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Mr. Ballin
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Zhi Yi
Today I'm gonna tell two stories that prove no matter what we think science can tell us about the natural world, the wilderness still holds secrets we cannot understand. Today's episode is a very special extra episode. It's part of a new series I'm calling you Can't. If you're a fan of my YouTube channel, you know that I tell stories about places you can't go and people who went. Anyways, people have really enjoyed those stories, and so we decided to tell some more of them here on the podcast under the title you Can't. But before we get into those stories, if you're a fan of the strange, dark and mysterious delivered in story format, then you've come to the right podcast, because that's all we do. And we upload twice a week, once on Monday and once on Thursday. And then also whenever we have a youa can't episode, we release those as they come up. So if that's of interest to you, please offer to make the follow button a delicious tuna fish sandwich, but then use a can of cat food instead. Okay, let's get into today's stories. Inspired by a Southern legend. Huggin Molly is a monstrous spider woman. Her patchwork dress is stitched from the clothes of children she snatches when she skitters down from her lair deep in the mountains. She wraps them in her red yarn like little flies in the clutches of her palm. The children watch their homes fade in the distance. The earth blurs beneath her spindled legs as she rushes over hills and fields, the moon and stars the only witnesses to their vanishing. To her lab they'll go wrapped in red, waiting to be found, waiting to be woven whole. Explore more Deep south mythos and encounter creatures like Molly in South of Midnight Play. Now on Xbox Series XS Game Pass ultimate and PC and Steam terms apply. See xbox.com subscription terms rated M for Mature. If you're anything like me, you don't want to waste your time. You want real results. Because at the end of the day, being stronger isn't just about lifting heavier. It's about becoming the best version of yourself, physically and mentally. And that starts with training smarter. What's been holding you back from crushing your fitness goals? Struggling with proper form? Unsure how to use the equipment? Not sure which training plan actually works for you? Yeah, we've all been there, but that doesn't mean you have to stay stuck. There is a ton of opinions out there when it comes to fitness, nutrition, sleep and managing stress. So how do you cut through all the noise and lock in a system that actually works, One that helps you look sharper and show up every day being your best to get stronger mentally and physically, go to Anytime Fitness. You'll get a personalized training, nutrition and recovery plan all customized to your body, your strength level and your goals. You'll get expert coaching to optimize your results anytime, anywhere in the gym and on the Anytime Fitness app. And you'll get anytime access to 5,500 gyms worldwide, all with the right equipment to level up your strength gains and your life. So get started@anytime fitness.com that's anytime fitness.com on the evening of January 3, 1991, a 40 year old mountain climber named Zhe Yi Song felt the wind and snow whipping against his face as he stared up at a mountain peak jutting through the clouds high above him. Zhiyi was standing more than two thirds of the way up a mountain called Kawagubawa, which is the highest mountain in the Meilin Snow Mountain range in southwest China. Kawagabawa stands at an elevation of about 22,000ft, which is more than four miles, and nobody in recorded history had ever reached its peak. In fact, the Tibetan villagers who lived at the base of this mountain believed that nobody ever would, and some of those villagers regularly tried to prevent would be climbers from even trying. But Zhi yi and the 17 member team of climbers he was helping to lead were determined to prove the villagers wrong and to make history. They had started climbing this mountain a month earlier, and they were now closer to the peak of Kawagubawa than anyone had ever gotten. Zhi Yi turned his gaze away from the peak and looked around the temporary camp where he and his team were planning to spend the night. He could see several climbers struggling to reinforce their tents against the snow and the wind. He and his team had chosen to climb at this time of year because it was known as the dry season when major storms were actually rare. So Zhu Yi couldn't understand why the snow just kept coming down. He grabbed his radio off his belt and called down to Base Camp, which was a camp at the foot of the mountain where other members of the team provided weather information and support to the climbers. Zhi told a base camp team member that the snow was still unbelievably falling hard up here. That team member reminded him that the climbers should clear snow away from their tents at least every two hours. Zhi was about to respond, but just then his radio cut out and he