Dundas Peak is one of Canada's most popular hiking areas. It has an unbelievably picturesque perspective that overlooks Hamilton, Ontario. There has been a substantial rise in the number of missing people since the peak became a destination for hikers, according to local authorities.
When a woman posted a photo from her relaxing vacation there, she couldn't have predicted that it would go viral. She didn't understand why until she took a closer look.
When a woman posted a photo from her relaxing vacation there, she couldn't have predicted that it would go viral. She didn't understand why until she took a closer look.
The Spot Where It All Took Place
The spot became a popular platform for people to target because of the frightening design and elegance of the ground.
But now there was something else on everyone's minds and there was evidence to prove it.
Missing People Cases
From 2016, more than 140,000 tourists took a trip to Dundas Peak, given these warnings and the potential dangers of the mountain. Few have never again been found after going missing.
One of these travelers did not know that they would create a very unique chapter in the history of Dundas Mountain.
The Photo in Question
The picture taken was of a man in a pose common among the photographers on the brink of the peak. His photograph seemed to be no different from anybody else's. There was nothing to see here. Or was there?
Perched on the edge, he wore a black jacket and jeans and had a leg sticking over the abyss' edge. No one had noticed what lurked behind in the background yet.
Trying to Repeat It
His cousin, Kim, saw his pictures, and some days later, she and her friend planned to go to the peak themselves. She decided to pay a babysitter to look after her child and headed to the summit to reconstruct the portrait of her cousin.
The women walked the 2.4-mile circular path to the spot they wanted. They turned to pose and recreate the shot, not realizing that something suspicious was to be found in those very photos just a tad bit later.
Something Shiny Was Hidden
They stood at the edge of the cliff to replicate the image, risking death. That is when they saw something gleaming beneath. They noticed, though, that they were not taking a glance at the water below. It was something that was a lot closer.
Somebody placed a set of keys about three feet away dangling from the root down below.
A Lost Car Key
Kim sat closer carefully, leaning as far as she could on the edge. The person who had lost the keys clearly wanted them back badly. She was sitting on her belly when she finally got hold of them. She understood very little that what she did right there would prove to be very significant.
When she had the keys in her hands, she looked at them and found that there was a key for a Hyundai Elantra.
Nobody in Sight
It started getting late and the pair thought it'd be better to go back to their cars and finish their hike. Before the park was closed, they had to come back, that was the policy. The two knew about all of the people who disappeared and did not want to remain on the mountain during the evening.
They hurried back along the road, all the while terrified that no one else would appear anywhere. Then something unexpected happened that sent chills down their spines.
Found the Vehicle
The two women got increasingly uncomfortable when they walked to the parking lot, as it was exceptionally quiet and empty. Only two vehicles, theirs and one other were left on the property. As they searched closer, they found that the Hyundai Elantra was the other vehicle. It was rusty and dirty, indicating that it had been there for a long time.
It was getting way too dark now and the duo did not want to hang around. The girls decided to put the keys on the car's roof while discussing their plan of action in an attempt that the driver could locate them easily. But the same car was shown on TV one week later.
What Happened to the Woman?
A female visitor was supposedly missing as per the sources. Police already found her car in the car park, but they didn't know where she was.
The announcement surprised the duo naturally. Time went on, and the duo all but forgot about the photographs that they took on the cliff until someone made a remark on Reddit which would set the story in motion yet again.
A Clue Might Have Been Hidden
Kim could not even believe her eyes, she couldn't believe that the person was actually right. The pictures of her and the photo that her cousin took were there, uploaded on the internet. They were being shared side-by-side, with thousands of individuals reading, watching, and exchanging the photos.
A single analyst discovered it. In the context of her cousin's picture, there was a tiny but important item in the background. When she saw it, she spoke to the other Reddit members directly in the expectation that they would help her get the answers she was looking for.
Going Viral
Kim's friend said, “So a little backstory. Around a month ago, my friend and I went hiking at Dundas Peak in Hamilton, Ontario…”
She followed it up by saying, “She suggested this location because her cousin went there a few days before us and posted an Instagram of him sitting on the edge of a cliff looking over Hamilton and the Niagara Escarpment. When we got there, we took turns recreating the photo.”
A Person in the Photo
She went on by saying, “Today, she messaged me when she noticed something obscurely in the background in her cousin’s photograph…”
“Way below the edge of the trail, where the slope is too steep to stand on, there appears to be a thin person standing unnaturally straight with no visible face.” It wasn't unusual for someone else to be in the picture, but something she was ready to finally discover would alter their lives forever.
