Overview of the Encounter

Dana Jaalen, a 40-year-old refrigeration mechanic from Kodiak, recounts a significant encounter with a creature known as the 'hairy man' while hunting on Eelin Island.

Date: unknown

Year: 1979

Location: Eelin Island, Alaska

Land Managed By: Federal

Nearest Town: Ketan

County: Kodiak Island

State: Alaska

Nearest Landmark: Inlet near Alpine Meadow

Witness Accounts

On an eerily quiet morning in the remote wilderness of Eelin Island, Alaska, Dana Jaalen, who was then a hunter, embarked on what he thought would be an ordinary deer hunt in late fall 1979. Jaalen and his hunting partner anchored their boat near an inlet, preparing to harvest deer as daylight began to fade. His partner, however, felt uneasy about their precarious anchorage and the uncertain weather, choosing to remain on the boat, while Dana proceeded alone into the wilderness. Dana Jaalen climbed to an elevation of approximately 700 feet above the inlet and settled down for the night in an outcropping, hoping to rise early to hunt. As the night progressed, he faced an unrelenting cold that made it difficult to sleep. Just past 1:00 a.m., without warning, something remarkable occurred: his sleeping bag was ripped from beneath him with an incredible force, sending him airborne before crashing onto the hard ground. Dazed, Dana initially wondered if his partner had spotted a deer, but something in his gut felt wrong. The forest, once peaceful, became suffocatingly silent. Pulling on his boots and armed with his rifle, he cautiously peered over the edge of the outcropping. To his shock, he discovered enormous footprints in the fresh snow—far larger than his own size 10 boots—leading up the hill toward the meadow. Jaalen noted the tracks were unmistakably those of bare feet, measuring nearly double his foot size, and suggested that something massive had traversed the area. Confounded, he attempted to rationalize the situation, dismissing it as an elaborate prank. However, unease settled in as he followed the tracks up the trail, his heart racing with every step. As he progressed, an eerie whisper resonated in his mind: "leave us alone." The message was clear, as if spoken aloud, though he was alone in the wilderness. When he looked up, he was confronted with a sight that would haunt him forever. A creature stood just 15 feet away—massive, at least 9.5 feet tall, covered in long, silky hair. One arm rested on a low-hanging branch, while the other was placed on its hip. The figure stood upright, resembling a man but with distinctly inhuman features. Its dark eyes glimmered in the faint moonlight, and its face, partially obscured, appeared leathery and primal. For a moment, they locked eyes, and the creature bared its teeth—not in a snarl, but in a knowing smile. Though it didn’t verbally communicate, the message resonated profoundly in Dana's mind: "leave us alone." Then, in an instant, the creature turned and disappeared into the depths of the forest, moving with a grace that belied its size. Paralyzed with disbelief and fear, Dana stood frozen, rifle in hand, struggling to comprehend what he had just encountered. He bolted down the hill, rushing through the snow in a desperate bid to escape. Upon returning to the beach, he found his partner waiting, wide-eyed and confused at Dana's frantic descent. The next morning, after the terror of the night had somewhat subsided, the two men retraced Dana's steps up the hillside. The massive footprints remained imprinted in the snow—17 inches long and 5 to 6 inches wide—indicating whatever had made them weighed between 600 and 800 pounds. The hemlock branch the creature had grasped was nearly 10 feet above the ground, further emphasizing its immense size. Dana's partner, now a witness to the undeniable evidence, recognized they had no business being in that part of the forest. This profound encounter left an indelible mark on Dana Jaalen. For the next five years, while trapping in the area, he became increasingly convinced that the hairy man was observing him, making it clear that he was unwelcome in its domain. Additional incidents further reinforced his belief. After setting traps for mink, Dana returned to find the traps mysteriously sprung. When he reset them, he discovered that one contained a stick—a deliberate, mocking gesture. On another occasion, after splitting cedar for a storage shed, his normally fearless dog, Henry, exhibited extreme distress, crawling back toward their skiff and refusing to leave. When Dana eventually returned, he found the giant cedar he had been working on had been moved into the water, as if to erase his work, a final sign that could not be overlooked. Ultimately, the weight of these experiences compelled Dana to leave the area for good, never to return to disturb whatever dwelled in those woods. To this day, he remains convinced of the reality of what he encountered. The haunting message from the hairy man—"leave us alone"—continues to echo in his mind, a constant reminder of his brush with the unknown in the Alaskan wilderness.

Source

YouTube

Note: Information above was collected and summarized by A.I. Dates, name and location could be inaccurate or wrong.