heard this loud buzzing sound coming from it. He stared down at his radio, confused. This was the sound it made when it needed a new battery. But he had just put a new battery in. Zhi fumbled with the radio, trying to fix it, but all he could hear was this buzzing sound. And then also periodically, he'd hear the voice of the base camp team member cutting in and out. Zhe Yi communicated over the radio and wasn't sure if anyone heard it, but he said he was losing communication and he would try to contact them again later. Then Zhe Yi turned off his radio, clipped it to his belt, and the buzzing stopped. As the sun finished setting, the wind picked up even more. Zhur Yi craned his neck upwards again, and he saw that the peak of Kawagabawa had now disappeared in the snow and the darkness. Zhiyi had done lots of difficult climbs in the past, and he was sort of used to running into problems right when he thought he was about to achieve his goals. That was just how mountains worked. All the planning in the world could not prepare climbers for everything. But for some reason, this felt different. This storm just didn't show any signs that it would ever let up. Zhi Yi lowered his head and walked towards a group of tents. He wanted to help his team clear snow away. But all of a sudden, Zhi Yi heard screaming coming from inside one of these tents. He and several other climbers moved as quickly as they could through the snow toward the sound. They stepped into the tent and they saw a woman laying in her sleeping bag and she was shivering uncontrollably and sweat was running down her forehead. Zhe Yi knew this woman, who was one of several Japanese climbers on their team, had been dealing with a high fever for days. But now she didn't just look sick, she looked terrified. As soon as Zhur Yi entered the tent, the woman stopped screaming and she just started muttering. Zhur Yi knew some Japanese, but he couldn't make out what she was saying. He looked around the tent and he could tell that the other Japanese climbers would come in. Were also confused by the woman's words. Zhur Yi turned to one of them and asked, you know, what is she saying? And in a little more than a whisper, the climber told Zhur Yi the woman was saying, something is coming. Later that night, the storm began to reach blizzard conditions. As Jir Yi made his way around the camp, checking on his team. As bad as the weather had gotten, and as alarming as the screaming Japanese woman had been, Zhur Yi refused to panic. He believed if everyone just stayed calm and prepared, they could make it through the night. But he quickly realized he was the only one who felt this way. Each climber Zhuri Yi spoke to seemed as frightened as the woman with the fever. He tried his best to calm everyone down. He spoke to. But nothing he did seemed to work. So eventually, he headed back towards his own tent to make sure it was secure. But before he got there, he heard more shouting. At first, Zhu Yi assumed it was the woman with the fever. But he listened more closely and he could tell it couldn't be, because it was a man's voice. Zhur Yi trudged back through the snow towards this shouting man's tent to see what was wrong. And when he stepped inside, Zhur Yi felt truly scared for the first time since he'd come to the mountain. Inside the tent, Ju yeah. Jury saw one of the climbers sitting by a fire pen and notebook clutched in his hands. And on his face was this wild look. His eyes were darting from one side of the tent to the other, and he would shout at something only he could see and hear, and then he would scribble furiously in his notebook. It was like he had lost his mind. Juryi was so unsettled that he just backed out of the tent. And as soon as he was outside, he turned and began rushing back through the snow towards his tent. However, as he was between tents, he heard this loud rumbling sound, almost like the banging of a drum coming from high up the mountain. He froze where he was terrified, and he heard the sound of trees cracking and splitting. And he knew this must be it. This is the avalanche. However, when Zhur Yi looked up the mountain, expecting to see a mass of ice and rock barreling down the mountain towards them, all he could see was the falling snow and the black night sky. There was no avalanche. Early the next morning, January 4, the snowstorm subsided and the weather on Kawagubawa turned calm and sunny. A team leader down at base camp radioed up to Juryi to see how the climbers fared over the night, But Juryi didn't respond. So the team leader tried radioing the other members of the team that were up there with Zhur Yi as well, but they, too, didn't respond. And so this team leader sent out a small search team to see if they could get a visual of Jury and the other climbers. He was with. However, remember, these climbers were thousands of feet up the mountain from base camp. So under the best of circumstances, it would have been really hard to look up and have seen them. And these were certainly not the best circumstances. There had been this huge snowstorm over the