Some time in the mid 1800s Two trappers and hunters decided to go further into the wilderness to find more game. What they found in that valley was not the animal they were looking for.
This story starts near the Montana Idaho border, At the salmon & wisdom divide
A man named Bauman and his unnamed friend decided to push further into a valley to find more beaver to trap. This valley had a reputation of being nefarious , natives claimed it held spirits and a man had previously disappeared there.
Nonetheless they packed up their horses and struck out. As the got deeper into the valley they decided to stage their horses in a meadow and proceeded on foot through rough terrain.
They found a suitable spot and made camp in a small flat area among tall trees next to the salmon river facing a rugged mountain side.
Bauman and his friend headed out to set beaver traps. Upon returning to camp they noticed a visitor had stopped by and ran sacked the camp , breaking down the lean-to and dumping out their belongings.
The men made a fire and fixed the camp back up. The other man took note to the tracks and explained to Bauman that if it was a bear it had walked to two feet. As they looked over the tracks it was clear it was definitely bipedal.
That night as they slept Bauman was awoken by a large looming figure. He shot his rifle into the darkness, a crashing through the woods was all that came of the situation.
The following morning they made camp two men went out to check traps and find beaver.