r/HighStrangeness • u/iamrachaellee • 1d ago
Personal Experience During Hypothermia, I Saw 7–8 Figures Watching Over Me in my tent - Hallucination, or Something Stranger?
Hallucination or Something More?
I’m an avid hiker and thru-hiker, and I spend a great deal of time outdoors. I’m no stranger to all-season camping. Last year, I was primitive camping at a state park. The forecast was supposed to be clear all weekend, with a low around 60°F, so I brought my lightweight sleeping bag, but I also had all of my emergency layers with me just in case.
A massive rain squall came through unexpectedly. I was camping with three other people, and one of them had an emergency tent issue, their tent was taking on water. I wrapped up, got out of my tent, and helped them fix it before returning to mine.
Knowing I was essentially soaked, I started the process of drying off, putting on all my layers, and warming myself inside my sleeping bag. Almost immediately, I recognized that I was entering that strange place where you can begin experiencing mild hypothermia. My jaw was shivering uncontrollably, and my breathing felt slightly off. I checked my thermometer, and the temperature had dropped to 38°F.
I was slowly warming up, so I knew I was going to be okay, but I became somewhat lightheaded. I closed my eyes, and when I opened them again, in the dimness of my tent, I saw what appeared to be a group of seven or eight figures encircling me and looking down at me.
They appeared to be Indigenous, possibly Native American, shamanic, or spiritual elders, but I can’t identify them as belonging to any particular Indigenous nation, culture, or tradition. They were dressed in animal skins, fur, and leather. The central figure stood out to me most. He was very muscular, perhaps in his late 50s, with a wise expression and chiseled features. Across his chest was a large beaded and metal necklace featuring an eagle with its wings spread widely. The others were similarly dressed, though each appeared somewhat different. It felt as if they were looking through me, judging me deeply and with careful discernment. There was a great deal of reverence in the entire experience.
Instead of being anxious or concerned, I immediately felt a sense of peace fall over me, and my body grew much warmer. The vision remained with me for a while, overlooking me. They didn’t speak to me, but I had a strong sense that I was welcome, and that they were watching over me. Eventually, they slowly faded from view.
I stayed awake for quite a while afterward, feeling completely bewildered by what I had just experienced. Yet strangely, I also felt welcomed. I felt safe in a way that is difficult to explain, safe enough to finally let myself fall into an extremely deep sleep. When I woke the next morning, I felt completely refreshed, more so than I’ve felt in years. I packed up my things and went on to hike an 11-mile trail that day.
I’ve thought about this experience many times over the past year because, in an unexpected way, it changed some of my previously limited views about consciousness, entities, and the possibility that there may be things we simply don’t understand.
The rational, medical part of my brain tells me that hallucinations can occur with hypothermia, and that’s probably the most straightforward explanation. At the same time, the experience didn’t feel like a typical hallucination to me. I was aware of the figures, aware of their presence, and distinctly remember the feeling that they were judging me carefully, then watching over me while I warmed up. There was no sense of fear or confusion while it was happening, only an extraordinary feeling of peace and safety.
I’m not necessarily looking for confirmation that it was something supernatural. I’m genuinely curious how others might interpret an experience like this. And for those familiar with Indigenous traditions, wilderness experiences, or anomalous phenomena, is there any perspective that might help me understand what I experienced?
[The area was near the backcountry of Henry Horton State Park, along the historic Duck River in Chapel Hill, Tennessee.]
Thank you.
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u/JaydicahAmber 1d ago
Wow, maybe they were from the past seeing into the future. Or maybe they were there to keep you safe from the possibility of hypothermia. Either way I have had my share of spiritual experiences. I wouldn’t write it off as hallucinating at all. This is beautiful.
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u/iamrachaellee 1d ago
Thank you, that’s really kind of you to say. I’ve honestly gone back and forth so many times about how I feel about it, and how to interpret it.