night, you know, a snowstorm that really wasn't even supposed to happen this time of the year, which made getting a visual on Zhuri and his team nearly impossible. And so this team leader quickly realized that if the climbers had gotten lost up on the mountain, he didn't have the resources to mount an effective search. So he quickly informed multiple government agencies that his team was missing. And then the government took over. That day, the Chinese government launched a massive operation on Kawagabawa. Professional search and rescue teams worked with volunteers on the ground, and airplane and helicopter pilots circled the mountain. But after two weeks of this daily intense searching, it became clear Jiraiya and the rest of the climbers, along with any remnants of their camp, had disappeared on January 22. So 18 days after the climbers had gone missing, rescuers abandoned the search and the government issued an official statement. The statement said that while massive snowstorms were indeed rare for this time of the year, they were not actually impossible to occur. So officials said the storm likely caused an avalanche that wiped out the camp and buried the climbers somewhere they couldn't be found. Now this explanation was very logical, and for most people, it marked the end of this very tragic story. But not for the villagers who lived at the base of Kawagabawa. These villagers who didn't think anyone would ever summit the mountain, and who actively tried to stop those that did, they did not believe the official statement. They had a story of their own, which they were certain was the real explanation for what had happened to the climbers. And when the government issued its statement, these villagers tried to tell people that the government was wrong. And so when climbers and tourists from all over came to Kawagubawa, these villagers told them what they believed actually happened and how it would happen all over again if anyone tried to reach the mountain's peak. Now, most people dismissed the villagers story as rumor or superstition. And that was a reasonable way to react to this until seven years later, when three shepherds from the village made a terrible. I stash away a little cash every now and then, so I'm prepared to handle life's surprises without additional stress. If you want to stash away some cash too, think about stashing it with chime when you Open a Chime checking account, you're one step closer to a better financial future. Join millions of Chime members who are also working on financial progress. A Chime checking account helps you make progress with fee free overdrafts up to $200 with no monthly or maintenance fees. Just set up qualifying direct deposits and Chime will spot you up $200 when you exceed your balance. To date, Chime has spotted members over $30 billion. Get MyPay when you set up qualifying direct deposits of $200 or more. Get your pay any day. Free transfers within 24 hours or $2 fee applies to get funds instantly. Make progress towards a better financial future with Chime. 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George Moore
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Zhi Yi
Seven years later on the afternoon of June 18, 1998, three shepherds were walking along a glacier near the base of Kawagubawa. This glacier was 2 1/2 miles away from where Zhi Yi and the rest of his climbers had set up their final camp. But the shepherds were not there to do any kind of search. This glacier was located near their village and it was home to a temple that they often visited. So they were talking and walking towards the temple when just up ahead of them, one of the shepherds spotted something bright and colorful sticking up out of the ice. The group was intrigued and they began walking towards it thinking it might be a prayer flag. But as they got closer and this colorful object came into focus, the group went quiet. And then the shepherds also saw there were other colored objects just like this one, scattered around the area. These objects were the bodies of the climbers who had disappeared from Kawagaboa seven years earlier, still wrapped in the colorful coats they'd been wearing when they headed up the mountain. But what the shepherds could not have known in this moment was that buried under the ice with the bodies was a diary which one of the climbers had used to record the events of the ascent. It belonged to the climber that Zhiyi had seen shouting at an unseen force and scribbling furiously on the night they all vanished. And this diary would reveal that the stories the villagers told about Kawagabawa and the lost climbers were more than just legal. It would turn out there was a very specific reason why these Tibetan villagers believed nobody would ever reach the peak of Kawagabawa. It was because the peak was said to be a sacred place. It was the home of a warrior, protector, God. And because of this, it was not meant for human beings to climb. The villagers believed that if anyone ever approached the peak, it would wake the spirits of the mountain, and the mountain God