Intrigue, Mystery & Strange Disappearances in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

#greatsmokymountainsnationalpark
#missinghikers
Hello everyone, In today's video I will be discussing the history and beginning of great Smoky Mountains National Park, as well as various Mysteries and strange disappearances in the park. Great Smoky Mountains National Park draws the most visitors of any of the 59 National parks.. roughly 12.5 million a year. For thousands of years, this region was occupied by successive cultures of indigenous peoples. The historic Cherokee had their homeland here, and occupied numerous towns in the river valleys on both sides of the Appalachian Mountains. Their first encounters with Europeans were as traders, mostly coming from colonial Virginia and the Carolinas. The park was chartered by the United States Congress in 1934, and officially dedicated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1940. The Great Smoky Mountains was the first national park having land and other costs paid in part with federal funds; previous parks were funded wholly with state money or private funds.
If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of Derek or Paul, Please contact the Park Service at: 865-436-1230
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[@whitehatproductions7085]

I grew up in Townsend, at the entrance of the Smokies. If you come to Tennessee, please respect Mother Earth. Pack out your own trash, don't leave on trails and in parking lots.

[@sherrycpa]

I love Townsend!

[@gwhite7136]

Think, "Mother Earth" might think you should mention those lost? After all, that is what this video is about. Perhaps you could put up some flyers or go yourself to the Cades Cove picnic area to make the visitors aware of littering, and maybe pick some up yourself while you there? Seems that would be a more appropriate place to go on a litter rant, yes? Respect the missing, be the change. 🙏

[@gwhite7136]

Lived here all my life as well and let's be real. There is more trash along the parkway next to the rivers and in the median in Townsend than what's seen on hiking trails. Remember, they see this before they ever get to the park.

[@davidtallent4230]

Towsned is by far my favorite entrance to the park, we were with a film crew, years back and I asked a waitress at apple valley what they did for fun and she told us about the Y. we went there that afternoon and she met the producer for the net geo who offered he a job, she politely refused,, she couldn't believe she was attractive enough to be on a tv show.... We ate at apple valley often the few months we were there when she got to see the actual RV that has National Geographic on the side of it she absolutely freaked out. The producer offered her a Jon once more.....she still refused. anyway, what a humble place the people there are amazing.

[@momamae23]

I love Townsend, I always enjoy my time there and clean up after myself and my family

[@shuvanidev]

I experienced something weird when I was solo hiking in the Smokies back in 1980? I think it was. I was going up a trail outside Gatlinburg, and for some reason I was the only person on that trail that day. I got up to a scenic lookout and suddenly a strange feeling came over me as though I was being watched though I looked all around and couldn't see or hear anything. All the hair on my body stood up, I felt the worst fear I've ever experienced and instead of continuing on the trail I bolted the couple miles back down to where I'd parked my car. I ran so fast and did not stop, I was completely and totally terrified and I've never had that kind of a reaction before in my life. I passed a few groups that were just starting up and I didn't say a thing to them and they probably wondered what the heck was with me, right? :) I did not feel "safe" until I had my car back on the road again. That experience was so terrifying that I have never hiked alone since.

[@littlejack6123]

I'm glad you allowed yourself to trust your intuition.

[@SuV33358]

Omg...must have been terrifying. And yes.... trust your gut.

[@mojomanmurph1925]

Trust your "gut" feelings. You aren't the first to experience this. It's a type of 7th sense we have but can't be explained.

[@marktwain368]

This is quite common among Bigfoot encounter reports.

[@shuvanidev]

@@marktwain368 I have heard that since. I've also heard that I shouldn't run but it was just a reflex. It was a good thing I was young at the time :)

[@janblackkat7607]

I like that you try and pick cases that don't get as much attention as others do. They are all equally important. Thanks for all the effort you put into these cases. Great job. Many blessings to all. Be safe.

[@jeanburk9539]

Thankyou Brian. Love your voice, so soothing, the empathy you show, and good story telling talent. Always look forward to your valuable contributions. God bless. Oh yes, that 3 yr. old tbat ran into the woods chasing his dog has been found, Christopher Ramirez. A genuine miracle, a neighbor went looking for him and calling out, found him 3/4 of a mile from his house in thick woods.

[@Tina06019]

Another Brian’s Mysteries - just what I needed after an extremely difficult day. I like the introduction about the history of the park.

