Last month, I got a call from Jackie, one of the members of Minnesota’s Beyond the Veil telling me of a trip they made to Mankato.

It was a lovely day and Jackie and Tammy (another member of the group) decided to enjoy the day and explore the southern tier of Minnesota and stop for a picnic along the way. After a few hours of exploring Mankato and enjoying its sights, they stopped at a large park and enjoyed a short picnic. The park offered various nature trails and they decided to explore one of the trails before heading back home. Both being avid ghost hunters and adhering to the lessons I taught in class, they took their cameras and tape recorders along with them on the trail. Jackie turned on her tape recorder as they entered the trail. Walking along a nature trail is refreshing and relaxing to the body and as they started to enjoy the beauty the trail they suddenly became uncomfortable. “It was as though there were a lot of people there, all watching you.” Jackie said. Tammy took several photos but as they continued to walk down the trail they became so uncomfortable they had to turn around and leave. When they returned home, Jackie discovered a number of evps on her recorder and Tammy for what might be a face in her photo.

“This may be an interesting spot to bring the group for an outing.” Jackie told me. I thought it might be interesting as we have not explored a wooded park before. I also know that Mankato has a rich history of having spiritual activity in it. I sent out invitations to all our members and to all the past students I had. This year I decided to give all my students extra ghost hunting time so I have been inviting them to come along with us on large locations. Each student(s) would be paired with a seasoned ghost hunter and this way they can get advice from the other members as they are searching for that elusive spirit.

On the day of the investigation, it was another lovely day. Not too hot for our hike. Several people joined us for the hunt. We split into 2 groups and agreed on a time to meet back at the shelters and then switch trails. Group A took the high trail and group B took the lower trail.
One thing each of the group had noted was there was a lack of wild life in the area. Granted that the trails are use often, but this should not have affected the birds in the area. The only wild life we found was by the shelters. This was curious as I have walked the trails behind my home many times and always saw some wild life such as birds as well as evidence of tracks on the trail. There was none here and the park is very large.
Not all the reports are in yet, but some had reported to me that in Group A as they were about to enter the wooded area a heavy shadowed figure was spotted. They were close enough to see that this was not an animal. As they approached the area they could see that there would be no where an animal could move to without being seen. No tracks were left behind.
I was in with group B, regretfully, I took the wrong kind of shoes and after going part way, I had to come back. My experience was interesting on this trail was interesting.

When we entered this lower trail, it was as though we entered into a bubble. It was very quiet. Jackie said she was feeling a tingling feeling. When I discovered that I couldn’t walk the trail I was angry with myself for bring the wrong shoes and told the group to go ahead and I went to sit on a log for a short time. When they left I started to feel not alone. I kept looking around to see if anyone else was around, but did not see anyone. I started to explore the area and was asking questions. I got to another location and I had to sit down once again. By this time I was feeling very frustrated. My shoes kept sinking into the mud and wood chip trail. I found another log and sat at it and wondered if I should go back or struggle with the trail. Once again I felt a lot of people around me but on one could be seen. On my tape recorder I got a woman’s voice saying “Kathy you ok?” We are still going over the tapes we have on this investigation but I also have a man’s voice as well as a young woman speaking French. I decided to return to the shelter area.

As I walked the trail, there in the middle of the trail was a black walnut seed. It wasn’t there when we first came in. I thought it was strange and I picked it up. I looked at the trees but I did not see any Black walnut Trees in the area, nor did I see any squirrels that might have brought it there.

Once I returned to the shelter I sat at the bench and started to enjoy the cool breeze and I watched the birds and butterflies flying around. As I did this I saw, from the corner of my eye, a mist standing a short distance away. I thought that was strange and I returned my attention once again to the butterflies. After a short time, I once again saw a misty form appear at the corner of my eye. This time I did not move my head but concentrated on the form. I could see it moving in the open area, but this time it was closer to me than before. Once again, I turned my head and it was gone. I decide to start my recorder and ask questions. This time I was sure I was not alone. I asked some questions and I took some photos. By this time the group returned and we had a light lunch. Jackie told me that 3 times she saw a misty form while walking on the trail. I told her not to tell group A about it so I can see if anyone else would experience that. I also asked her if possibly it could have been the sun drying up the ground creating a mist. She said no. The mist was in an area without the sun and it did not dissipate like steam would. It just was there then gone. While group A explored the lower trail, group B decided to explore the area around the shelter. Group A was gone for some time and group B sat at the shelter waiting for them. I was telling Jackie about the mist I saw and pointed to the direction, which was the direction to the lower trail. As I did a pillar of light about 3 feet tall flashed on the trail. This could not have been someone taking a photo as it was an independent light. Both Jackie and I saw this light. It flashed once again closer to the clearing beyond the trail. Jackie turned on her emf meter and left it on the bench seat. I once again turn on my tape recorder and tried to gather some evps. As I asked questions the emf meter went off. Jackie and I both looked at each other. The shelter doesn’t have any electricity nor are there any power lines nearby to make it go off. If that was the case, the emf meter would have gone off from the time it was started not after a while. What had set it off?

Jackie was feeling a bit nervous about the group on the trail. It seemed as though they were gone for quite a while. While she was watching the trail for them, Jackie yelled out “Did you just see that?” I did not see anything strange. She said she just saw a figure of a man crossing the trail.

Soon after, Kathy A. Returned. She reported seeing a mist then she felt icy cold. She also reported the feeling of being watched on her walk back. When the other members returned they also had had an experience of the icy cold feeling and the feeling of a lot of people in the area even though they could not see anyone.

The park has been an interesting experience for us and it is on our list to return. I will need to check on the history of the area to see why there is so many spirits in this park.

I am looking forward to seeing what evps and photos any one got.