Episode
S5 E22: Terrifying Monsters of The Appalachian Trail
- Podcast
- That Would Be Rad
- Published
- Sep 8, 2025
- Duration seconds
- 5942
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Summary
On a clear night along the Appalachian Trail, you might expect to hear the wind through the trees, the crunch of your boots on gravel, maybe the call of a whip-poor-will in the distance. But for over two centuries, hikers, settlers, and locals have reported something else: strange creatures lurking just beyond the campfire glow. From apple-snatching tricksters in Pennsylvania to headless hulks in West Virginia, the Appalachian Mountains are alive with legends of monsters that refuse to be forgotten. This week, we dive deep into the cryptid lore of Appalachia. You’ll hear about: The mischievous Albatwitch , stealing apples along the Susquehanna. The terrifying Flatwoods Monster (“Braxie”), glowing-eyed and hooded in red. The ghostly White Thangs , pale cousins of Bigfoot. The stinking, swamp-stalking Skunk Apes of the southern Appalachians. Ole Slewfoot , the three-legged bear-beast of Balsam Mountain. Pukwudgies , magical tricksters of Wampanoag legend. The Loveland Frogmen , bipedal frogs on the edge of Ohio. The vampire-like Appalachian Chupacabra . Raven Mockers , shape-shifting omens of death that feast on human hearts. The mist-born Smoke Wolves , red-eyed predators that vanish into fog. Wampus Cats , half-woman, half-beast curses from Cherokee legend. The dragonlike Snallygaster , feared by early German settlers. The lumbering, headless Grafton Monster of West Virginia. And of course… the legendary Mothman , Appalachia’s most infamous omen. We’ll explore: Eyewitness encounters that still haunt people decades later. How folklore blends with tragedy, history, and cultural memory. Why so many cryptid sightings cluster along the Appalachian Trail. And what these stories say about our deepest fears of the dark woods. Join us as we trek into the shadows and unravel the…