“Whispering Pines,” a chilling night of camping I’ll never forget.

When I was 7 my family went on a camping trip to a park in northern Missouri, in the Ozark foothills. Dad worked a 12 hour shift and it had been a long drive to get to this camp. It was now 11:00, late for any of us to be up. But my sister (older) and I were wide awake, excited to explore the camp the following day.<br><br>We had just settled into bed and my dad was starting the campfire. My little brother was already asleep, he was always a heavy sleeper and was 2. He slept right through my dad setting up the tent. My mom, dad, and my brother went to sleep immediately after the fire got going. My sister and I couldn’t sleep. <br><br>I have no idea why, but we decided to go on a little adventure. We scurried around our campsite quietly, trying to not wake anyone. We didn’t have flashlights and the only light was the dying campfire. Neither of us knew the layout of the park. We had only been here for a little over an hour and had arrived in complete darkness. I remember there was a lot of tall conifers that surrounded our campsite. It was pitch black, all that was separating us from the wilderness was a 6 foot chain link fence.<br><br>As children do, we were curious and walked along the fence. Suddenly we were startled as a park ranger jeep came flying from around a curve, slinging gravel and heading straight for us. The light on the roof and the fog lights were blinding and we couldn’t see inside the cab. My sister and I bolted straight up a 35 degree, 50 foot tall pine tree. We literally, like Spiderman, sprinted straight up the tree and perched on a branch. We hid there for several minutes, my sister clutching my arm with all her might. <br><br>The park ranger had stopped where we were and had stepped out and looked around, like he was looking for someone. Then he grabbed his spotlight and pointed it into the sub-canopy. I distinctly remember the sound of leaves crackling and the light beam shining through the leaves. It was like something out of a horror movie and I still get chill thinking back on it. <br><br>After 10 minutes or so the park ranger looked around and got in his jeep and left. My sister and I quickly got down and ran toward the campsite. We didn’t stop until we got inside the tent and shut the flap. My parents woke up, I assume from banging around the tent. <br><br>“Girls! What’s wrong??”<br><br>My sister and I didn’t say a word. We just shook our heads and tightened our grip on each other. <br><br>“Fine,” sighed mom. “Go to sleep.”<br><br>I never forgot that night. I always wondered who the park ranger was looking for. I now suspect it was someone who was doing nefarious things and was trying to kidnap campers. I wish I could find out more about this night, but it happened nearly 20 years ago. I’ll never forget it. To the park ranger I evaded that night, thank you. I don’t know who you were looking for, but it wasn’t me. LNM.<br><br><br>EDIT: Thanks for the awards guys! To answer a few questions, I think it was a forest service ranger, not a park ranger. When I say “park” in the Ozarks, it can be confusing. Its not a park in the sense that there aren’t actually parks or sub-parks inside the park. Its a national forest, so there are many “parks” that are little more than campsites and picnic spots. We stayed at something called Whispering Pines, but that wasn’t a park. It was a small group of campsites with a vault toilet. <br><br>Regarding the ranger, I agree it was likely a drug bust. The Ozarks are notorious for methamphetamine production and the national forests are a place these people can operate and not be noticed. I imagine the ranger had been tipped off about a production operation in the woods and that’s what we stumbled upon. I dont think he was looking for us, and that’s why we were able to lose him by hiding in the tree. <br><br>I don’t remember the time, but it was around midnight. I don’t think there was a curfew. I remember my dad saying he was glad the park didn’t have one. Lol.