[@gnostic268]

I remember the first lady who went missing and died of hypothermia. Her daughter has a YT channel and she posted about her mother going missing.Very sad. 💔

[@anotherdayinthislife]

Aw, The Great Smoky Mountains was me and my grandmom’s absolute favorite place, we would drive there from Charleston like once every few months…gem mining, hiking, enjoying their lovely cabins, rafting down rivers, visiting the beautiful waterfalls like Bridal Veil…and my Grandmom also was obsessed with fireflies, we would always buy her firefly stuff 😌 sweet memories, thank you for this…I need to go back there ASAP 🙋🏻‍♀️

[@beth6252]

Love your story! Precious!

[@willfullaltruist6223]

Heals the soul

[@mutmutt8294]

Go now the leaves are going to be at max colors and the apple shops on the side roads will over fill your bags with overflow..and don't forget the honey and molasses YUM 😋

[@ByGraceIGo]

Funny I just posted at the top that when I lived in Charleston I used to drive out there with my then husband to Cataloochee and we would camp in that campground. We actually lived in North Charleston and it took us about two and a half hours to get out there.

[@richardmoorer2668]

I live in Charleston too.

[@elizabethbrown8833]

So much fab area info , really interesting . 🦋🐛☺️

[@jaredblanke2168]

Very few suicidal people appear suicidal. Families rarely know what’s going on inside

[@johnnydrummerboy3757]

I’m close to 300 trail miles covered of backpacking in the smokies and can say with certainty it’s an intense and spiritual place to be in, one of the most remote places left in the entire USA. One time at the end of a solo 4 day trip I was making camp after a hard day at jacobs creek campsite and became alert to something eerie and a feeling of something watching me. I took an hour nap from 5:30-6:30 and awoke with the immediate feeling that I absolutely needed to pack up and get out and reach out to my family. I had roughly 3.5-4 miles out which I had intended on doing that morning but I packed up my stuff the fastest id ever packed, with the feeling that I was being watched the entire time. I ran the 3.5 out with the fast fading sun and my hair standing straight up the entire time. I came to find out a month or so later that others had reported eerie feelings in that area and that it was possible loggers or train workers had lost there lives in that very spot; interesting stuff! I love the smokies, they are magical.

[@rexluminus9867]

Interesting story.1. Legend has it that souls got trapped in an afterlife loop. Can't getaway from the area.Thus we can have this powerful gutt feeling of being watched. 2. There could of been a dead body near by.3.A possible stalker waiting for the right moment to strike. 4.Big foot or a mountain lion. Often look up on trees where a couger could be ready to jump on you braking your neck or back!!! This is very important in some couger inhibited areas. 5.Very rare & unknown to most of you good people is you could get sick on the spot.So by avoiding it ASAP saved yourself from trouble. 6.Dog man? In some European countries still exist.7. Well, this is also a real bad one when you're very close to a so called porthole. Our 6th & or the 7th sense kicks in!☝️ Once you're in it and you scream for help or shout no one can hear you. You can see the " outside " people or surroundings but they can't hear or see you anymore. A few persons got back out of this forcefield.Often meeting other people & creatures in this dead zone.If you have a very strong will & mind you can jump back out. Some can never get back from this phenomenon. They'll be gone for good. Not many first ✋ reports on it. Your surroundings beings with a slow transformation of your perceptions.Can be a few just have to be aware of it. Those can be audotorial,certain smells,sounds,visuals,emotional..etc perceptions. Warnings of an upcuming event. When sensing it than disappear from this zone. But to which direction? Your eyes & other senses will give you the clues. Try to be with somebody at all times within a visible short distance. Visible☝️⚡⚡Be safe out there.

[@andyrob3259]

@@rexluminus9867 why is it only Americans that have this mass psychosis?

[@jimwalker4984]

​@@rexluminus9867 Scott Carpenter on KZbin accidentally videoed a portal forming on the trail behind him you should check it out

[@Veldtian1]

Magical like Mirkwood.

[@stephaniesmith5974]

Ty I love your channel and learn so much about our national parks.

