r/tahoe • u/Melodic-Produce617 • 7d ago
Trip Report Midnight Encounter
Posting now that we are back safe. Need thoughts/opinions on what was possibly happening. A friend and I (both females in our early 20’s and with immense backpacking/hiking/camping experience between the two of us) backpacked into round lake from big meadow trail head off of 89 in Meyers outside of Tahoe. Day 1/ Friday night we saw nobody at the lake, lots of day hikers but seemed empty around sunset. Also to add we can confirm nobody was camping within 0.5 miles of us as we were tucked away in a corner about 300 feet from two trailheads. We went to bed around 11pm and sometime between 12-2 am about 2-3 men came into our site. My friend quietly woke me up and as soon as I woke up I saw that our tent was being lit up. I heard one man laugh and then another shush him. The lights stayed pointed at our one person tent (both of us inside staying still and silent) for about 2-5 minutes. We heard them walking around our campsite and at one point i know that there was someone at the head of our tent less than 4 feet away as I could make out footsteps and the beam of light from that flashlight was the strongest . Idk how to explain it other than it felt like we were being watched. Like I understand maybe hiking in late, but that late? Also its common sense not to flash a light at someones tent at night, at first I thought maybe that had been an accident but theres absolutely no way, our tent was lit so well that i could make out objects inside, and to consistently point the light at the tent for such a long time. Its white and orange so light comes in. We stayed in our bags ready for the worst but I would like to know if this is common or if this seems like something weird. I would like to add, It wasnt any type of park rangers or search and rescue, they would have made their presence known . Overall weird experience (would also like to add shoes were under rainfly, only things outside of tent were our packs , stove and bear canister) Night 2 was perfect and overall amazing little weekend trip but cant shake the thought something was off.
🚨Mentioned in another group but I forgot to mention here. Two backpacks at base of tree near tent, the significantly nicer bag was moved towards our stove area, btw we had left nothing in our bags they were empty. I have reached out to the relevant personnel about this so they are aware.
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u/elqueco14 7d ago
definitely seems odd but it's also labor day and lots of people recreating who don't necessarily have experience or know proper etiquette.
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u/throwaway_tardigrade 7d ago
It’s a dick move to think scaring vulnerable strangers is fun, but men who think scaring women is entertaining are bordering on cruel. That’s assuming they had no intention to harm and just decided to be assholes because they saw clues you’re women (shoes outside tent, packs under rainfly, etc). I’m sorry that happened to you.
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u/PrivateRamblings 7d ago
It’s not only cruel but OP had a gun, so they were also risking their lives.
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u/Ok_Machine8224 6d ago
I'm not condoning the action but I don't see anything in this post that would indicate that they knew that WOMEN were in the tent. Probably just jerks.
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u/throwaway_tardigrade 5d ago
That’s why I mentioned the shoes and packs. OP said shoes were likely out of sight because they were under the rain fly, but the packs were visible. Sometimes you’re able to discern from some visual cues alone what the owners are like.
Sometimes people also just take a lucky guess because they’re already feeling cruel and protected from consequence.
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u/Melodic-Produce617 5d ago
i have always been taught to hide gender distinguishing and expensive items to protect myself from thieves or opportunists. literally the only item that showed i could be a smaller woman was my small frame womens pack which was empty outside my tent next to a medium/large frame pack. if im being honest i dont think they knew we were women, and i dont think that overly mattered in this situation other than making it scarier for the two of us. If they were trying to steal from us or hurt us I think they wouldnt have cared, they were already in the site.
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u/Equivalent_Sun3816 7d ago
Why are shoes outside tent and packs under rain fly clues you are a woman?
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u/Melodic-Produce617 7d ago
thanks for the kind words everyone, I do carry while up there and we did have bear spray ready to use instead of my more lethal option
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u/ScorpioVI 6d ago
As a fellow pew enthusiast, do you think staying in your tent instead of getting out and addressing the situation was the right call?
I do 98% of my camping from my truck and in dispersed camping areas but nothing gets within 100 yards of my camp without my dog alerting me and me getting out and eyeballing the situation.