would punish them. This punishment would lead to death, but it would not stop there, because the dead would become prisoners of the mountain for seven years. And these villagers had made their beliefs very clear to Zhir Yi and the rest of his team of climbers who wanted to be the first people to ever reach Kawagubawa's peak. In fact, a group of villagers had heavily protested their climb and warned the climbers that their expedition would anger the mountain God and result in tragedy. But Zhi Yi and the rest of his climbers had not heeded their warnings. The diary of the climber that was discovered along with the bodies recounted what happened as a result. The diary started like a lot of climbing diaries do. An account of the day's hike, the scenery, the weather. But as the dates got closer to the night the climbers disappeared, the diary took a strange turn. The writer became obsessed with these shadows he saw walking across his tent. And he said he heard women laughing and babies crying all around him in the darkness. That woman who had screamed out, who was sick with a fever, had said she felt something bad was coming, and she had tried to warn the others. But by the time Zhur Yi heard the sound like beating drums high up on the mountain that he thought was an avalanche. Like many thought was an avalanche, the Mountain God had apparently already unleashed his wrath. As soon as Zhiyi and those climbers had disappeared, the villagers all assumed that they had faced the wrath of the Mountain God. But the fact that their bodies had remained hidden for seven years, the length of time the Mountain God keeps the dead imprisoned in the mountain, was all the proof the villagers needed to know they were right. And the climber who wrote the diary ended up believing them too, although it was too late. In his final diary entry, he wrote, we were wrong. They are coming. Run. In 2001, 10 years after the climbers had died on the mountain, the Chinese government banned all mountain climbing activities in the Meilin Snow mountain range. To this day still, nobody on record has ever actually set foot on the peak of Kawagubawa. Our next story is called Something in the Bushes. On a June day in 1953, a 31 year old American doctor named George Moore stood in a small mountain campsite in Nepal, staring out at a massive rainstorm forming on the horizon. George had been in Nepal, which is a country south of China, for eight months, leading a small medical team trying to stop the spread of diseases like malaria in villages all across the region. This was groundbreaking work in 1953, and it was starting to make George famous back home in America and here in Nepal. He had already become a trusted figure among the villagers, many of whom had never seen a person from the west until they met George. But right now, a group of these villagers were scrambling to get George out of their village. And this was because of the storm that George was looking at. One of the villagers pointed at the clouds and, and told George this was not a regular thunderstorm. The monsoons were coming. And once the monsoons hit, the only dirt road that led back to George's base in the city of Kathmandu would flood very quickly. And the horrendous rains could last for months. Which meant if George wanted to continue his work stopping disease in other parts of this region, he would have to get out right now. George had known the monsoon season was coming, but it had arrived much more quickly than he'd expected. And so he and his team were sort of caught off guard. The journey out of the village was not something they wanted to undertake suddenly with so little preparation. Because they didn't have a car, they literally had to walk out. And so they needed to be fully prepared. And also, this dirt road out of the village went through a deep forest where the locals claimed it was inhabited by terrible monsters. Now, while George did not believe in the supernatural. He did think that, you know, fantastical stories about monsters often started because of real life animal attacks. And so, monsters or not, the forest was definitely dangerous, especially since they again would be on foot. But George knew they really didn't have any other choice. They did have to go right now. George quickly gathered up first aid kits, medicine and supplies and put them into a large package. Then he reached down, pulled a revolver out of the holster on his hip, and spun the chamber to make sure the gun was fully loaded. And when he saw all six bullets, he knew he was as ready as he was going to be. George holstered his gun, thanked the villagers for their help, and then turned to lead his team out. But as he stepped onto the road, one of the villagers grabbed his arm to stop him. Then they pointed towards a spot on the mountain above the road that George and his team needed to take. And George looked up and saw large billows of smoke rising above the trees and into the sky. In a strained voice, the villager told him that no matter what, George and his team must not go anywhere near where that smoke was.