The rational side of me knows there are plausible explanations for what happened given my mild hypothermic state, but at the same time, the experience itself felt so real, peaceful, and protective that I’ve never been able to completely dismiss it as “just a hallucination.”
I don’t know what they were, who they were, or why they were there, but I’m grateful that whatever was happening to me made me feel much safer while I was vulnerable. Maybe that’s ultimately what matters most.
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u/honestfyi 1d ago
Again, this is beautiful. I think simple gratitude is an excellent place to file this experience until you’re ready for more information.
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u/Neither_Marketing_72 1d ago
Yes. They were probably having a vision journey of their own in that same area hundreds of years ago and for one brief moment our timelines overlapped
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u/iamrachaellee 22h ago
This is a really neat way to think about this. I’m not familiar with vision journeys so I’ll have to read more about it to understand it further. That feeling of briefly seeing something that didn’t belong to my present moment, yet simultaneously sensing it had a right to be there, is a huge reason why this experience has been so hard for me process.
My brain needs for things to make sense lol! When I can’t file thoughts or experiences under any specific “resolution” category, it genuinely hangs on and rolls around in my head.
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u/Hereiam2018 1d ago
Funny you say this as I was reading the post that was the first thought I had too - they were shamans or elders from the past looking in to the future of the very land they were standing on
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u/iamrachaellee 21h ago
This is one of the things I have been thinking about on and off since last year. In the moment, I didn’t deliberately try to identify them as any particular people or culture, it just felt like I was being judged or assessed by respectful, protective onlookers. It was their simple, beautiful, natural clothing, their physical traits, and the main figure’s jewelry that really struck me.
If this was more than a hallucination, I can’t even begin to imagine what they thought of me. They were definitely reviewing me with intense consideration. I specifically recall somehow knowing that they were far more connected to the land than I was. I am incredibly thankful that it ended up being okay for me to be there!
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u/BrokilonDryad 1d ago
Some sort of “third man syndrome” experience? Fascinating, glad it helped you.
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u/iamrachaellee 1d ago
Thank you, I have never heard of “Third Man Syndrome” before, and I have just started reading about this!
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u/Fart_Connoisseur 1d ago
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u/iamrachaellee 21h ago
Thank you! I am 100% going to check this out. I think I just found both parts of their podcast on YouTube.
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u/Fart_Connoisseur 20h ago
Great! The references and show notes are in the youtube description somewhere if you want to dive deeper.
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u/Remote_Minimum_5046 22h ago
Daniel chapter 3
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u/iamrachaellee 21h ago
The presence of the additional spiritual entity in the fire protecting them, if I didn’t accidently misunderstand your reference, this is really neat to consider!
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u/Remote_Minimum_5046 21h ago
Correct. Most say it was Jesus. Regardless, there are many things around us protecting and harming us, and occasionally we can see through the haze to what is real.
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u/zombies8myhomework 1d ago
More like third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh man syndrome, amiright?
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u/starofthelivingsea 1d ago
Spirit guides, your ancestors or spirits connected to that specific area.
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u/iamrachaellee 8h ago
This is really neat to consider, especially because I felt so safe. Being out in the woods and on trails has always called to me. I want to keep walking! Every time I’m out there, I feel so alive, grounded and connected.
The visitors, whomever or wherever they came from, seemed like they were much more authentically connected to the land itself. I did take a 23andMe genetic test many years ago, now I’m wondering whether there might be aspects of my ancestry or family history that I don’t fully understand yet. Thanks for taking the time to comment!
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u/divertss 1d ago
Fascinating story - thanks for sharing!
I have a similar story as well. Was camping in January with 3 other people. Temp dropped more than I was prepared for, fire wasn't keeping me warm. Was pretty desperate for heat but couldn't get it.
