Stories about mountain climbing are endless – the higher the mountain, the more “spiritual” it is. Many experienced hikers know that strange things encountered in the mountains should be approached with reverence. A netizen shared a bizarre incident their relative experienced while hiking a high peak. This usually skeptical relative never dared to challenge that mountain again afterward.
The netizen posted on the Facebook group “Paranormal Community” sharing an eerie story, saying that their elder family member, called Gao Bo, loved hiking when he was young. Once, while challenging one of the high peaks around Taichung with friends, they hired a local guide who was very experienced. However, halfway up the first ridge, the guide’s expression suddenly turned grim as he silently stared behind them. Gao Bo sensed something was wrong and wanted to ask, but the guide signaled for him to “stop asking questions.”
When they reached the second ridge, the guide suggested setting up camp and resting. That’s when someone noticed a surprisingly clean “three-seater sofa” nearby. Though feeling puzzled, everyone was too tired and sore from the climb, so they prepared to sit down. But the guide suddenly tensed up, pulling everyone back up without saying a word. This unusual action made the group suspicious, and they pressed for answers, but the guide remained silent and firmly led them away.
After dinner, the guide said the weather didn’t look good and advised everyone to descend quickly. When they all finally reached the rest area at the trailhead, the guide explained that after completing the first ridge, they had seen a “mountain spirit” following them from a distance. Normally, if a mountain spirit realizes it can't get close, it will leave. But this one seemed malicious—even though he had prepared protective items, it still didn’t go away. There was also a sofa that shouldn’t have been there at all. “A circle of mountain spirits surrounded the sofa, as if waiting to snatch them,” the guide said. He believed that if they continued, more spirits might appear, which is why he insisted on descending.
Everyone went home half-believing, half-doubting. Later, Gao Bo received photos from his friend taken during the hike, some of which were shot at the campsite—right where the sofa had appeared. At that time, everyone had seen the sofa, “yet in the photos, there was nothing there.” The story gave netizens the creeps. Comments included: “Mountain stories are always especially eerie,” “Gave me goosebumps and made the hairs on my neck stand up,” and “Can you tell us which mountain it was?”