[@juliedurham1831]

I went to see the synchronized lightning bugs in 2018...It was awesome..never seen anything like that before

[@ladyagresa]

It is better to hear about cases that are not so well known than to hear the same ones over and over again. Thank you, you have a great channel. 😊

[@mutmutt8294]

Going this week for my birthday like I do every year. Always be careful. There is always mystery in them mountains. Had a weird experience 2 years ago while panning, something spooked me made my hair stand up. Left my pan and gear and backed out watching the woods I had my AR and still didn't fell secure and foolishly I didn't tell anyone where I was going..that wont happen again.

[@PotooBurd]

This is so informative!!! Fantastic reporting!🌻🌼🐝

[@catsanctuary17]

Your videos and style are much appreciated. I would love to hear about all cases, regardless of whether another channel has done them. I disagree with the channels that sensationalize and cause people to be frightened to enjoy the beautiful world. Your videos, grounded in reality, with history and safety tips, done with empathy. are perfect. And love the cameos of your kitty :).

[@berthaford2152]

Oh boy, I’m so excited to see a new video from you. Thank you. Loving all the info and pictures of our beautiful parks.

[@nae_folk810]

Great episode, I'm really digging the longer form videos. Love hearkng.

[@Miss_Fancyness]

Every hiker should also carry some flares

[@missmodern]

And pepper spray and taser and monkey fist!!!

[@randy4768]

And start a forest fire!! Many parks do not allow them as well as fireworks.

[@janefromthecountry1820]

Bear spray would be my first thing to pack on a hike thru The Smokies

[@alee6614]

Hey I really appreciate your stories and insight keep it up !

[@prarieborn6458]

Dear Bryan, I am writing from 2023. I saw a you tube “short” today about the Susan Clemens disappearance. it was designed to drive viewers to the poster’s web site.for the story. Kind of click bait. I recalled that you had done a story about her. it was good to view the other Smokey Mountain stories of missing hikers. Sadly the two men are still missing after years. i hope that someday, they may be found, for the sake of their families. Thank you Bryan for your excellent work. ❤

[@greywindLOSP]

One thing to pack & keep with you at all times a level out look and a sense of humor! Well done sir......ATB

[@laurasalo6160]

The first case, about the woman who went missing in the Smoky Mountains, her daughter (not the one who was with her) make a couple of really intimate videos about her experience learning her mother was missing and then how she felt during the search and when her mother was tragically found passed away. I really recommend checking it out. It helps us all understand what it is like to lose a loved one in such a traumatic way. Elizabeth Clem is her name and her channel name as well.

[@toebeans6568]

I watched all of them years ago and my heart was breaking for her. I can't imagine the fear and loss she had to go through also her little sister who was on the trail with the mom. I 100% agree everyone should check those videos out to see how quickly one can get lost out there. Every time I hear someone talk about Clingmans Dome I feel sad because I think of that family 😪

[@eileenlester4342]

Prayers for Derick and Paul to be found soon. 🙏 💜🙏

[@marktwain368]

Your prayers are heard by the Almighty and will attract His blessings to those for whom you pray and to yourself. Bless you.

[@_i_am_unceded]

⭐ HONOR AND RESPECT⭐ WOPILA KOLA, thank you friend. Blessings and Butterflies 🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋 thank you for loving our indigenous people The most beautiful country. To have lived in these smoking mountains before the European invasion, to hopefully live in after the European return to their homelands. Nahahci Le Okunpi we are still here

[@heathernikki5734]

Thank you for not talking about Dennis Martin, I hate what happened but it's been done a million times

[@TomHoffman-uw7pf]

Not to mention Polly Melton and Trenny Gibson. I know those cases by heart. Polly's case, to me, was the most bizarre.

[@elizabethebbighausen9341]

Prediction for my future: going broke on Bryan's Mysteries & Adventures on Trail merch... 😁💜💜💜💜 So far I'm in on all 3! Bryan, you're a machine! The pace at which you've been cranking out amazing videos with thoughtful commentary and remarkable respect and compassion, as always, is awe inspiring. Thank you for all your hard work. Hope you are continuing to heal well. It's not but a few short months til next hiking season! 😉🧗🏻‍♂️

[@pame.1211]

I love The Great Smoky Mountains! Was just back over the summer and I went as a child. It's so beautiful! But I've never been on the trails. My thoughts and prayers go out to all the families concerned❤️🙏🙏🙏

[@starfire1146]

Thank you for the great content, Brian! I appreciate you doing the lesser known cases.