At some point I went unconscious. During this time my friends said some kind of creature, about 50ft away started screeching and making crazy noises that they've never heard before and shaking trees. It ran up on our camp sight, they described it as 8ft, not human, and not like anything they've ever seen. They ran and left me unconscious. (Understandable)
I woke up while they were gone and felt intense peace and tranquility and was no longer cold. After probably 20 minutes of sitting in this wonderful feeling, the people I was with came back and were freaking out asking what happened and all that. I had no idea what they were talking about and it was only when they relayed the scene did I learn what happened.
They no longer felt comfortable to stay and so we packed up and went home immediately.
I personally never witnessed the creature. But I was in a spiral and without whatever intervention had happened I likely would've died. I got a bit of frostbite and my legs were purple for a couple of months - but this was a long time ago and I'm completely fine now.
My story is different in some ways, but I feel like you and I had a very similar experience. Very cool!
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u/iamrachaellee 1d ago edited 1d ago
Wow, that is similar. There’s always something wild and unexplained in the backcountry lol! It’s cool that you experienced that intense feeling of peace and warmth as well. Maybe I was closer to a higher level of hypothermia than I originally thought before I finally warmed up.
I didn’t mean to lol, but in my mind I saw your friends running off, leaving you there passed out while this big waving wookie thing was running all around the campsite - and you’re just laying there. I’m glad you’re okay, but I’d be like, guys, really?! Throw some sticks or rocks or something lol!
That was crazy to wake up to. I’m glad you recovered from the frost bite. We both learned the hard way that cold weather or rain sucksss!😂 Thanks for sharing this. I honestly didn’t expect someone to come along with a camping experience that had an unusual intervention that helped them. 🥾
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u/honestfyi 1d ago
Ooh! This combination of experiences is super interesting to read. My best guess is that u/divertss may have been visited by Sabe.
Sabe is the aniishinaabek name for the cryptid most people refer to as Bigfoot. According to my indigenous friends, Sabe is real, a guardian of the forest, and doesn’t often interact because he/they are not happy about the way humans have stopped living in co-creation with nature.
Or that’s my paraphrased understanding.
This is really cool because in my mind these two experiential data points are lining up to point toward a pattern.
Yes, I know two data points can be made into a line that points at literally any conclusion, which is why I love extrapolating from hilariously tiny data sets. But I do genuinely mean it when I say that I believe both of these experiences are more connected than might have been obvious at first.
The best way I can put it into words right now is that both of you were being helped / protected by the ones who are here to care for Turtle Island. (I’m assuming you both were somewhere in North or South America when this happened.)
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u/YJeezy 1d ago
I choose to believe your lived reality vs rational assumptions
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u/iamrachaellee 7h ago
Thank you, this means a lot. It’s been difficult for me to reconcile the experience with the medical explanations that may have contributed to it.
I’ve had such a hard time internally categorizing this. I know there are plausible medical explanations given my temporarily weakened state, but I also know what I experienced and how profoundly real and meaningful it felt to me. Thank you for giving me a sense of validation.
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u/freedcreativity 1d ago
Wonderful experience, truly why I read posts on this sub Reddit. Thank you for sharing.
Have you ever gone back to where it happened?
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u/honestfyi 1d ago
Oh that’s a great question!
If OP does, I’d strongly encourage them to bring a bit of tobacco to leave there as an offering / thank you.
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u/iamrachaellee 21h ago
I go there very often! I just haven’t been back since last year when this happened. I usually wait for the shoulder seasons, and currently I’m waiting on less than 90+ degree weather. If I went now they might come back and wonder why I was trying my hand with a heat stroke this time just to see them again LOL! I will absolutely bring a bit of tobacco and leave it if would be appropriate.
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u/usps_made_me_insane 23h ago
This is one of your personal spiritual experiences. As people go through life, they have experiences that show us that reality is far deeper than just the physical domain we occupy daily.
Only you can internalize it and explore the deeper meaning it has for you and your worldview. You don't need to argue its validity with others or defend it.
