Brown Mountain Lights
On Thursday, April 13th at just after 8 pm, Craig saw a bright white light at the ridge line between Hawks Bill Mtn. and Table Rock Mtn. which lasted no more than 3 seconds and covered a distance of approximately 50 feet. This light returned about 3 minutes later very close to the same location and was witnessed by Craig and Daniel. A few minutes earlier Craig saw a single white light that was dim on Brown Mtn. about halfway up that was followed within a minute by a series of 3-5 lights that appeared in succession of about 1/2 second apart in a straight line left to right. We were at Wisemans View in the Linville Gorge wilderness and due to the distance from Brown Mtn. nothing conclusive can be determined. We did not hear anything connected to the light, but distance and the Linville River's noise probably canceled it out. If these sightings are explained away, they were certainly exciting at the time! Thanks once again to Miskatonic University's ancient history department for sponsoring the trip.
RESULTS OF RETURN TRIP MAY 15--We explored the area where the lights were spotted and found that there are not any roads, but there is a hiking trail. It is possible that late night hikers produced the lights we witnessed. What are the odds of people taking the time and effort to be in such a remote area on foot after dark to conduct such a hoax? Well, I suppose it doesn't really matter, because the doubt is there, but we saw what we saw, we just dont know what they were!
September 2007
NiteWatch attended the Second Annual Brown Mountain Lights Festival in Linville. There were musicians, storytellers, authors, and others relating stories and accounts of the lights. After supper at the Pineola Italian Restaurant and ogling over a Ferrari F430, we went to Wiseman's View over the Linville Gorge for a chance to see the lights. There was a huge crowd of people with the large parking area overflowing with cars. We saw many lights, but none seemed to be of an unexplained nature.