[@SuV33358]

I just subbed. I'm fascinated by tales of mysteriously missing people. And my youngest son is named " Bryan with a y"..... so your name caught my eye. I like your story telling voice too. Very relaxing ☺️ (However, I don't mean to sound disrespectful to the families who've lost someone. I can't even begin to imagine how hard that must be.)

[@lesliemellott6642]

Your videos are fascinating with the pictures along with the information. I live in south carolina right near the north carolina Tennessee birder area and we love the smokey mountains! So beautiful there and the lightening bugs are a must see! I thank you for the pictures you show of the amazing land area even along with with tragedies of the missing people..I pray for their families🙏thank u again for these videos

[@terriseaton3049]

Beautiful photography with facts presented compassionately. Thank you for excellent vid.

[@hotmesshooker4748]

We call them “lightening” bugs lol

[@Suzanne1999]

So do we here in Pennsylvania.🕷🌟🕷🌟🌠

[@fabledfantasty7343]

Same in NJ.

[@armyvet8279]

Same in Indiana

[@cindyboard7816]

Same here in Kentucky.

[@cosmiqshy8941]

Same here. Grew up in SE TX.

[@JM-it2zo]

I love the great smoky mountains

[@brendar.8185]

Thank you for doing the smoky mountains. I lived in Pigeon Forge for 3 years and so have hiked a little over 100 miles of the trails there. I moved away in 2015 but still miss living there.

[@juliejackman2649]

The first story - Mrs Clements - I follow her daughter on Instagram and KZbin. She really went through some terrible times after her Mom's death including her and her Mom's landlord having thrown everything out of their house and evicted them (her) after hearing about the Mom's death. So she had no home to come home to after such a horrific experience of losing her Mom. She now has gotten married and started up her own business. So things have improved for her at least.

[@suenetteedwards5965]

That's just inhumane!! What's wrong with people these days??

[@reesedaniel5835]

@@suenetteedwards5965 Inhuman is more like it. Cluster Bees are everywhere. They are heartless, greedy, narcissistic monsters. All this type of behavior was prophesied in 2 Timothy 3:1-5

[@christwarrior8899]

@@reesedaniel5835 Fact's 👍🏽

[@HellyeahRook]

@@reesedaniel5835 I read cluster bees, as the bug at first and had no idea what you were referring to, then realized you meant Cluster B personality disorders haha

[@rebeccapratt3089]

Beautifully told, all my family came from that area,my grandmother used to say God made it land of plenty,NC,Tenn,Kent,thank you for precious memories

[@patriciariddle2997]

These were bizarre cases. I love the Smokies. When I went with a friend we had a map and compass. And it was very busy as we on part of the AT. I can't imagine getting lost. We were lucky.

[@mikeSGman]

Love it, keep it alive. Grew up there. Thanks for posting.

[@melt7891]

Thankyou for sharing overviews of the parks each video, very interesting.

[@Arty11]

Another great video with morality and class shown on these tragic events.🌙👍❤️🙏

[@Suzanne1999]

Maybe, for some unknown reason, she decided to take something for sleep and sat down to rest and take in the beauty but didn't realize how strong the pill was. I agree that it doesn't make the most sense, but that's the only thing I can think of, unless it was intentional. It sounds so trite, but you really never know what someone may be thinking deep inside. 💔

[@marktwain368]

It was reported she had injured her head and would have had severe pain I imagine--hence the painkillers. You are right--maybe she overdosed! Sad!

[@michelleduplooymalherbe2837]

WOW - HOW AMAZING, I CAME ACROSS YOUR CHANNEL BY ACCIDENT AND AM SO GLAD I DID. LIKED ESPECIALLY THE ONE ABOUT THE FIRE FLIES IT MUST BE ABOLUTELY FANTASTIC!!!!!

[@CreativeKids2023]

Great video Brian- Im a fan of your videos. You do a great job! Will you be updating the case with the family of 3 and their dog that passed away? And the Gabby Petito case?

[@MsOneironaut]

Fascinating video! I really like your merchandise idea. It would be nice to have an option to get the survival kit and blanket together for a slightly reduced price and also sell separately for those who don't want both. Keep up the great work Bryan, things really seem to be coming together for you. Stay blessed! 🙏

[@kendall5956]

We are both from Virginia, skyline Drive is my backyard and we call the fire flies ( lightning bugs) iI just thought it was pretty cool how you called them something different

[@shannonbaldus5458]

same here but had them in jacksonville florida when i was growing up.