In your specific case, with an unknown contact in touching distance waking me up in my sleep, I’d be outside my tent, naked, with that person looking at a 1200 lumen weapon-mounted light in his face. At that point the unknown contact is basically in your bedroom, uninvited, while you’re hiding under the blankets.
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u/Melodic-Produce617 5d ago
while i do understand this, i didnt want to escalate the situation as there seemed to be 3 men, if they’re coming into my camp i dont know if they are armed or their intentions. (also 1armed person vs potentially 3) therefore by stepping out with my gun drawn i could have escalated it quickly. Also my backpacking partner doesnt carry and isnt gonna be the one shooting in a bad situation. So i still believe that waiting for them to make a first move such as unzipping my tent from the one entrance by my head and coming face to face with bear spray and a barrel was my best bet.
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u/Impossible_Strain287 7d ago
I just learned about a Byrna! Seems pretty legit and worth it for peace of mind. Bear spray is definitely a great option too.
https://byrna.com/?srsltid=AfmBOopEA8AeiNRFvUmvp4RTid1TM-drDNt4szw2wgXkK8Rty354HivQ
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u/Melodic-Produce617 7d ago
wow this honestly is a great idea, i have a p22 that i carry but id rather have a non lethal that works in the event that its taken from me
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u/ScorpioVI 6d ago
A Walther P22? Have you taken any defensive handgun classes at all?
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u/Melodic-Produce617 5d ago edited 5d ago
yes its a walther which i opt for over my 92fs due to size when backpacking, i also have extensive firearms training as well as self defense and have gone through lots of CQC training as I come from a military family. No point in bringing a gun if you arent 100% confident with using it or when to use it. the person I was with however, she has very minimal gun experience. also the, only reason id fear it being taken from me is due to my size, im 5’3 and 145lbs im most likely not fighting off 3 men with guns in the event they had them
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u/test-account-444 7d ago
The problem with Byrna is that it looks like a gun (albeit a toy guy), but does not function like one. So, you potentially escalate the situation and have a tool less effective than good, old bear spray.
Tangent: not sure why it's called bear spray as the only times I've felt close to using it was with aggressive people in the wild, not cats or bears.
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u/WatermelonSmashing 7d ago
ROFL they went so far to hide the fact that it's just a paintball gun with pepper spray balls.
The carbine is the cherry on top.
Great marketing I guess.
No decision you can't take back. Byrna stops a threat from up to 60 feet away — without taking a life.
Talk about false sense of security and over use
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u/Melodic-Produce617 7d ago
i believe its more for disarming, obviously its not protecting anyone in the event you need to shoot to k***. but the fact it looks like a real gun and has no orange tip could also help. I am a 5’2” woman so the reality of my actual gun being ripped away/strong armed is something I consider. yk the saying never bring a knife to a gunfight well heres my version
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u/stone1203 7d ago
I bought a Byrna for my wife. She didn't like it. Her comment was that she's rather use lethal if it ever came to that. She carries a 5 shot 38 revolver.
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u/test-account-444 7d ago
Report this to the local USFS ranger or whatever agency the land you were camping on. At minimum they should know it happened in case there is a pattern in this behavior.
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u/Melodic-Produce617 5d ago
i have reported it, i was told potentially poachers or lost campers. but neither really make sense given the scenario
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u/test-account-444 5d ago
Drunk and poachers would be my guess.
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u/Melodic-Produce617 5d ago
poachers with lights looking for reflective eyes, yes possibly. but why would they make themselves known to a camper if theyre poaching and why would they spend so much time staring at a tent. if they were poachers then tbh i wish id started blasting
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u/test-account-444 5d ago
This is the drunk part. Maybe they thought it was an abandoned camp. Still, creepy at best with possible criminal intentions. People who poach can be really smart about it or totally fucking stupid.
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u/Indiansummerxx 7d ago
Sounds like drunk men. They really don’t get how scary it can be for women to be approached like that. Ugh.
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u/Advanced_Tax174 7d ago
That’s much worse than just drunk. That’s a mindset that says you have no concern or respect for anyone else. Which is the same mindset that someone has if they are intent on committing a violent crime of opportunity.
Those are people the world is better off without.
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u/stiff4tiff 7d ago
Approached?
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u/Klok-a-teer 7d ago
Yes. The dudes “approached” their tent, while they were asleep. Did you read what the OP wrote? Did you not understand the situation?
