents alike.

In the 1700s the United States was full of mysterious creatures that kept people wary of dark woods and unexplored territories. And for good reason. In the woods of the North East there were rumors about a mysterious creature that was haunting the local residents. Some people thought that the monster was created to warn children about the consequences of bad behavior... but others weren’t so sure.