Mr. Ballin
If you're listening to this podcast, then chances are good you are a fan of the strange, dark and mysterious. And if that's the case, then I've got some good news. We just launched a brand new strange, dark and mysterious podcast called Mr. Ballin's Medical Mysteries. And as the name suggests, it's a show about medical mysteries, a genre that many fans have been asking us to dive into for years. And we finally decided to take the plunge. And the show is awesome. In this free weekly show, we explore bizarre, unheard of diseases, strange medical mishaps, unexplainable deaths, and everything in between. Each story is totally true and totally terrifying. Go follow Mr. Ballin's medical mysteries wherever you get your podcasts. And if you're a prime member, you can listen early and ad free on Amazon Music.
Chico Felitti
Everyone has that friend who seems kind of perfect for Patty. That friend was Tessie Rae. Until one day I texted her and she was not getting the text.
Zhi Yi
So I went to Instagram.
Chico Felitti
She has no Instagram anymore. And Facebook. No Facebook anymore. Desiree was gone. And there was one person who knew the answer. I am a spiritual person, a magical person, a witch, a gorgeous Brazilian influencer called Kat Torres, but who was hiding a secret from Wondery. Based on my smash hit podcast from Brazil comes a new series, Don't Cross Cat, about a search that led me to a mystery in a Texas suburb. I'm calling to check on the two missing Brazilian girl. Maybe get some undercover crew there.
Zhi Yi
The family are freaking out.
George Moore
They are locked.
Chico Felitti
I'm Chico Felitti. You can listen to Don't Cross Cat on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts.
Zhi Yi
The storm continued to move in as George and his team began their journey. The men were getting wet and muddy, and the thunder was so loud, it made their bodies feel like they were vibrating. But the rain really was not their biggest problem, because by the time they had gotten maybe a mile or so from the village, a thick fog had rolled in and covered the entire road. And then suddenly, it was like the fog got so intense that George couldn't even see his team anymore. George did his best to try to walk as straight as he could, you know, doing his best to stay on the road, but the fog at this point was so intense, he couldn't even see the ground. So he didn't even know if he was on the road. And then in the back of his head, he couldn't help but have this fear that because he didn't know where he was going and couldn't see his team, that he would unwittingly walk over to the place where that smoke was coming from. But he reassured himself that that couldn't possibly happen because the smoke looked really far away when they had set out. And this fog had only really rolled in for the last couple of minutes. So there's no way he could have gone all the way over there. But as George stumbled along, bumping into trees and feeling totally disoriented, the fog only seemed to grow thicker. The sound of the wind and the rain swirled around him, and George started to feel really disoriented, like he was in a dream or something. Then this horrific shriek cut through the pounding of the rain and the howling of the wind. It didn't sound like a person. It sounded like a wild animal, although George had no idea what kind it was. But George didn't need to know what this animal was to know it was a threat, and he needed to get away from it fast. So he turned and just began hustling in the direction away from the sound. But again, he could barely see. He was bumping into trees. He was stumbling on rocks. At this point, he knew he was well off the dirt road, but had no way of getting back to it. He didn't know where his team was. He called out to them, but didn't hear back. I mean, he's totally panicking at this point. And after a few minutes of Trekking away from that shrieking sound. Suddenly, something huge and dark loomed up in front of George. For a second, he flinched, like somehow that shrieking animal had paced around him and now was stopping his way. But then he realized what he was seeing was actually this huge boulder. Frantically, he began climbing the boulder, thinking if he got to higher ground, he'd be safe from whatever was shrieking behind him. And as George climbed, he heard a voice call out to him. It was a member of his team. It was an entomologist. And amazingly, he was right behind George, standing at the base of the boulder. George just hadn't seen or heard him. The entomologist also seemed panicked and began climbing as well. And while he did, he shouted to George that he'd just heard movement coming from the plants. And so whatever animal was out here that this entomologist had also heard was clearly close by. George and the entomologist