The Ape Canyon Attack

In July 1924, a group of five miners working on Mount St. Helens, Washington claimed they were attacked by a group of large, ape-like creatures. The beings allegedly threw rocks at their cabin throughout the night. The site was subsequently named Ape Canyon, and the incident became a foundational case in Bigfoot lore.

The Miners

The group included:

• Fred Beck
• Gabe Lefever
• John Peterson
• Marion Smith
• Smith’s son Roy
• Prospecting for gold

The Location

They were working:

• On Mount St. Helens
• In a remote canyon
• Mining claim
• Isolated cabin
• Dense forest surroundings

The Encounter

The incident unfolded:

• Miners saw strange creatures
• One was allegedly shot at
• That night, the cabin was attacked
• Rocks thrown at the structure
• Attack lasted hours

The Creatures

The miners described:

• 7-8 feet tall
• Ape-like appearance
• Walking upright
• Covered in hair
• Aggressive behavior

The Attack

During the night:

• Rocks pounded the cabin
• The structure was shaken
• Creatures on the roof
• Miners fired through walls
• Terrorized until dawn

The Aftermath

At dawn:

• The creatures departed
• Miners fled the mountain
• Reported to authorities
• Press covered the story
• Search parties found nothing

Press Coverage

The story received:

• Newspaper coverage
• National attention
• Mixed reactions
• Some believed, many skeptical
• “Ape Canyon” name stuck

Fred Beck’s Account

The primary witness:

• Wrote a book in 1967
• Maintained the account
• Added spiritual elements
• Believed creatures were paranormal
• Never recanted

Investigation

At the time:

• Rangers searched
• Large footprints reported
• No creatures found
• Area remote and difficult
• Evidence was limited

Skeptical Views

Critics suggested:

• Pranksters rolling rocks
• Exaggeration of wildlife
• Possible hoax
• No physical evidence
• However, witnesses were consistent

The Name Ape Canyon

The location:

• Was named for the incident
• Appears on maps today
• (Largely buried by 1980 eruption)
• A Bigfoot landmark
• Tourist interest

Significance

The Ape Canyon attack is significant for:

• Early Bigfoot encounter
• Multiple witnesses
• Dramatic events
• Enduring place name
• Foundation of modern Bigfoot stories

Legacy

The Ape Canyon incident established many tropes that would define later Bigfoot encounters: multiple witnesses, remote location, and aggressive but ultimately elusive creatures. Whether truth or tall tale, it became foundational to Sasquatch lore.