Big Cat encounters

In the summer of 2018, my friends and I decided to go on a camping trip in the Rocky Mountains, near Estes Park, Colorado. We were a group of experienced hikers and campers, eager to spend a few days in the wild, away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

On our second day, we ventured out for a day hike to a remote area known for its stunning views and wildlife. The trail was challenging but rewarding, with breathtaking vistas and the occasional sighting of deer and birds. We were about five miles into the hike when we decided to take a break and have lunch near a small, picturesque stream.

As we were eating and chatting, I felt an odd sensation, as if we were being watched. I looked around but saw nothing unusual. I shrugged it off, thinking it was just my imagination. After lunch, we…

It was the winter of 2018, deep in the Russian Far East, near the Sikhote-Alin mountain range. I was part of a small team of researchers studying the elusive Siberian tiger. The weather was brutal, with temperatures often dropping well below freezing, but the beauty of the snowy landscape made it worth the hardship.

One day, we set out early to track a tiger we had been following for weeks. The snow was fresh, and the tracks were clear. We followed them cautiously, knowing that Siberian tigers are known to be elusive and incredibly stealthy. As the day went on, we noticed the tracks becoming fresher and more frequent.

We were about 10 miles from our base camp when we first noticed something was off. The forest had gone eerily silent, and the sense of being watched was overwhelming. My colleague, Ivan, whispered that he saw movement in the trees…