MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories – Episode: Something is in the Woods

Release Date: February 20, 2025

Host: Ballen Studios (MrBallen)

In the gripping episode titled "Something is in the Woods," the MrBallen Podcast presents three spine-chilling narratives that delve into the unknown and the eerie occurrences hidden within dense forests. Each story is meticulously detailed, blending real-life experiences with elements of mystery and terror, ensuring listeners are both captivated and unsettled.

Story 1: "Pound Cake"

Duration: [02:44] – [13:58]

Overview:

"Pound Cake" recounts the unsettling journey of Eloise Lindsay, a 22-year-old recent college graduate, who embarks on a solitary 43.3-mile hike along the Appalachian Trail in November 1989. Seeking solitude and self-discovery, Eloise's adventure takes a dark turn as she senses a menacing presence stalking her through the woods.

Key Events:

• Setting Out ([02:44]): Eloise begins her solo hike with confidence, assuring her parents of her safety based on her prior backpacking experiences.

• Sense of Dread ([05:45]): On the third day, Eloise wakes up feeling an "intense sense of dread" ([05:45]). While packing up her campsite, she believes she spots a man about 30-40 feet away behind a tree.

  “I’m just going to pack up my campsite here and get hiking.” – Eloise Lindsay ([06:00])

• Heightened Paranoia ([07:15]): Convinced she’s being watched, Eloise starts fleeing the trail, abandoning her backpack and essential supplies to escape what she perceives as a threat.

  “I need to get off this trail. I need to get to a road.” – Eloise Lindsay ([08:30])

• Desperate Flight ([09:50]): As Eloise runs, she hears grunts and yells but sees no one, increasing her fear. She chooses to abandon the trail entirely in a bid for safety.

• Night Alone ([11:30]): Unable to reach civilization, Eloise camps alone, plagued by sounds surrounding her tent throughout the night but remains unharmed.

• Rescue ([13:00]): Twenty-three days after setting out, a hunter discovers Eloise near the trail, severely dehydrated but alive. Her survival is attributed to scavenging found food and finding a stream.

Notable Quotes:

• Eloise reflecting on her fear:

  “I have no way of knowing if that's actually true, I'm alone in the middle of the woods.” ([06:30])

• Park ranger on potential threats:

  “They could have been stalked by wild men, which are basically people that live out in the mountains, that are effectively feral.” ([12:00])

• Law enforcement's bafflement:

  “There's no official explanation for what happened to her other than she got lost and was found again.” ([13:00])

Conclusion:

Eloise Lindsay's ordeal remains an open mystery, with theories ranging from psychological breakdowns to encounters with legendary wild men. Her survival against the odds adds a haunting layer to the lore of the Appalachian Trail, leaving listeners to ponder the true nature of her experiences.

Story 2: "The Dream"

Duration: [16:19] – [26:27]

Overview:

"The Dream" narrates the mysterious disappearance of Mark Hanson during a spring break hike on the Appalachian Trail in March 1975. Accompanied by his friends Ben Fish and John Chidester, Mark's journey takes a supernatural twist as unexplained events lead to his tragic end.

Key Events:

• Initiating the Hike ([16:19]): Mark, Ben, and John embark on a challenging hike despite severe weather forecasts, driven by a desire to test their limits.

• Group Dynamics ([17:45]): As conditions worsen, John opts to turn back, leaving Mark and Ben to push forward amidst increasing hardships.

• Struggle and Compromise ([19:00]): Mark struggles physically, contemplating removing his pack to ease the burden, prompting Ben to emphasize the necessity of continuing for survival.

  “If we don't get to the shelter... without your sleeping bag, without your tent, without your food, without your water.” – Ben Fish ([20:15])

• Darkness and Snowstorm ([22:30]): As night falls amidst a snowstorm, Mark can no longer continue and collapses on the trail, prompting Ben to seek shelter, believing Mark is still nearby.

• Nightmare and Vanishing ([23:00]): Ben experiences a terrifying nightmare of Mark being dragged away, which eerily coincides with Mark’s mysterious disappearance the next morning.

  “I heard Mark screaming for help, yelling for Ben to come save him as he's being dragged off the trail into the forest.” – Ben Fish ([24:10])

• Search and Discovery ([25:30]): Extensive search efforts uncover a cave with animal remains, and eventually, Mark's body is found three miles away, lacking a definitive cause of death, fueling speculative theories about animal predation or other unexplained phenomena.

Notable Quotes:

• Ben's realization after finding Mark's backpack:

  “I have this sinking feeling that something horrible has happened to Mark and that I didn't save him.” ([25:00])

• Investigators' theories:

  “It's a good chance what Ben was hearing and seeing was actually playing out just several feet away from him down the trail.” – Narrator ([26:00])

Conclusion:

Mark Hanson's disappearance and subsequent death are enveloped in mystery, with events suggesting a blend of natural dangers and possible supernatural elements. The story leaves listeners grappling with the unanswered questions surrounding Mark's fate, highlighting the thin line between reality and the unexplained.

Story 3: "Big Footprint"

Duration: [26:46] – [35:43]

Overview:

"Big Footprint" explores the tragic disappearance of Geraldine Huggin, a five-year-old girl, during her family's summer vacation in the remote swamps of Wade, Ontario, Canada, in July 1953. The subsequent search unearths baffling evidence, including enormous footprints, leaving Geraldine's fate unresolved and shrouded in mystery.

Key Events:

• Family Vacation ([26:46]): The Huggin family settles into their summer cabin near Fox Lake, preparing for a six-week stay in an isolated part of Ontario.

• Geraldine's Disappearance ([28:10]): During a planned trip to Fox Lake, Geraldine vanishes without a trace, sparking a frantic search as calls yield no response.

  “She was afraid of the dark, and that once it got dark out in the woods, she's just going to sit down and cry.” – Geraldine's Father ([30:30])

• Intensified Search Efforts ([30:00]): Police enlist professional trackers and military assistance, but relentless rain washes away potential evidence, complicating the search.

• Unusual Footprints ([33:00]): Searchers discover large footprints in the swamp, suggesting either an exceptionally large person or a massive animal, though such explanations seem implausible.

• Discovery of Geraldine's Remains ([35:15]): Nine days into the search, Geraldine's remains are found near a meadow, showing signs of being dragged and scavenged by animals, but with no clear cause of death, leaving her case unresolved.

Notable Quotes:

• Geraldine's father's plea to searchers:

  “She was afraid of the dark, and that once it got dark out in the woods, she's just going to sit down and cry.” ([30:30])

• Investigators on the mysterious prints:

  “An enormous person lumbering through the forest seems really unlikely.” – Narrator ([34:45])

• On the unclear cause of death:

  “We don't know what did this.” – Narrator ([35:25])

Conclusion:

Geraldine Huggin's disappearance and death remain enveloped in mystery, with conflicting evidence and unexplained phenomena leaving the case open to interpretation. The story underscores the profound uncertainties and potential dangers lurking within remote natural environments, making it a haunting tale of loss and the unknown.

Final Thoughts

The "Something is in the Woods" episode masterfully intertwines true stories with elements of legend and unexplained phenomena, creating an atmosphere thick with suspense and fear. MrBallen's detailed storytelling, complemented by poignant quotes and precise timestamps, not only engages listeners but also leaves them contemplating the unseen and the mysterious forces that might dwell in the world's most secluded natural landscapes. Each narrative serves as a compelling reminder of the thin line between reality and the unknown, making this episode a standout for enthusiasts of strange, dark, and mysterious tales.