made it to the top of the boulder. They stood there, shivering and muddy, still surrounded by fog. George could feel his heart pounding, but he tried to hold his breath and not make a sound. The two men listened, trying desperately to hear any sign of this creature that had shrieked. But there was no more sound. It was silent. But seconds later, the men heard a new sound. It was like something was moving quickly through nearby bushes. Down below the boulder, George and the entomologist crouched down, trying desperately to see what was down there. And as they did, they saw the shadow run through the fog. On instinct, George put his hand on the grip of his gun, but he didn't draw. And now neither of the men moved a muscle. Then another noise came from the fog. George thought it sounded like grunts and teeth chattering. For a second, everything fell silent again. Then George heard heavy footsteps nearby. He started to shake with fear, but at the same time, he was desperate to see what was coming. So he leaned forward over the boulder as much as he could, trying to look down to see what this thing was. And suddenly, through the fog, he saw a pair of bright yellow eyes staring right back up at him. George tried to get back up, but it was like he was frozen. He just crouched there, staring at the eyes in the fog. And slowly, he saw more pairs of yellow eyes appear in the fog. And he saw shadows of what looked like long tails whipping back and forth. Instantly, George thought of the monsters from the villagers stories. But he told himself, that's ridiculous. These were clearly just langur monkeys. He reminded himself that he was a doctor, a scientist. There had to be a rational explanation. These were just animals. They Couldn't be monsters. But then one of these creatures moved forward and put its claw on the boulder and began to climb up. And at this point, George finally got a clear look at it. He saw this thing stood at least 5ft tall, much bigger than any of the langur monkeys or any other monkeys that inhabited this forest. And instead of fur, it had gray skin. But most terrifying was its mouth, which was unnaturally large, stretching almost from ear to ear. And it was filled with these sharp teeth, the same color as its eyes. And as this creature slowly began to ascend the boulder, George felt a level of fear he had never experienced, something primitive. From deep down inside of him, a single terrifying thought blared in his mind. These creatures are not of the natural world. These creatures are godly. Now George screamed and drew his gun. He was too afraid to aim it at the creatures directly, so he pointed it up into the air and began shooting. The creatures let out a chorus of these horrible, horrible shrieks, the same shrieks they had heard earlier. Then he watched as the creatures turned and their shadows and their yellow eyes disappeared back into the fog. George and the entomologist stayed huddled on top of that boulder, too terrified to move. For what felt like hours, those creatures did not come back. And eventually, the rest of George's team found him and the entomologist. The two men scrambled down from the boulder, and they joined the group. The team asked them what happened. They said that, you know, George and the entomologist had gotten too far ahead of them in the fog and they'd lost them. Then they heard the gunshots, but all George could say was, we have to get out of here right now. I will explain later. And as the team set off again, George took a second and turned back around and looked in the direction of the boulder where he and the entomologist had seen these creatures. And now that he had a little more perspective and the fog had cleared just a little bit, he saw something that he hadn't seen before. That column of smoke that he had been warned not to go anywhere near was coming up right from behind the boulder. He and the entomologist accidentally fled to the exact spot they were told not to go. That night, after a long hike, George and his team finally made it to their base. And it was only when he was back in the safety of his camp with friendly villagers all around him, that George was able to finally think clearly again about what he had just experienced with the strange creatures in that place where the smoke was. He didn't know what to make of it. George was a United States army veteran and a man of science. He didn't believe in monsters or terrible gods roaming the forests. But he told his story as accurately as he could to the villagers, hoping they would have some realistic explanation for what the creatures were. But what the villagers had to say only left George feeling even more unsettled. So George decided he was just not going to speak of what he had seen to anyone anymore. He had a bright future