NUFORC Sighting 93380

Occurred: 1982-08-05 23:00 Local
Reported: 2012-10-07 00:00 Pacific
Duration: 30 minutes
No of observers: 100

Location: Banks Lake, WA, USA

Shape: Other
Characteristics: Left a trail

Oct. 6, 12 Mr Davenport, My wife, grandsons and I attended your lecture tonight at the Harrington Opera house, we enjoyed your presentation. Thanks for spending the time to inform your neighbours.

I approached you after your presentation and you asked me to write down my question and send it to you. So, here goes. I remember an incident where we were uncertain about what we witnessed. Unfortunately I don’t remember the year this event happened but it may correspond with other reports in your records.

Approximately 30 years ago my family and I were camping at Steamboat State Park on Banks Lake. Steamboat State Park is a large campground; even 30 years ago it had a capacity of 100 or more campsites. I do remember that it was at an annual family reunion that is always scheduled for the first week of August. Late in the warm clear summer evening somewhere around 11 pm we finished playing a card game and left our screen tent. Our entire group immediately noticed what appeared to be an odd looking "vapour trail" in the sky. It ran from the SE to the NW. We are all accustomed to seeing vapour trails that are created by jet planes but this one was very different. It appeared to be much lower in elevation and seemed to generate its own green tinted light. We know that a vapour trail may pick up light from some other source and reflect it. To our estimation there was no green tinted light source that would illuminate this trail in the air. The trail reached from one horizon to the other and was of a consistent color and intensity.

This vapour trail was so unusual that within a few minutes’ people all over the campground were stirring from their campers and tents to view it. We remember that people were waking their sleeping children to see it. Many people were so alarmed by it that they went to their vehicles and were scanning the radio stations to see if something dramatic had happened. Over the next half hour an atmosphere of alarm and fear was felt in the entire campground. It eventually dissipated and people began to settle down.

I have no idea of what happened or what caused the trail in the sky, never heard any explanation. If there is some connection with a sighting in that area I would be interested in knowing.

Thanks for your time, keep up the good work.

((name deleted)) Davenport, WA 509-725-3765

Posted 2012-10-30