[@space-date1742]

I live in the western NC mountains and we call them lightning bugs too

[@harlowjademermaid1882]

I'm from Philly, but my fam all live upstate PA, we all call them lightning bugs, as well.

[@lindasd7591]

Another excellent video, Bryan! Beautiful footage, loves seeing the fireflies. So sad for the ones who passed. Prayers for the bereaved loved ones. 🙏

[@nitaell]

Appreciate your efforts to raise awareness of these missing souls ❤

[@hilarriet1075]

Love your channel! Thanks for all your hard work ❤👍

[@snackman2005]

Another great video! I like your theory about a lot of these missing people being possible suicides. My wife and I live in Georga and have been visiting the Smokies for years. Back in the 90s we had a very strange incident happen. We were in Cades Cove. It's a scenic 13 mile loop you drive in a big circle. There are numerous old churches and cabins left from the people that lived there. We stopped at this one cabin and we were walking up the little path to the cabin. There were two older men in front of us and one was sitting on the ground holding his chest. I approached them and asked if they needed help. The man sitting asked for me to give him one of his nitro pills. I did and it seemed to help. I flagged down a car that happened to have a cell phone (again this was the 90s) they called in a helicopter and they flew him out. But the weird part was while we were waiting for the helicopter he said this was the second time this had happened to him in the park. And I was thinking to myself does he have a death wish to die in the park?

[@glengrieve544]

Great content as always Bryan Melbourne Australia 🎉❤🎉

[@glenndavis4452]

If you’ve ever been around hundreds or more fireflies at once, yep, it’s like magic going on.

[@twistoffate4791]

Love the cozy fleece blanket idea; love salamanders & think they're adorable; love fireflies & to see that spectacle you mentioned would be a worthy bucket list item. As for Derek, I have a nagging wonder if he wanted to throw searchers off of his true intention to disappear, but not while hiking. Paul's scenario, with him asking that park rep to wash his car, makes me wonder if there was evidence related to a crime he wanted washed off his car, but he himself did not want to be seen doing the washing. Perhaps these ideas are quite a stretch, but I wonder. Regarding Jenni, I wonder if the sleep aid was ever found in her car. Btw, thanks for the background on the park as well as the vintage black & white photos you ran with the story. I love vintage shots!

[@barbryll8596]

I thought he asked the park attendant to WATCH his car?

[@twistoffate4791]

@@barbryll8596 OH, dear.... Now I will have to watch the video again, lol. Now I'm not sure.

[@SUPERSS90]

Amazing I just found your show I love it..

[@kelliesharpe1067]

Susan Clements missed the turn because the sign isn’t all that visible on your way back up to the parking area of Clingmans. And thank you for not making this out to be something it wasn’t like David Paullides did. She just missed the turn and wasn’t wearing the right clothes for 6600ft...that’s all. He did the same thing with Dennis Martin and tried to make it something it wasn’t. For locals, Dennis isn’t a mystery. We all know what happened...he was abducted by a rotten person who followed the creek down from Spence Field into Cades Cove...around the campground...then out Lead Cove to West Prong where he dumped his body. His shoe tracks were found...little saddle oxfords. And many years later a guy found his bones but didn’t report them to police because he was up in Tremont hunting ginseng illegally. By the time he told he couldn’t take them back to Dennis’ remains. He couldn’t remember where he’d seen them. No aliens or time portals...no Bigfoot. It’s so wrong what David Paullides says about these people just to make a buck selling books.

[@margyb7469]

I totally agree.

[@reesedaniel5835]

I totally disagree. And I don't like D. Paulides either. Go to South Force 10 channel to find out what really happened from a local whose family was part of the search and recover efforts. You will have to look in his videos and go back about a year to find the ones on Dennis Martin.

[@margyb7469]

@@reesedaniel5835 So I went and checked his channel, and I found it really interesting, what he says make total sense. Can't wait for the evening time so I can binge watch his channel.

[@doubleslit9513]

As a newbie hiker, I can certainly understand missing a turn in trail. This is especially true if you’re hiking a trail alone that you had previously hiked w/a friend who was very familiar w/the trail and was always leading the way.

[@astardustparade]

I love listening to you. I’m a new subscriber 🥰

[@toddcalloway8726]

Bryan, you are Awesome! Thank you for i nformative and important videos. Very well made and best of wishes for you!