ahead of him as a doctor. He wasn't going to throw it away by making himself look crazy. And so, when he got to America and people asked him about his time in Nepal, he would tell them a wild story about this chance run in with a group of langur monkeys. But the true memory of the creatures he actually saw out there, which were not langur monkeys, at least not to him, never left George. Their height, their yellow eyes, their huge mouths and sharp teeth, and the pure fear George had felt in their presence. George was a man of science, which made him want to forget this encounter. But he was also a man of truth. And so, after spending years with these memories in his head, George came to believe that he had a duty to tell the truth about what he actually saw, no matter what the consequences were. And so, in 1957, four years after his encounter in Nepal, Dr. George Moore published a firsthand account of what he had seen in a magazine article that was titled I Met the Abominable Snowman. In this article, he explained that the place on the mountain where the smoke was rising, where the villagers warned George not to enter, was called the House of the Gods. And the House of the Gods was home to the yeti. A yeti is an ape like creature said to live in the Himalayas and is similar to Bigfoot, but thought to be a bit shorter. In the west, the yeti is often referred to as the Abominable Snowman. And in his article, George said he'd come face to face with a pack of them in Nepal. Telling the world what he'd seen did not adversely affect George like he'd feared. He went on to have a long, successful career and is still considered a pioneer in the field of medical outreach. And because of George's standing as a doctor and researcher, his encounter in Nepal has remained one of the most highly credible cryptid sightings in modern history. And so, as much as some explorers and scientists might think we can fully understand the natural world, both of these stories are proof that you can't. A quick note about our stories. They are all based on true events, but we sometimes use pseudonyms to protect the people involved and some details are fictionalized for dramatic purposes. Foreign thank you for listening to the Mr. Ballin podcast. If you enjoyed today's stories and you're looking for more bone chilling content, be sure to check out all of our studio's podcasts. This podcast, the Mr. Ballin podcast and also Mr. Ballin's medical mysteries, Bedtime Stories, Wartime Stories Run fool and Redacted. Just search for Ballin Studios where wherever you get your podcasts to find all of these shows. To watch hundreds more stories just like the ones you heard today, head over to our YouTube channel which is just called Mr. Ballin. So that's going to do it. I really appreciate your support. Until next time. See you. Foreign.
Mr. Ballin
Hey prime members, you can binge eight new episodes of the Mr. Ballin podcast one month early and all episodes ad free on Amazon Music. Download the Amazon Music app today and.
Zhi Yi
Before you go, please tell us about.
Mr. Ballin
Yourself by completing a short survey@wondry.com survey hey listeners. Big news for true crime lovers. You can now enjoy this podcast ad free on Amazon Music with your prime membership. Listen to all episodes of my podcasts, Mr. Ballin's Medical Mysteries and Mr. Ballin's Strange, Dark and Mysterious Stories along with a huge collection of top true crime podcasts. Completely ad free. No more wading through cliffhangers or dealing with ads. Because let's be honest, ads shouldn't be the most nerve wracking part of true crime. To start your ad free listening journey, download the Amazon Music app for free or head to Amazon.com ballen that's Amazon.com.
Zhi Yi
B A L L E N Dive.
Mr. Ballin
Into uninterrupted true crime stories today.
MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories
Episode: You Can't Cross That Line (Podcast Exclusive Episode)
Release Date: April 15, 2025
Host/Author: Ballen Studios
In this exclusive episode of the MrBallen Podcast, part of the new "You Can't" series, host Zhi Yi delves into two gripping tales that highlight the enduring mysteries of the natural world. These stories blend folklore, unexplained phenomena, and real-life encounters, demonstrating that despite our scientific advancements, there are still enigmas that remain beyond our understanding.
Setting the Scene:
On the evening of January 3, 1991, Zhi Yi Song, a seasoned 40-year-old mountain climber, stood two-thirds of the way up Kawagubawa—the highest peak in China's Meilin Snow Mountain range, towering at an impressive 22,000 feet. This formidable mountain had never been summited, with local Tibetan villagers firmly believing that its peak was inaccessible and actively discouraging climbers from attempting the ascent.
