Long trail of 13" long human-like footprints found in deep snow and rough terrain witnessed in Swain County, North Carolina

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I was backpacking alone last weekend (January 5 and 6 1998)when I ascended into a snow and ice encrusted box like canyon. The snow and ice had stuck around for several days and was quite deep in this secluded section of the trail. As I was ascending the steep switchbacks, I came across a series of large bare human footprints in the snow. These footprints continued intermittently (because there were patches of rock and solid ice as well as snow)for about a mile and a half of steep trail. The tracks were headed North on the trail (in the same direction that I was headed). Since I was alone and would be spending the night alone, I convinced myself that the tracks were simply the work of hoaxsters. I could not allow myself to become frightened by what I saw by believing in their reality. I also refused to let myself take a picture of the tracks, as that would lend credibility to them in my mind (remember- I was backpacking totally alone and unarmed). The tracks were slightly larger...