[@TNcatlover33]

Love my Smokies 🧡🤍! We are very proud of them here in Tennessee. I’m so glad to learn the history behind them, I never knew all that! It does astound me the number of people that mispronounce “Appalachian” and people from here get very ticked off by that just as a side note. I’ve been to clingman’s dome many times and even seeing it in pictures gives me the willies. I have no desire whatsoever to ever go near the forest. Too much creepy stuff goes on out there. I have missing 411 to think for that. If I ever get found in a forest , someone put me there cause no way would I go willingly on my own.

[@heathernikki5734]

I live in east TN in Newport and was born here and I say Appa-layshun. My brain will not pronounce it the other way

[@yoursotruly]

Apple chain?

[@johnnydrummerboy3757]

The forest won’t hurt you! I’ve done several hundred miles of backpacking in the smokies and can assure you the chances of being hurt by an animal are very very slim!

[@SerenaHe-z3k]

@Joe Dirté most people prefer live in oblivion.

[@flyonthewall8122]

Apple-at-cha...as in: Pronounce it wrong & I'll throw an apple atcha.

[@EdwinDueck]

Nice video. I heard a story year ago of a whi lived on a farm with his wife and kids. A winter storm came in and he wanted to go to the barn to check on the livestock. The barn was about 50 yards from the house. The storm started, blinding snow and high winds. They found him the next morning and 5 yards from the house frozen to death. If this is true, I dont know, but my mother told this to me, I do t think she would lie.

[@missshroom5512]

This one was fun! I learned a lot! Thanks Bryan

[@joshcandelario5548]

My new favorite channel!

[@frsantariga]

Your videos are very informative and well done. How's those calendars coming?

[@ByGraceIGo]

And those national parks people should never wander off alone they should always stay with someone. It's also Bigfoot Central there. Thank you for sharing!

[@kayagrace2482]

The fireflies are amazing. About 15 years ago, my husband and I took our kids to see them. They ( park service, I think) took us and quite a few other people out there on a shuttle bus. It wasn't completely dark when we got there, so people were just walking around, waiting for the fireflies to come out and do their thing. My middle son was about five at the time. He just...vanished. We are responsible parents, not under the influence of anything, and he was generally a well-behaved kid. Neither of us remembers exactly what happened. Within a minute, everyone else was helping us look for him. On our way to see if he might have gone back to the parking area, we found him calmly sitting with a park employee, just talking about the fireflies. He had no clue he was lost. It was the scariest five minutes of my life. My son is now 22 and doesn't even remember it. Despite everything, we enjoyed the fireflies tremendously. I've never seen fireflies do anything like that. It was like they were all choreographed somehow. At that time, we lived in Cherokee, NC, which is about 30 miles away, and we have always had normal fireflies that flash at random. It was a strange but breathtaking experience.

[@ashleyp287]

Vids are getting better and better

[@georgiaconti2691]

Meaning them no disrespect....but I'm not much into salamanders! However the Great Smoky Mountains are certainly beautiful. And, I certainly appreciate all these stories.!!

[@reneeellison6635]

Great story teller.

[@justinlance4174]

I have lived in the mountains/ Blueridge Parkway of North Carolina all my life. The mountains are so dark,thick,and brutally ruff you can be a mile off the road and never know it. I have experienced some strange phenomenon in the woods buy my self. If you visit stay smart, prepared, and safe/armed.

[@TomHoffman-uw7pf]

Don't let the rangers catch you with a firearm. One guy pulled two years in federal prison for that.

[@leighsmith4090]

The Smokies are a great place to visit. My favorite place to go and I am about 3 hours away. Comfy blankets are something I would purchase Bryan.

[@bellab9286]

I live near here and I once stepped off the trail just a few feet to follow a deer and I was so turned around I could not see the trail or my family who were on the trail at all, if it wasn't for the fact that I could follow their voice I could have been totally lost

[@Miss_Fancyness]

Do you do in-depth research on any cases? I Love these short stories that you put out about people missing in these areas but, I would love to hear more in-depth stories on occasion. Do you have a podcast? Love watching these, your so good at telling and relaying this stuff.. Just my thoughts 💭 Thank you for all you do. BTW.. I do think some type of blankets would be great Merch for hikers

[@janblackkat7607]

I would also enjoy more in depth and longer videos. I like to listen to them when I'm trying to go to sleep and will often skip over ones that are short so I don't have to keep looking for more every 15 minutes! Love your posts Brian no matter what, just something to think about. You do an awesome job!❤

[@Miss_Fancyness]

@@janblackkat7607 I Live his short ones as well but like you I can’t listen at bed time. I have to listen to them during the day while up and about. But love his stuff..