Was It the Missing Woman?
Kim's friend said: “I know you’re probably thinking that is probably just a brave hiker… but trust me, that spot is completely inaccessible. Maybe it isn’t a person? But I’m not sure what else it can be. I was hoping those who have also been to Dundas Peak and have taken a similar picture could share it. Hopefully, we can figure out what… we’re looking at.”
The report for the missing person described the woman as large, describing her wearing clothing and saying she was last seen wearing jeans and a light gray sweater.
Just a Play of Shadows
The most interesting aspect is that no other pictures taken at Dundas Peak feature the person that appeared in his. Why did the incredible personage not show in the 10,000 other pictures taken in that place if it was just a play of shadows or some kind of a trick of the light?
The comments continued to flow effortlessly in. As you can imagine, every person has their own opinion and there is no shortage of users on the internet who want to be heard.
A Paranormal Occurrence?
There were many people who immediately indicated that many people had vanished in Dundas Peak and around it. They claimed that the incredible figure was an unhappy hiker who encountered a horrible end in the hills.
Although the picture was disturbing to the minority, many others claimed that a fair clarification should be given. But what might even be the logical explanation here?
The Melting Ice Poles
The "form" was speculated on by a user that the shadow played a trick on the eye while falling on the rock face and thus causing the illusion. One stated that it was time to blame the melting ice poles for it. That one was obviously just making fun of everyone who thought it was a paranormal occurrence.
Then, finally, somebody provided the most probable answer: “Sorry to burst all your bubbles, but there’s a trail that leads up to that area and goes around the escarpment just under the rocks. That is, most likely, a person hiking around.”
Claiming It Was Them
In reality, a Reddit user called "tharchitect42" reported that he had created the uncertainty himself one time. The user claimed they climbed on Dundas Peak many times. Nevertheless, on the very day the eerie photo was taken, he was also hiking around there. And that wasn't everything he said...
He also remembered that he had dark jeans and a white jacket on, which looked like the mystery person in the photo. Could it be that he was the person everyone was looking at?
An Unfortunate Turn of Events
None of these claims were impressive enough, of course. And since the article had been circulated countless times, international press organizations soon took up the story. Only after the story appeared on the website of MailOnline did anyone provide a different theory.
The analyst noted that one Christmas Eve under Dundas Peak there was a devastating train crash.
Souls Trapped in This World
In 1934, a total of fifteen lives were lost. Several feel that their souls are still roaming the cliff to this day. While local people have taken the news with just a little grain of salt, the image is still circulating and entertaining people around the world.
Even though "SlicedUpBeef" goes back to the hill pretty often, she can never overlook her friend's cousin's strange picture. That teaches us that something unexpected can happen even in the most common moments. And she's not the only one who has caught something unexplainable on her camera.
Photo on Milk Carton Leads to Amazing Discovery
When a seven-year-old child spotted a photograph of herself in a supermarket, she didn’t realize the importance of what she was looking at.
But this shopping trip was about to change her life forever, and the lives of her loved ones would never be the same again.
The Shocking Statistics About Missing Children
It’s a sad fact that more than 2,000 children go missing every single day in America. While many of them are abducted by people they don’t know, in most cases, they are taken by relatives. With over 800,000 kids disappearing into thin air each year, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, many initiatives have been launched that aimed to bring as many of them home as possible.
One of the earliest of these was the Milk Carton Campaign that stemmed from a harrowing case in the 1970s.
The Tragic Case That Started A Movement
This initiative started after a six-year-old called Etan Patz went missing in Manhattan on May 25, 1979, while walking to the bus stop. It was only two blocks from the house but he never made it there. His mother, Julie, called 911 as soon as she learned he hadn’t arrived at school.
As the hours turned into days, Etan’s photo was displayed on news reports, glued to telephone polls, and eventually put on the side of milk cartons in 1985.
The Police Are Helped By Local Farmers As More Children Vanish
The very first dairy to put a missing child’s image on the side of its carton was Anderson & Erickson Dairy in September 1984 in Iowa, after a paperboy called Johnny Gosch vanished, but Etan’s case went countrywide as more and more dairies adopted the campaign.
The police fully supported this as it helped them reach hundreds of thousands of US citizens each morning as they sat down to have breakfast. There were 1,600 independent dairies in the country and by the start of 1985, 700 of them were on-board, trying to locate abducted children.
