Evan Mallory

This happened in the fall of 2021, somewhere between Max Patch and Hot Springs on the Appalachian Trail. I haven't told many people about it, partly because I still don't understand it myself, and partly because I know how insane it sounds. There were five of us. Me, Liam, Caroline, Josh, and Ray. We were all experienced hikers, not just weekend warriors.

This happened in the fall of 2021, somewhere between Max Patch and Hot Springs on the Appalachian Trail. I haven't told many people about it, partly because I still don't understand it myself, and partly because I know how insane it sounds. There were five of us. Me, Liam, Caroline, Josh, and Ray. We were all experienced hikers, not just weekend warriors.

We'd planned a 10-day section hike, aimed for early October to avoid the crowds and the worst of the bugs. No one brought GPS. We were trying to keep it old school. Paper maps, compasses, and instinct. We were about three days in when this happened.

We'd planned a 10-day section hike, aimed for early October to avoid the crowds and the worst of the bugs. No one brought GPS. We were trying to keep it old school. Paper maps, compasses, and instinct. We were about three days in when this happened.

we camped on a flat shelf just off the trail it had rained the night before so we expected a bit of morning mist what we woke up to was something else entirely the fog was thick but it wasn't moving it didn't roll or lift with the sun it just sat there still and dense like it was pinned in place I couldn't see more than 15, maybe 20 feet in any direction. No birds, no bugs, no wind.

we camped on a flat shelf just off the trail it had rained the night before so we expected a bit of morning mist what we woke up to was something else entirely the fog was thick but it wasn't moving it didn't roll or lift with the sun it just sat there still and dense like it was pinned in place I couldn't see more than 15, maybe 20 feet in any direction. No birds, no bugs, no wind.

Just the damp and the silence. Even when I called out to Liam, who was only 10 feet away, my voice sounded muffled, like we were talking through insulation. He was poking at the fire pit, trying to get a flame going. Caroline stood near the edge of camp, watching the trees like they might start moving. We all tried to play it cool. Mist happens, right? We packed up slow, hoping it would clear.

Just the damp and the silence. Even when I called out to Liam, who was only 10 feet away, my voice sounded muffled, like we were talking through insulation. He was poking at the fire pit, trying to get a flame going. Caroline stood near the edge of camp, watching the trees like they might start moving. We all tried to play it cool. Mist happens, right? We packed up slow, hoping it would clear.

That's when we heard it. Laughter. High-pitched. Definitely kids. At first just one giggle, then a few more, like a group playing tag just out of sight. We froze. I mean, we were deep in the woods, miles from any road or shelter. There shouldn't have been anyone else, let alone children. Ray said maybe it was a scout group. Josh shrugged.

That's when we heard it. Laughter. High-pitched. Definitely kids. At first just one giggle, then a few more, like a group playing tag just out of sight. We froze. I mean, we were deep in the woods, miles from any road or shelter. There shouldn't have been anyone else, let alone children. Ray said maybe it was a scout group. Josh shrugged.

Weird, but not impossible, he said, but even he sounded uncertain. Then the kids appeared, eight of them, pale, silent, walking in a line, with one tall figure behind them that I assumed was an adult. They didn't say anything at first, just moved past us, right through our camp, like they didn't see us or didn't care.

Weird, but not impossible, he said, but even he sounded uncertain. Then the kids appeared, eight of them, pale, silent, walking in a line, with one tall figure behind them that I assumed was an adult. They didn't say anything at first, just moved past us, right through our camp, like they didn't see us or didn't care.

Their clothes were old-fashioned, muted grays and browns, buttoned up all the way to the neck. No bags, no water, no gear. They didn't look dirty, just… off. One of the girls stopped and turned to us. Her head tilted a little too far, like she wasn't used to how necks were supposed to work. "'Where are you going?' she asked. Liam, always the smartass, said, "'Heading north, through hiking the AT.'

Their clothes were old-fashioned, muted grays and browns, buttoned up all the way to the neck. No bags, no water, no gear. They didn't look dirty, just… off. One of the girls stopped and turned to us. Her head tilted a little too far, like she wasn't used to how necks were supposed to work. "'Where are you going?' she asked. Liam, always the smartass, said, "'Heading north, through hiking the AT.'

The girl blinked. Her lips twitched like she was trying to smile but didn't remember how. "'This isn't the Appalachian Trail,' she said. Then she turned and kept walking. The rest followed. The tall figure, hooded, face hidden, brought up the rear. And then they were gone, back into the fog. We just stood there.' No one said anything for a long time.

The girl blinked. Her lips twitched like she was trying to smile but didn't remember how. "'This isn't the Appalachian Trail,' she said. Then she turned and kept walking. The rest followed. The tall figure, hooded, face hidden, brought up the rear. And then they were gone, back into the fog. We just stood there.' No one said anything for a long time.

Eventually, Ray muttered, Okay, that was messed up. Caroline wanted to pack up and go back south. Liam said we should keep going. I didn't know what to think. Part of me figured it had to be some kind of elaborate prank, or we'd stumbled into a film crew or a live-action thing. But deep down, something didn't feel right. We voted. Three to two to push ahead.

Eventually, Ray muttered, Okay, that was messed up. Caroline wanted to pack up and go back south. Liam said we should keep going. I didn't know what to think. Part of me figured it had to be some kind of elaborate prank, or we'd stumbled into a film crew or a live-action thing. But deep down, something didn't feel right. We voted. Three to two to push ahead.

It kept going. The last one was 2021, our year. I don't scare easy, but that made my stomach drop. No one talked much after that. We kept moving, but the air felt heavier, like the forest was holding its breath. It never got brighter.

It kept going. The last one was 2021, our year. I don't scare easy, but that made my stomach drop. No one talked much after that. We kept moving, but the air felt heavier, like the forest was holding its breath. It never got brighter.