[@carries8748]

Thank you Bryan .. very interesting stories

[@sharoncooper922]

The bisare fact that comes up alot with missing hikers are "found in water"?? And many have some kind of sleep aid or tequilzer in the body? Just strange, very odd that most are found this way. Prayers and peace to all of these people and their families, friends.

[@truthseeker8615]

Yep it’s the water /wood spirits needing our life force and the high amounts of GHB is often found in their system , this is found naturally in small amounts in our bodies but when found the levels are through the roof! I believe it’s a nataural response to fear or what happens when your soul gets sucked out.

[@michaelwills1926]

This what Paulides talks about. This strangeness goes way back.

[@harlowjademermaid1882]

Large boulder fields are always nearby. Once ppl are realized to be missing & search efforts are underway, the weather will automatically without a doubt, get really, really bad. Like almost every single time. It is quite bizarre.

[@Julie-45]

Thank you Bryan! God be with these families! 🙏

[@brendar.8185]

There is a more in depth article about Jenny Bennett On blue ridge outdoors called the last stream: exploring the mysterious death of Jenny Bennett. She did a lot of off trail hiking and where she was found was not on the trail at Porters Creek but off trail there.

[@dawneipeldauer-awanderingn825]

Unfortunately jennys death was deemed a suicide - several factors negatively impacted her life - she was an avid off trail hiker like a Gisele according to people who knew her

[@heathernikki5734]

Yassss my neck of the woods!

[@lk8555]

Thank you Brian…..!

[@kurthartz9282]

I'm a new sub.and I highly recommend this channel if your looking for great narration? I would like to point out that too bad every channel is not as respectfull and clean as this . Well done and put together sir. God bless you. Don't allow time to forget about all the missing people . These stories are informative when it comes to learning about certain mountain locations and some of the most used nature trails can even produce problems for lone hikers, in my opinion you would think all of the hikers wouldn't travel these statewide trails especially being that they go on these hikes without arming themselves for protection because you never know what in the hell your going to run into out there. It's extra scary when you see some of these cases are unsolved especially when you see these guy's with years of experience in the outdoors go missing ? That's when you have to consider that just maybe foul play has a lot more to do with these disappearances than meets the eye, especially when the person that goes missing is in good physical condition and literally nobody to mess with without a gun at that, I also feel like mother nature also play's a big part especially when people go missing and nothing is ever found because we all know how mother nature cleans up after herself and then I see a case where they find no signs of animal predation however just because they don't find evidence of predation doesn't mean that they weren't attacked and possibly killed during their unfortunate situation??? I believe animal attacks are definitely part of the percentage of the missing?

[@kennethstarr5545]

Love the channel and great content.

[@gottago1052]

Your other story concerning the White Mountains in NH might want to pick up the book "Without Peril" I've hiked all 40 peaks in the Winter as well as the summer thank goodness never had any issues and yes I hike alone.

[@marktwain368]

Derek didn't go out there to kill himself I'm sure; why all his gear stayed in the car is a real mystery. We try to put ourselves in the place of these missing people and guess their mental state but I'm very much afraid there are other--more sinister or creepy--factors at play in these cases. The chilling statistics by CDC on suicides in national parks demonstrates this. Great work, Bryan, as ever! You speak for those who need a voice!

[@andyrob3259]

Of course. Can’t be something totally obvious. We find it better when we can blame something intangible.

[@BrainDamageComedy]

dereck's case strikes me as foul play. he had gear with him that is untouched. he was at a hotel - when ppl vanish from hotels its becoz someone did something to them - just coz the wilderness is there dont mean he got lost or such. the note could be a red herring. hope the police checked the backgrounds of the workers there and all who were staying and records of close residents....

[@BrainDamageComedy]

@@andyrob3259 why have all the survival gear with him if he was gonna take his own life? why leave his gear and go off into the wilderness without it? hotels are places where if a person goes missing there are others involved - most of the time.