Sadly Most Cases Of Missing Children End Badly, Despite The Initiatives
President Ronald Reagan deemed May 25th National Missing Children’s Day as this was the day that Etan disappeared on his way to school. Sadly, his story doesn’t have a happy ending, and his killer was finally convicted in 2017.
This tale tells the story of Bonnie Lohman, a sweet seven-year-old girl who lived an unconventional life with her mother and father. Her life was changed forever when she spotted a milk carton that made her stop in her tracks.
Bonnie Lived On An Island Most People Haven't Heard Of
Bonnie was a typical kid who was naturally curious and loved to play. But unlike most children her age, she had never been to school. Her upbringing was atypical, but she was oblivious to the fact that she was unlike others.
She had led a rather nomadic lifestyle, living with her parents in Hawaii and then on the tiny island of Saipan. This relatively unknown place was part of the Northern Mariana Islands that is a U.S. commonwealth in the Pacific Ocean. It has a tiny population of fewer than 60,000 and is known for its sandy beaches and mountainous landscapes. There was a little-known battle here in 1944 but most people don’t even know of its existence
Bonnie Was Blissfully Unaware That She Was Living Such A Strange Life
Eventually, after living in basic shacks and enjoying island life during her early years, the small family of three settled in Colorado and lived a quiet and unassuming life. Bonnie filled her days with toys and games, playing on her own or with her parents, and on a few rare occasions at her neighbor's house in their small neighborhood. It was a simple and fun childhood with no drama and very little excitement. She was rarely allowed to go outside but she knew no different.
Bonnie was a happy girl and she didn’t know what she was missing out on by not going to school. She didn’t know how to read or write and couldn’t do basic arithmetic, not that she was aware of what other children her age were doing.
The One Place Bonnie Was Allowed To Visit That Always Made Her Happy
Colorado was a fun place for Bonnie, even though it lacked the beaches that she’d grown up with during her time on the two islands. Her parents loved her dearly and she had settled well in their new home. Even though she wasn’t allowed outside very often, she looked forward to the rare occasions where she was allowed to join one of her parents on a trip to buy groceries.
Bonnie always looked forward to those outings and would stare at all the items in the grocery store. She loved all the colorful packaging, even though she couldn’t read what was written on them.
A Rare Trip Outdoors Made Bonnie Light Up, But She Knew She Had To Behave
One day, Bonnie’s father called out that it was time for another grocery trip and Bonnie was allowed to go with him. Her face lit up and she raced to put her shoes on. As they made their way to the store, Bonnie took in the sights and sounds around her.
She loved these adventures, especially as they happened so infrequently. She savored every moment she was out and about with her dad. Bonnie knew to be on her best behavior or she wouldn’t be allowed to come out on future excursions.
Bonnie Spots Something That Stops Her In Her Tracks
As Bonnie headed down the various aisles in the convenience store, she took in all the colors and shapes of the food and drink wrapping. She headed to the cool refrigerated section and looked at the numerous rows of yogurts, creams, and milk cartons.
Suddenly her eyes were drawn to one milk carton in particular. She could not stop staring. There was a photograph of a young girl imprinted on the side of it that looked so familiar.
Bonnie Recognizes The Person In The Photo But What Would Her Father Think?
The black and white image was that of a girl who was much younger than Bonnie. Unbeknownst to her, the girl in the photo was three-years-old. It didn’t take long for Bonnie to realize that this girl on the side of the milk carton was a younger version of herself. She was mesmerized.
She waited for her father to approach the dairy section and excitedly pointed up at the carton with sheer delight. She hoped he would be as delighted as she was about this amazing discovery. She wanted to take a closer look.
Would Her Father Let Her Have This Incredible Find? Bonnie Held Her Breath
Her father remained silent and handed the carton to her. She loved seeing a photo of herself displayed so prominently on the packaging. This was one of the most exciting things to have happened in her short life and she was thrilled. She begged her father to buy it for her. He looked at her for a long time before making his decision.
After what felt like an eternity, a smile went across his face and he said he’d buy it for her. But it would come with one very strict condition.
Her Father Asked Bonnie To Do One Important Thing, But Would She Obey?
When they came back home, the pair sat in the kitchen and drank from the special carton. Bonnie could not stop staring at the photograph and felt famous. Her father gave her a stern stare and told her that he would cut out the image so long as she promised to do one thing.
He would let her keep the photo but only if she swore she would never show it to anyone else, not even her mother. Bonnie would do anything to have the photo in her possession so she quickly swore to her father that she would keep the promise.
