This is a tale of danger and deceit, a story of riches found and fortunes lost; a trail that led to the brink of madness and beyond. Take heed, stranger, and read on at your risk. For I have met the Zombie Woof and have been...changed. You have been warned.

I remember first hearing the stories about Zombie Woof back when I was a boy, while on camping trips at Joshua Tree. They were scary tales told around the campfire by parents or scout leaders; they seemed to grow more frightening with each telling. And when my friends and I would later ask a park ranger about the Zombie Woof, he would confirm the stories were true and add gruesome facts about the half-eaten remains of hikers who were foolish enough to search for the Woof. Apparently, Hidden Valley was home to the bloodthirsty creature, reportedly living in a cave filled with human bones. Bill Keys once tried to track the monster down and barely returned alive. He never spoke of what happened that dark winter day, and later used dynamite to try and block the opening of the valley. But the legend remained....

Ok, about 98% of that is fiction. I was just feeling a bit dramatic after returning home from my last visit to J Tree. It was a bit of a stormy day, with cool temperatures and dark, forbidden skies. Hiking through the desert, the wind would sometimes howl and the truth is, it was a bit creepy. Because I actually was looking for the Zombie Woof. And I found it.