There have been many reports of hikers in the wilderness experiencing strange sensations, a sixth sense that something is amiss. Mainly, nothing is heard or seen. The forest or trail can go eerily quiet, birds stop singing suddenly, and there can often be a feeling you are being watched by someone or something. The feeling can be frightening and unsettling.
Some places have bad energy, a feeling that something is “off” or giving you the creeps. Someone who experienced this bad energy said, “Just sitting and doing nothing, but then this sort of overwhelming feeling of the other. And that I needed to get out of there now. I'd feel my senses narrow, almost like I was about to blackout. Pressure in my head, on the back of my eyes, sounds like underwater. Whatever the opposite of an out-of-body experience is, I felt it then, too: an extreme self-awareness. I had – almost – tunnel vision. And I was aware of another body. Or two. Or a lot of them. I was aware of a crowd. Even though I was alone, I felt the presence of a big group.”
These creepy places can be abandoned or haunted houses, the sites of burial grounds, or scenes of murder or battles. But even trails in well-used forests and National Parks have given hikers these vibes.
Your pulse quickens, the hairs on your neck stand on end, and you feel uncomfortable. These feelings are often stronger when walking with a small child or a partner.
Some hikers have told of “little voices” in their heads telling them to leave an area quickly. Often, they do; those who ignore these friendly “voices” can sometimes regret it or never be able to tell the tale of what went wrong.
What causes strange feelings in the wilderness, and what are the theories?
Humans have a genetic predisposition activating our “flight or fight” impulse - something giving us a sense that all is not well and to prepare to get the hell out of there. This impulse can be increased when we are caring for a child or with a loved one.
These creepy feelings may be helpful if they help you maintain vigilance when a threat is uncertain. They also help you balance self-preservation and self-presentation (i.e., presenting yourself in a socially desirable way).
Evolutionary psychologists have proposed the existence of agent detection mechanisms. These processes have evolved to protect us from harm at the hands of predators and enemies.
If you’re in secluded woods alone at night and hear the sound of something in the bushes, you’ll respond with a heightened level of arousal and attention. You’ll behave as if there is a willful “agent” present who is about to do you harm. If it turns out to be a gust of wind or a deer, you lose little by overreacting. But if you fail to activate the alarm response and a genuine threat is present, the cost of your miscalculation could be very high. Therefore, we have genetically evolved to err on the side of detecting threats in ambiguous situations. This is called “hypervigilance”.
What are the causes of hypervigilance?
Being watched by wildlife, e.g. bears, mountain lions, wolves or a more sinister creature or predator
Serial killers or drug growers who are out for someone or do not want someone in the area
Negative energy generated by an event - murders, wartime battles
Meteorological changes can cause sudden unease in both animals and humans
Influence of the lunar cycle - the light from the moon and its impact on circadian rhythms
There has been some research done, most notably by Vic Tandy, that found a specific range of sub-audible frequencies around 19Hz that can provoke feelings of fear and unease in humans. In his case, he was in his lab when he started to feel distinctly "not alone" and even believed he saw something like a spirit. This phenomenon is known as “Infrasound”.
Supernatural elements, e.g. ghosts or portals/other dimensions
Carbon monoxide has been known to impact the senses in closed spaces
If your gut or inner voice tells you to run as fast as you can….then it’s probably a good idea to take its advice!
Exclusive articles for members of StrangeOutdoors that are not available elsewhere on the site.
See the latest Exclusive members-only articles on StrangeOutdoors.com
Read more Q&A’s on StrangeOutdoors
What happens when a human body decomposes?
Why are people found in the backcountry with their clothes missing?
How can you hike safely - from day hike to thru-hike?
What are good books and audiobooks on missing people in the great outdoors?