It is great that you shared it because these stories help us understand rhe greater significances of this world. I know how difficult it can be to share these stories personally with loved ones
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u/iamrachaellee 7h ago
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. I was honestly worried about sharing the experience in general, but the longer I kept thinking about it, the more I realized I needed to reach a little further outside of my family and friend circle for a broader perspective. I feel like most of them would think I was a bit looney lol!
There are so many things I thought I understood before this experience, and now I realize there is still so much more that I don’t understand.
Your comment really resonates with me, instead of trying to force myself to have everything “make sense”, I think I’m learning that I don’t necessarily have to categorize the experience in order for it to have meaning.
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u/Remote_Minimum_5046 22h ago
Angels
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u/iamrachaellee 20h ago
This crossed my mind too, I honestly don’t know what or who they were. I’m definitely grateful for the experience no matter what.
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u/PublicHouseOfCripps 1d ago
Yes very normal I think there are stories in northern countries about those things to warn children of the effects of hypothermia.
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u/Magnum_44 12h ago
I had something similar 23 years ago. But it was a very high fever. I very well may have had a NDE. But instead of indigenous figures, mine were hooded and cloaked figures judging me. It felt like I somehow got a second chance.
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u/iamrachaellee 7h ago
Wow, thank you for sharing this. It’s amazing you had such a similar experience under different circumstances.
I completely relate to the judgment aspect. It was almost as if I could literally feel them looking through me and weighing who I was. I’ll never forget that unique feeling.
Whatever the explanation may be, I think it’s awesome they decided to let us stick around lolll!
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u/djinnisequoia 23h ago
OP: Perhaps your being somewhat closer to death ór ín à crisís put you in a space in between, where you were more accessible to be examined in terms of your nature or character than modern humans generally are. So maybe you helped them get a better understanding of what manner of people have come to inhabit the world.
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u/Ess_Mans 20h ago
I kind of agree. So do you think these were a type of spiritual watchers of the land or maybe dimensional walkers, which op experienced?
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u/djinnisequoia 19h ago
Aotocthonous, probably. Attached to the land. Possibly ancestral, although that seems a large contingent. More likely regional.
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u/iamrachaellee 20h ago
Really good point. I have been thinking a lot about the experience, but it’s mostly been from my limited perspective, I never really considered the possibility that I was the unusual thing from their perspective!
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u/StocksInCocks 11h ago
Before I finished reading this I knew you were in Tennessee. Appalachia is something else.
Did you hear anyone say your name?
Feel free to Dm if you want to exchange some stories. I grew up in the mountains and they are alive.
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u/iamrachaellee 7h ago
No, they definitely didn’t speak. That would have been scary, I probably would have keeled over for sure! Lol!
I remember the feeling of being watched over very clearly, though. That’s one of the details that has really stuck with me. And I think I’m understanding a lot more now about the mountains being alive.
There really is something about being out there that feels different, it absolutely draws me in every time!
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u/Raveyard2409 1d ago
All I would say is that if hallucinations felt like hallucinations, they wouldn't be scary. Like, yeah it feels real to you, that's what a hallucination is.
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u/iamrachaellee 20h ago
Exactly! That’s part of why I’ve never really felt like “a hallucination” settled the question for me. I understand the neurological/medical explanations, but knowing what may have caused it didn’t necessarily change what the experience itself felt like.
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u/ehdyn 33m ago
Experienced something similar but nowhere near as dramatic.
Suffered a leg injury.. had to sleep where I was because I couldn’t walk. Temperature dropped - was dozing in and out.
Felt a distinct presence comforting me and warming me up. I thought oh how nice and when I opened my eyes no one was there.
Was a bit baffling because I had just felt them rubbing my shoulder and I thought for sure someone would be there but nope.
Never understood that so I was happy to see your story. Interesting
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u/honestfyi 1d ago
This is an amazing story. Thank you for sharing it.
I have someone I can ask for an interpretation. I'll report back if/when I learn something.