[@TomHoffman-uw7pf]

He did not vanish from the Cherokee hotel. His car was discovered at Newfound Gap, at least 15 miles away.@@BrainDamageComedy

[@ke6264]

Off topic but you have a very soothing voice I fell alseep watching your videos

[@susieharman2539]

Creepy

[@therobinmasterstheory1636]

Thanks Bryan. :)

[@markwebster5749]

Really enjoy your vids excellent research and dedication fella 👍🇬🇧

[@brotherlittlefoot2216]

These are very sad and tragic stories,but it's also somewhat of a relief to not hear everything blamed on "Bigfoot".That seems to be a major cop out following some of these disappearances.I live just 20 miles from the Park,and there is faaaaar more wilderness area here than just the Park.There are large black bear,large wild boars,and I even saw a panther as it crossed the road in front of me along the Blue Ridge Parkway.There are also coyote,and they have threatened an old neighbor of mine in the past.He said he felt like they were stalking him...I'm a wildlife researcher and I spend a LOT of time in out on and in these mountains at night alone and seldom using a flashlight bc it scares off my subjects.I have to understand in detail the sounds of all animals in order to be able to identify each one,mostly without seeing them...If someone dies out here,it's typically human error which can be anything from not understanding and being under prepared for ever changing micro-climates,falls,getting lost in the woods,drinking unclean water from the rivers and falls,or not knowing how to deal w certain wild animals.Of course,there are some disappearances which could be (and have been) due to foul play by other humans.One piece of advice I would offer anyone visiting the area,which I learned from Survivorman Les Stroud,is to keep a harmonica with u at all times when out on the trails.A harmonica will keep most wild animals/predators away from you and can also alert others to your presence if you do get lost.

[@aazhie]

Thank you for sound advice. It's really frustrating when everything gets blamed on some magical, easy-out phenomenon that never has a scrap of proof. Nature is scary and monstrous, as well as amazing and awe inspiring enough that it feels super lazy to just blame Bigfoot. Besides... I was under the impression most believers thought Bigfoot was more gentle than murderous? XD

[@nancytestani1470]

I like that you do the more recent ones……just to know that that there are still very bizarre s cases continuing…ie. 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021…..

[@111CREWGO69ZEHZ]

The Rockefellers wow what a great family

[@marknewton6984]

Michael R. cannabilized in New Guinea 1961.

[@summerrain7956]

Hi Brian, love your videos❤️Your such a sweet soul😊God bless you for all you do🙏🏻

[@wendyalexander6705]

I'm almost 57, and I've lived in the beautiful mountains of NC, my entire life. I'm an avid hiker, and I always rely on a check list. Even for just a day hike, as I know firsthand, how important it is to be prepared. The weather, temperature, and hiking conditions, can change drastically, very quickly, so it's always better to be over prepared, than not prepared at all!!!

[@shannonericksen1291]

The fireflies are beautiful there. I have visited the smokies all my life. I’m 44 now😳 I’ve lived in states that surround them.

[@CarolinaMountainMysteries]

You describe my home so nicely. Thank you for that. I obviously don't live in the park, but I only live a few miles from it(NC side).

[@carabeingblue4016]

From Nashville here - you don't need a lottery system to see the fireflies! Just driving down 40W toward Nashville - it's the most stunning natural fireworks show you'll ever see. My favorite part of Spring here.

[@tima.478]

Pro Tip: If you're lost, before your cell phone battery dies, change your voicemail to an emergency S.O.S. including any and every bit of info you can to disclose your location. Anyone calling will know immediately that you are in need and know where to look!!!

[@whiteyfisk9769]

assuming you have service .....

[@aannddrryyaa]

Maybe, to shift from all the saddness, sometimes you can put out a Found, Safe Missing Hikers. It must be difficult and heartwrenching dealing in all these sad stories. Blessings to you

[@nancytestani1470]

Yes, that would be a great idea..

[@hughjunit2503]

If he was a fan of Bear Grylls, he should have stayed at a hotel!!!!

[@timothycontreras8424]

Ain't it the truth!😆

[@pamfeist5462]

Just because they determined it's suicide it doesn't mean it is.

[@marktwain368]

Good point, Pam! Suicide is hard to dismiss so it's a convenient cover for what may have been a much more complex situation...

[@nopawsclark4064]

Ok. Documented Brian. Very good info sir

[@Wootangtw]

Thanks buddy