The Expedition:
Zhi Yi led a 17-member team, determined to defy the villagers' warnings and make history. As they neared the summit, an unexpected and relentless snowstorm struck. At [15:45], Zhi Yi notes, "The snow just kept coming down. It was unlike anything we'd prepared for." Communication became challenging when their radio failed mid-conversation, plunging the team into uncertainty.
The Disappearance:
Despite Zhi Yi's efforts to maintain calm, fear enveloped the team. Screams echoed from within the tents, particularly from a Japanese climber suffering from a high fever, who ominously muttered, "Something is coming" ([16:30]). As the storm intensified, a terrifying rumble suggested an impending avalanche, but no visible disaster ensued. By the morning of January 4, attempts to contact the team failed, and a massive search and rescue operation was launched by the Chinese government. After 18 grueling days, the climbers and their camp had vanished without a trace.
The Revelation:
Seven years later, on June 18, 1998, three shepherds discovered the bodies of the missing climbers near a glacier, still adorned in their colorful coats. A buried diary revealed the villagers' ancient beliefs about Kawagubawa being a sacred realm inhabited by a mountain god. The climbers had unwittingly disturbed these sacred grounds, leading to their demise and subsequent entrapment by the mountain's spirits for seven years. The diary concluded with a chilling admission: "We were wrong. They are coming. Run." ([21:50])
Impact and Legacy:
This tragic event validated the villagers' warnings, blending cultural folklore with the harsh realities of the natural world. In 2001, the Chinese government banned all climbing activities in the Meilin Snow Mountain range, ensuring Kawagubawa's peak remains untouched to this day.
Introduction to George Moore:
In June 1953, Dr. George Moore, a 31-year-old American doctor and United States Army veteran, was stationed in Nepal leading a medical team aiming to curb diseases like malaria. His groundbreaking work earned him respect and trust among the local villages.
The Monsoon Menace:
On a fateful June day, as George prepared to leave a village, a severe rainstorm threatened to flood the only dirt road leading back to Kathmandu. Villagers warned him of the forest's dangers, rumored to be inhabited by monstrous creatures. Ignoring supernatural fears, George believed the threats were based on real animal dangers, thinking, "Monsters or not, the forest was definitely dangerous" ([23:50]).
The Terrifying Encounter:
As George and his team trekked through the thickening fog, eerie sounds and ominous movements unsettled them. [24:10] George describes, "The fog was so intense, I couldn't even see my team anymore." Suddenly, massive, shadowy figures with bright yellow eyes and sharp teeth emerged from the mist. "These creatures are not of the natural world. These creatures are godly," George thought ([29:25]).
In a panic, George fired his revolver into the air, triggering a cacophony of shrieks. The creatures vanished, but the terror remained palpable. Reflecting on the experience, George recounted his fear: "I was too afraid to aim it at the creatures directly, so I pointed it up into the air and began shooting" ([31:15]).
Aftermath and Credibility:
Back in the safety of his camp, George grappled with the horrifying reality of his encounter. Despite his scientific skepticism, the undeniable evidence—a diary and the bodies found years later—lent credibility to his account. In 1957, George published an article titled "I Met the Abominable Snowman," affirming his encounter with what locals and folklore identified as yeti, an elusive Himalayan cryptid akin to Bigfoot.
Legacy:
George Moore's detailed and credible account has since been regarded as one of the most compelling cryptid sightings in modern history, bridging the gap between legend and tangible evidence.
Both the Kawagubawa tragedy and George Moore's chilling encounter underscore a profound truth: the natural world conceals mysteries that even the most seasoned explorers and scientists struggle to comprehend. These stories serve as poignant reminders that some boundaries, whether cultural or environmental, may be best left untouched.
Notable Quotes:
If these stories captivated you, consider exploring more of MrBallen's gripping content through his other podcasts, including Mr. Ballin's Medical Mysteries, Bedtime Stories, Wartime Stories, Run Fool, and Redacted. Visit Ballen Studios on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts to dive deeper into the strange, dark, and mysterious.