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The West is not just about the varied terrain in which we live, but the collection of perspectives and realities of the people who occupy this inspiring land. Add your voice to High Country News – or enjoy those of other readers – and embrace your community of fellow people who care about the West.

finishedThis contest has ended.

My Strangest Encounter with a Person, Place, or Thing in the West

Entries: (11)
Began: Jul 05, 2010
Ended: Aug 16, 2010

SUBMIT your story starting July 5, through midnight, August 1, 2010. VOTE for your favorites through midnight, August 15, 2010.
(Read more ...)

Winning Entry

votes
130

Room With A View

by sebreno — A picturesque view can distort one's perception

Blue Whale Units

by rkatz — Jul 14, 2010

Apt comparisons are sometimes elusive, but comparing the size of a giant tree to a creature that lives in the ocean and is rarely seen in its entirety is not that useful. How many blue whales do "fit" in a giant Sequoia?

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116
14

Skin-Walker

by EAnglin — Jul 26, 2010

A spirit medium describes her strangest experience of paranormal activity in the west.

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19
2

The Kaibab Hum

by mtnpoppies — Jul 26, 2010

It only happened at dusk and at night and I was the only one to hear it. It sounded like underground drilling for uranium.

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16

Why I Hugged A Stranger Today

by gretchenscutts — Jul 26, 2010

A wildersness encounter between two disparate hikers.

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13

Watering the Concrete

by Alpine — Jul 05, 2010

Rattles, fangs and a shovel.

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7

The Illusive Storm

by gwenhoffnagle — Jul 12, 2010

A scary and unusual thunderstorm.

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5
1

Afternoon of the Fawn

by marco — Jul 26, 2010

A disturbing discovery along the Cross Mountain Trail in Colorado.

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4
2

Lion Tamer

by wv987 — Aug 01, 2010

An unexpected and unrequited encounter with a mountain lion high in the Sierra Nevada.

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2

My Strangest Encounter with a Person, Place or Thing in the West

by pagosawriter — Jul 26, 2010

All the things that happened on one trip across Nevada.

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2

A Different Kind of Cow Pie

by EdithIsidoro — Aug 01, 2010

A female college student finds a very unusual cow pie that isn't a cow pie after all. Her reaction to finding this unusual cow pie surprises her coworkers such that they never again tease her about what she'll do if she finds a rattle snake.

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1

The title pretty much sums it up, don't you think?

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