Sighting at East Boulder Lake witnessed in Siskiyou County, California

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I was working as a councilor at wilderness summer camp based at Mosquito Lake. Several councilors would sign up each session for excursions on 1 to 3 nights away in the back country. This hike was during the second session in early July. We had completed the major stretch of the four hour journey when we came over the ridge and could see East Boulder about 3/4 of a mile below. There were 4 councilors and about 25 boys and girls ranging in age from 9 through 15. We had stopped for a last gulp of water at a clearing just below the rim of the ridge when several of the campers began to squeal excitedly and pointing at the steep slope directly to the northeast and to the right of us. Not more than 50 feet away at the same elevation stood an erect hairy creature looking right back at us. One of the kids yelped, "It's a bear!" Tim, one of the councilors, muttered, "That's no bear." The details are still vivin in my memory. The creature was leaning against its left arm which pushed it ou...