00:00The wilderness has always been a place where people go to escape the noise of the world.
00:05For some, it's about reconnecting with nature.
00:08For others, it's about finding peace of mind.
00:11But for Josh Peterson, a 27-year-old hiker from Denver, Colorado,
00:16his trip into the mountains of Utah would become something much darker,
00:20an encounter that still leaves him shaken whenever he talks about it.
00:24Josh had set out on a cross-country road trip,
00:27hoping to clear his head after a tough breakup.
00:30His plan was simple, drive, camp, hike, and take in the beauty of America's hidden trails.
00:35He wasn't afraid of solitude. In fact, he welcomed it.
00:39That's what drew him to the Wasatch Cache National Forest,
00:43a sprawling wilderness area in northern Utah known for its rugged mountains, deep forests, and winding dirt roads.
00:49On his second night there, he found a pull-off on a dirt road where he could park his SUV.
00:54He set up camp, cooked a small dinner, and admired the endless canopy of stars.
01:01Everything felt calm, safe even until the next morning.
01:05When Josh woke up, something was wrong.
01:08He noticed right away that his SUV was leaning strangely.
01:11At first, he thought maybe the uneven dirt had caused it, but when he walked around to check, his stomach dropped.
01:19All four of his tires had been slashed open, not just punctured, completely shredded.
01:25The marks were deep, deliberate, and fresh.
01:28Someone had been there during the night.
01:30The realization hit hard.
01:32He was miles from the nearest town, with no self-service and no way to drive out.
01:37Whoever had done this wanted him stranded.
01:39Josh tried to stay calm.
01:41He strapped on his backpack, grabbed a water bottle, and decided to walk back toward the main road.
01:47It would take hours, but he figured eventually he'd run into a passing car.
01:52But just 30 minutes into his trek, things took a terrifying turn.
01:57It started with a sound, branches snapping behind him.
02:01Josh turned, expecting maybe a deer.
02:04Instead, what he saw made his blood run cold.
02:07A group of at least six people was standing on the trail, staring at him.
02:12They were all dressed the same, long white clothing, loose and flowing, almost like robes.
02:18Their faces were pale in the morning light, and none of them said a word.
02:22They just stood there, motionless, watching him.
02:25Josh's instincts screamed at him to move.
02:28He turned back and picked up his pace.
02:31At first, he tried not to look back, convincing himself they might just be hikers.
02:36But when he glanced over his shoulder, his heart nearly stopped.
02:41They were following him, slowly at first, then quicker.
02:44That's when panic set in.
02:46Josh broke into a sprint.
02:48His boots pounded against the dirt path.
02:50His breath ragged as he tore through the woods.
02:53But no matter how fast he ran, he could hear them, branches breaking, footsteps rushing behind him.
03:00At one point, he risked a glance back.
03:03The group were running, too, their white clothing whipping through the trees, their faces expressionless.
03:09It was like something out of a nightmare.
03:11Josh left the trail, crashing through thick brush, hoping to lose him in the forest.
03:17Branches scratched raw at his arms and legs.
03:19But he dared not stop.
03:22Minutes felt like hours.
03:23His lungs burned.
03:24His legs shook, but still he pushed forward.
03:27He couldn't hear them as clearly anymore, but every so often, he swore he caught glimpses of white between the trees.
03:34Finally, he stumbled onto a narrow service road, a rough gravel track cutting through the forest.
03:40He didn't know where it led, but it was better than being trapped in the trees.
03:44He followed it for what felt like forever, until at last, by some miracle, he saw a vehicle approaching in the distance.
03:52A county sheriff's SUV.
03:54Josh waved his arms frantically, nearly collapsing as the vehicle pulled over.
03:58The deputy got out, immediately concerned.
04:01Josh was out of breath, scratched up, and clearly terrified.
04:06He told the officer everything.
04:08The slashed tires, the people in white, and the chase through the woods.
04:12The deputy listened carefully, then let out a long sigh.
04:16He told Josh that, while rare, there had been reports of groups living in the Wasatch Cache Forest, not your average campers,
04:23but isolated religious sects sometimes referred to as woods cults.
04:27According to the deputy, these groups often kept to themselves, but outsiders who stumbled too close to their territory weren't always welcomed.
04:36The slashed tires, the silent pursuit, it all fit a pattern he'd heard of before.
04:41The deputy assured Josh he was safe now.
04:44They drove back to Josh's SUV, confirmed the tires were beyond repair, and had the vehicle towed out.
04:50Josh never saw the group again.
04:52They hadn't followed the road.
04:54It was as if they melted back into the trees.
04:57In the weeks after, Josh couldn't stop replaying it in his mind.
05:01Who were they?
05:02Why target him?
05:03Were they trying to scare him off?
05:05Or were they planning something worse?
05:07The thought of waking up in his tent while strangers circled his campsite kept him up at night.
05:12Friends told him it was just bad luck, that he'd wandered into the wrong place at the wrong time.
05:17But deep down, Josh believed it was more than that.
05:21Someone had watched him that night, waited for him to fall asleep, and then cut his tires.
05:26That level of intent didn't feel random.
05:29To this day, he refuses to hike alone in Utah or anywhere else.
05:34He still loved the outdoors, but now he sticks to busy trails and campgrounds, always keeping a charred satellite phone on hand.
05:41And sometimes, late at night, when he remembers those pale figures and white chasing him through the forest,
05:47he wonders what would have happened if he hadn't escaped.
05:51If you ever find yourself hiking in the vast forests of America, always remember, you're not truly alone out there.
05:58Sometimes, the dangers aren't wild animals or the elements, but people who don't want to be found.
06:04What do you think Josh encountered that night?
06:06A secluded religious group?
06:08A dangerous cult?
06:09Or something else entirely?
06:11Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
06:14And if you enjoyed this story, don't forget to like this video, share it with your friends,
06:19and subscribe to our channel for more chilling true horror stories from across the USA.
06:24Stay safe out there, because you never know who might be watching.
06:27Stay safe out there, because you never know who might be watching.
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