On the afternoon of October 25, 1974, Carl Higdon, a 41-year-old oil well driller, decided to go elk hunting in the Medicine Bow National Forest, located in Carbon County, Wyoming. Higdon was an experienced hunter, well-acquainted with the area and its wildlife. That day, he was seeking to bag an elk to bring home to his family.
The Sighting
At around 4:00 PM, Higdon was driving his truck along a remote road in the forest when he spotted a group of five elk grazing in a clearing. He parked his truck, grabbed his rifle, and approached the elk cautiously. As he aimed his rifle and fired, he was stunned to see the bullet travel only a short distance before falling to the ground as if it had hit an invisible barrier. Confused and alarmed, Higdon approached the spot where the bullet had fallen.
The Encounter with "Ausso"
As Higdon looked around, he noticed a strange figure standing nearby. The figure was about 6'2" tall and dressed in a black, tight-fitting suit with a belt that had a six-pointed star on the buckle and a yellow emblem below it. The figure had an unusual appearance, with a slanted head, no chin, and thin hair that stood straight up. The figure’s arms ended in small appendages rather than hands.
The humanoid, who later identified himself as "Ausso," engaged in a brief conversation with Higdon. Ausso asked Higdon if he was hungry. When Higdon replied affirmatively, Ausso tossed him four pills, instructing him to take one. Without much hesitation, Higdon swallowed one of the pills, which he later claimed left him feeling strangely calm and unafraid.
The Transportation
According to Higdon, Ausso then pointed an appendage at him, and in an instant, Higdon found himself inside a transparent, cubicle-like structure along with Ausso. This cubicle was described as being small and enclosed, yet Higdon could see outside through its transparent walls. The experience was disorienting, and Higdon felt a sense of weightlessness as if he were floating.
The Journey
Higdon reported that the cubicle lifted off the ground and traveled at a high speed. He estimated the journey lasted for several minutes, though he could not determine the exact duration due to the disorienting nature of the experience. During the journey, Higdon observed various landscapes passing by, including forests and mountains, though the speed and transparency of the cubicle made it difficult to discern details.
Arrival at the Destination
The cubicle eventually landed in a clearing, and Higdon found himself in a landscape that was unlike any he had ever seen. The ground was covered in a strange, metallic-looking grass, and the sky had an unusual, greenish hue. Higdon described seeing several other cubicles in the vicinity, as well as structures that resembled large, metallic pyramids.
Further Encounters
Higdon claimed that he was taken inside one of the pyramids, where he encountered other humanoid figures similar to Ausso. These figures conducted various examinations on him, though Higdon’s recollections of this part of the encounter were hazy and fragmented. He later described feeling a sense of calm and detachment during the examinations, as if he were in a dream-like state.
Return to Earth
After the examinations, Higdon reported that he was transported back to the Medicine Bow National Forest in the same transparent cubicle. The return journey was equally disorienting, and Higdon found himself back in the clearing where he had first encountered the elk. The entire experience, from start to finish, had lasted several hours, though Higdon could not account for the exact amount of time.
Investigation and Evidence
Following his return, Higdon was found by search parties who had been looking for him after he failed to return home. He was in a dazed and disoriented state, and his truck was discovered several miles away from where he had been hunting. Higdon’s account of the encounter was met with skepticism by some, but he maintained his story consistently over the years.
Dr. R. Leo Sprinkle, a psychologist and UFO researcher, conducted interviews with Higdon and his family. Hypnotic regression techniques were used to uncover more details about the encounter, but the results were inconclusive. Dr. Sprinkle found Higdon to be a credible witness and believed that he had experienced something extraordinary.
Physical Evidence
One of the most intriguing aspects of Higdon’s story was the physical evidence he presented. The bullet he had fired at the elk was found to be severely deformed, as if it had struck a hard, invisible surface. Additionally, Higdon underwent medical examinations that revealed he had no recent food in his stomach, despite his claim that he had not eaten for several hours. This supported his assertion that the pill Ausso had given him had provided sustenance.
Public and Media Reaction
The Carl Higdon UFO sighting attracted significant media attention, both locally and nationally. The unusual nature of the encounter, combined with Higdon’s credible reputation as a hunter and family man, contributed to the widespread interest in the case. The media coverage included interviews with Higdon, his family, and Dr. Sprinkle, as well as articles in newspapers and magazines.
The case was also featured in the television series "In Search Of...," which explored various unexplained phenomena. The episode on Higdon’s encounter presented his story in detail and included interviews with those involved in the investigation.
Several hours
Discussion Board
Please login to join the discussion.
No comments yet. Be the first to start the discussion!