Buff Ledge Camp Abduction
On August 7, 1967, two teenage camp employees at Buff Ledge Camp on Lake Champlain witnessed a UFO display and experienced missing time. Years later, under hypnosis, both independently recalled being taken aboard a craft and examined by small beings. Their separate accounts showed remarkable consistency despite having had no contact for over a decade.
The Buff Ledge Camp abduction is a compelling case of apparent alien abduction involving two witnesses who, after years of lost memories, independently recalled consistent experiences under hypnosis. A teenage boy and girl at a Vermont summer camp witnessed something extraordinary over Lake Champlain, and the full story of what happened to them that night would not emerge for over a decade.
August 7, 1967
The incident occurred at Buff Ledge Camp on Lake Champlain:
Location: Buff Ledge Camp, a prestigious girls’ summer camp in Vermont.
The Witnesses: Michael (16) was a maintenance worker; Janet (19, pseudonym) was a water ski instructor.
The Setting: Late afternoon, the camp was quiet as most staff and campers were away at a swim meet.
Activity: The two teenagers sat on a dock, looking out over the lake.
The Initial Sighting
Strange lights appeared over the lake:
First Light: A bright light appeared in the sky, moving erratically.
Multiple Objects: The light split into smaller objects that performed impossible maneuvers.
Display: The objects seemed to be putting on an aerial display - diving, hovering, and moving at incredible speeds.
Approach: One object broke from the group and approached the dock.
The Close Encounter
The object came terrifyingly close:
The Craft: A disc-shaped craft with a dome descended toward them.
Size: Approximately 50 feet in diameter.
Proximity: It hovered directly over them, just above the water.
The Beam: A bright beam of light engulfed both witnesses.
The Gap
The next clear memory was strange:
Sudden Darkness: Both remembered it suddenly being dark.
Confusion: They felt disoriented and confused.
The Object: They watched a light disappear across the lake.
Silence: Neither spoke much about what had happened.
Separation: Michael left the camp soon after; they lost touch completely.
The Years Between
Life went on, but something remained:
Michael’s Dreams: He experienced recurring nightmares about the event.
Janet’s Silence: She rarely thought about that evening but had vague feelings of unease.
No Contact: The two had no communication for over ten years.
1978: Michael began researching UFOs and realized his experience might be significant.
The Investigation
Michael sought answers:
Walter Webb: A respected UFO researcher took on the case.
Hypnosis: Both Michael and Janet agreed to hypnotic regression - separately.
Separate Sessions: They were hypnotized independently, with no contact between them.
Documentation: Webb carefully documented both accounts.
Michael’s Recovered Memories
Under hypnosis, Michael recalled:
The Beam: Being drawn up into the craft by the light beam.
Inside the Craft: Being in a circular room with other beings.
The Beings: Small, thin creatures with large heads and large, dark eyes.
The Examination: Being placed on a table and examined with strange instruments.
Communication: Feeling thoughts in his mind rather than hearing speech.
Janet’s Recovered Memories
Janet, independently, recalled:
The Same Beam: Also being taken up into the craft.
Similar Interior: Describing a similar circular room.
The Same Beings: Describing the same type of small, large-eyed creatures.
Her Examination: Being examined on a table with devices scanning her body.
Separation: Being aware that Michael was also aboard but being kept separate.
The Consistency
The two accounts were remarkably consistent:
Physical Details: Both described similar craft interior and beings.
Sequence of Events: The order of events matched.
Specific Details: Small details - like being returned to the dock wet - matched.
Emotional Tone: Both conveyed similar feelings of fear and helplessness.
No Contamination: Having had no contact for years, mutual influence was impossible.
The Beings
Both witnesses described similar entities:
Size: Small, approximately 4 feet tall.
Heads: Large, hairless heads.
Eyes: Large, dark, almond-shaped eyes.
Skin: Grayish skin.
Communication: Telepathic rather than verbal.
Demeanor: Clinical and curious, not cruel.
The Return
Both recalled being returned:
The Dock: They were placed back on the dock.
Wet Clothes: Their clothes were wet, consistent with being near or in water.
Suggestion: They seemed to have been given a mental suggestion to forget.
Confusion: Both felt dazed and confused.
Departure: They watched the light leave across the lake.
Physical Effects
There were lasting effects:
Michael’s Health: He reported various health issues over the years.
Janet’s Memories: Even before hypnosis, she had vague disturbing memories.
Psychological Impact: Both experienced anxiety related to the event.
Dreams: Recurring dreams about the experience.
Credibility Factors
Several elements support the account:
Independent Recall: Two separate witnesses with matching accounts.
No Contact: No possibility of coordinating stories.
Reluctant Witnesses: Neither sought publicity.
Professional Investigation: Webb conducted a thorough, careful investigation.
Consistency: Both accounts remained stable over time.
Skeptical Considerations
Critics have raised questions:
Hypnosis: Recovered memories under hypnosis are controversial.
Leading Questions: Could hypnosis have created false memories?
Cultural Influence: Were their memories shaped by UFO culture?
Response: The consistency between two separate accounts is difficult to explain through suggestion alone.
Legacy
The Buff Ledge case matters because:
- Two independent witnesses recalled consistent experiences
- They had no contact for over a decade before hypnosis
- The investigation was conducted carefully by a respected researcher
- The case provides some of the best evidence for the consistency of abduction accounts
- It suggests either a real shared experience or remarkable psychological phenomenon
What happened to two teenagers on a Vermont dock that summer evening remains unexplained. Their consistent memories, recovered separately after years of silence, suggest they shared an experience that defies conventional explanation.
Sources
- Walter Webb investigation
- Hypnosis session transcripts
- Witness testimonies
- “Encounter at Buff Ledge” by Walter Webb