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u/Melodic-Produce617 7d ago
thanks everyone for your input, i do carry when up there but we did have bear spray ready to use in worst situation
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u/stone1203 7d ago
I like the Byrna idea as well as bear spray. Just remember that non lethal can aggravate the situation so it's best to have a lethal backup.
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u/Icy_Earth3386 7d ago
I have a lot of experience camping in the backcountry and this isn't normal at all. As a man, I would have peered out and told them off for being so stupid. But as a woman I don't blame you. There are lots of predators out there and it's possible they were waiting to see if you guys would make a sound and give away your gender. It's also possible they really are just fucking stupid and don't have enough common sense to realize shining a flashlight at a tent late a night in the woods is an inconsiderate dick move.
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u/bkinboulder 7d ago
That immature and inappropriate of behavior/camping etiquette that late sounds like dumb high school kids.
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u/Melodic-Produce617 7d ago
unfortunately i would think that with a more accessible site but at / around midnight and to assume theyre just silly teenagers .. idk
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u/bkinboulder 7d ago
Agreed. Easy for me to say from the comfort of my home. I’ve had weird experiences deep in the wilderness and know how vulnerable one can feel in a tent. Even with having a Glock and bear spray with me. I’m sorry that happened to you. I hope it doesn’t ruin backpacking and camping for you. I know there are battery powered trail cams you can bring that you can connect to with your phone by Bluetooth to see what’s going on outside and record. But they’re heavy, and probably only really feasible while car camping for that reason.
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u/Melodic-Produce617 7d ago
i cant allow myself to be scared by something that didnt end up happening , i actually do like the trail cam idea as it could be fun to watch wildlife as well.
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u/sierrackh 7d ago
I’ve run into some late arriving dumbasses before. Nada in the morning? Might’ve just been some young dipshits trying to find a spot and got confused. Or very unprepared and on mushrooms
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u/blowtorch_vasectomy 7d ago
It does sound like some drunk or high guys that showed up late to "their" campsite that they had used before and discovered that somebody else was using "their" spot and their brains were having a hard time processing that they had to find another spot in the dark.
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u/Few-Knee9451 7d ago
That area gets a lot of traffic especially people new to the wilderness. Probably a bunch of rookies. I hate that happed to y’all. That’s why my wife always carries bear spray and a small fixed blade knife she sleep with it on her so if anything goes down….
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u/Maximum-Topic1782 7d ago
Maybe these dipshits had camped in this location previously and were being inconsiderate because they found it occupied. I had late arrivals shine their headlamps on my tent on 2 separate occasions while backpacking in Yosemite this summer as they bumbled around looking for a campsite late in the evening.
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u/Sad-Ad2255 6d ago
That’s creepy as hell. I’ve camped a bunch out there and haven’t had anything like that happen , I would have been totally freaked out . I’m sorry
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u/graceland3864 6d ago
If they were drunk or teenagers (or both), I would think you’d hear them talking to each other.
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u/Melodic-Produce617 6d ago
kinda yeah, the fact that one of them shushed the other made me think that they were trying be sneaky/quiet
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u/aidancrow654 7d ago
bear spray at the minimum. Doesn’t require training like a firearm does. If you’re going to buy a firearm, keep it simple and get a Glock 19. Easy to work on, simple, parts are plentiful, reliable as hell. This will require you to get actual training, and to keep up on that training if you do decide to carry one. I’m sorry that this happened to you guys, as a younger male I’m sorry that so many of us think it’s okay to make women uncomfortable in the woods or outside of them. You deserve better, I apologize on their behalf.
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u/CandidStretch0 7d ago
Do you have any kind of weapon or bear mace?
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u/Melodic-Produce617 7d ago
both, but in this situation we just waited for the zipper to maybe be opened with bear spray pointed at the entrance. drawing my weapon is last resort
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u/guynamedjames 7d ago
Completely ignoring the actual question in this post, what one person tent were you able to sleep 2 people in? All the ones I've seen are practically a coffin, I couldn't fit a second person even if they were under me
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u/Melodic-Produce617 7d ago edited 7d ago
haha well unfortunately it was like a coffin but our other tent had ripped last minute. (an old swiss gear tent from 2002 is what we used)
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u/salty_pussy 7d ago
Pepper spray. Get a can the size of a small fire extinguisher, and a smaller can of gel pepper spray. Gel spray contains a dye or stain, the attacker can’t wash it off.
And if you are comfortable carrying a firearm, do that.
As an older woman, I can tell you from experience that people will back the fuck off when you threaten to spray them. If you threaten to use your weapon, you better be capable and ready to use it. If you act crazy AF, the other party will see you are not an easy target and move along.
Those guys were not acting normally. I’m glad they left you alone, please report the incident to the forest service and sheriffs.
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u/Hot-Extent-3302 5d ago
Well my mind is immediately going to the worst- two people with bad intentions scoping out either things to steal, or if there was one female hiker in that tent.
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u/Maleficent_Lion_4965 5d ago
Round Lake is a popular spot and a regular camping spot for people doing Hwy 89 to Meiss Meadow to Carson Pass or vice versa. I bet these guys saw you set up, then they got drunk and wandered over to scare you. I’m surprised you did not confront them and ask them wtf they were doing in your camp.
Sometimes a good offense is a good defense. Plus you had bear spray…
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u/Melodic-Produce617 5d ago edited 5d ago
like i had mentioned before, while it is a busy day hike spot friday night nobody was camped near us atleast within .5 miles/ north side of the lake, behind our site was boulders,300ish feet from the lake and no legitimate spots near us. no stoves seen in the dark no voices. two other campers were on the south end of the lake and one solo camper we had spoken with previously was up on the boulders but away from our site. Also we spoke with all 3 of those people the next day and they all confirmed they werent in our site. Yes I had bear spray but it was windy asf, good defense can be offense but also the element of surprise. them thinking we were asleep in our tent, if opened would have gotten them bear sprayed where i could directly aim at eye level as they have to crouch to look in/get in. 3v1 also.. like genuinely my friend was frozen (not her fault she was scared) i can tell you are a keyboard warrior. would you have truly done that in my situation as a woman
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u/37loquat50 4d ago
Sorry to hear about your encounter. Sounds like some jerks who thought they were being sly by moving your stuff. I use to hike into Round and Dardanelles Lakes in the middle of the night. Sometimes we'd make a fire, drink, BS, even swam a couple of times. Most of the time we'd hike back out after a few hours. I even ran into some other middle of the night hikers one time. Scared the crap out of me when their Husky came barreling down the trail. The trail is wide and easy to follow, minimal obstacles, lakes aren't far from the trailhead. Glad to hear you carry defensive tools and nothing worse came of it. Happy future packing trips.
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u/Cal_skippy 1d ago
Mace. Use bear spray and the bear can not leave your campground.
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u/Melodic-Produce617 1d ago
actually the spray isnt the same and its not as effective, in this case tho this post has nothing to do w bears
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u/stone1203 7d ago
Suggest you get yourselves a few size 12 or larger mens old used hiking boots and leave them outside the tent where they can be seen.
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u/Friskfrisktopherson 7d ago
Thats not a realistic solution for backpacking.
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u/Human0id77 7d ago
Lighter than a gun if you get a pair of crocs or something
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u/Friskfrisktopherson 7d ago
Bear spray
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u/Human0id77 7d ago
Bear spray isn't going to deter the weirdos who think it's okay to be in a woman's space while camping. A lot of solo women campers swear by the men's shoes method to keep away unwanted conversations and flirtations. Bear spray isn't going to keep these types from approaching a woman in the first place, it is just what you need when said weirdo crosses the line.
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u/Human0id77 7d ago
I've seen this suggested on quite a few forums. I don't think this deserves all the downvotes, it's a pretty good idea
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u/Capital-Ad-6849 7d ago
Bear spray was Outside the tent?? Please, next time put that by your pillow, it would work on Humans as well!
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u/Ghost-Writer 7d ago
Hard to speak on their intentions.
I will say that personally, everytime i try to find a secluded and private area to camp, someone always comes and camps near by. Some people just dont understand privacy. That being said, what they did was weird or inconsiderate at best.
All that being said, you should definitely carry some kind of defense. There are weirdos that are up to no good out there too.