Her Father's Decision That Would Change Everything
Bonnie was used to following rules and keeping secrets. Her father knew that if Bonnie made a promise, she would keep it. She had proven herself repeatedly in the past so he had no reason to think she was lying to her.
She didn’t ask him about any of the words on the carton, just staying transfixed on the photograph. When the carton was empty, her dad grabbed a pair of scissors and carefully cut the whole side of the carton out for her. She had no idea that the word “Missing” was on the photo she’d been given.
Bonnie Treasured The Photo But Had No Idea That It Was So Important
Bonnie was too young to know about the milk carton campaign and was just delighted to have been given the photo to keep in her possession. She obeyed her father’s wishes and kept it hidden from everyone, including her mom.
The delightful young girl went back to her usual day of playing and using her imagination to while away the hours. She was proud that she didn’t say anything to her mother when she came back home and knew that her father would be pleased that she was following his strict rule. Bonnie was so happy and the photo went everywhere with her.
The Day That Would Change Everything Had Started Normally, With One Exciting Difference
One day, Bonnie was allowed to go to one of the neighbor’s houses to play. She loved heading there, even though it didn’t happen very often. She was allowed to take some of her favorite toys to their house to play with.
Bonnie put her chosen toys into a small box and headed next door for an afternoon of fun. And of course, she took her prized photo with her too. She made sure to hide it at the bottom of the box to keep her promise to her father. She didn’t want the neighbor seeing it.
Bonnie Makes A Huge Mistake And Doesn't Even Realize It
Bonnie had a wonderful time at the house. She loved the change of scenery, as sometimes she got bored of staring at the same walls of the family home. Being at her neighbor’s house was such fun and the hours passed far too quickly.
When the time came for her to return home, she said her goodbyes and went back to her parents. She’d had a lovely time and was grateful that she’d been allowed to spend her afternoon there. What Bonnie hadn’t realized was that she’d completely forgotten to bring the box of toys with her.
Neighbor's Shocking Discovery As She Finds Bonnie's Hidden Possession
The neighbor discovered the box of toys and was about to return it to Bonnie when she suddenly spotted the black and white image inside. She stared at it, taking in the importance of what she was looking at.
The photo looked like a much younger version of Bonnie holding a teddy bear and the word “Missing” screamed out at her. The description underneath gave Bonnie’s name, date of birth, height, and weight. It also had the date that she went missing. The neighbor could not believe what she was reading.
The Frantic Call To The Police But Time Was Running Out
There was a final line at the bottom of the photo that said “Relationships: Mother in Reno, Nevada”. As the facts sank in, there was only one course of action that this woman could take. She reached for the phone and started to dial.
In an instant, she was connected to the police and put through to an officer. The words fell out of her mouth, as she scrambled to give them the details as quickly as possible. She was petrified that Bonnie’s parents would realize that the box and photo were still in her house. It was a race against time and Bonnie’s life was at stake.
As The Friendly Interrogation Grew Tenser, The Police Knew What They Had To Do
Within minutes, the police were at her door to see the photo in person. As soon as it was examined, they went next door to ask the husband and wife about their daughter. The police were cautious not to freak them out, in case they panicked and endangered Bonnie’s life in any way.
The officers calmly sat with Bonnie’s parents and asked them a few simple questions about when they had arrived in Colorado and what they did for a living. But the questions soon turned to Bonnie and the officers observed the couple getting twitchy and anxious. The police knew they had to take action.
Police Speak To Someone Who Claimed To Be Related To Bonnie
The couple was promptly arrested and Bonnie was taken to the police station. One of the officers called the number on the carton and was eventually connected with a man who identified himself as Bonnie's father. He was stunned to hear from someone in Colorado and when he heard that they were calling about a missing child, he struggled to get the words out.
The man started sobbing and asked if Bonnie was okay. He was told that she was safe and well. As the conversation continued, it quickly became apparent that Bonnie had been lied to for most of her life. The man she had called “Dad” was not her biological father.
The Sad Tale Of A Broken Relationship
It transpired that when she was just three years old, Bonnie had been at the center of a bitter custodial dispute that her mother had lost. Refusing to obey the court ruling, Bonnie’s mother had abducted her from their hometown of Reno and disappeared. Bonnie’s father was absolutely distraught and put up posters of his little girl wherever he could.
He asked the police for help but as it was a domestic dispute, they decided not to interfere. He was devastated by that decision and asked the Milk Carton Campaign to put Bonnie’s photo and details on the side of a carton. He knew it was a long shot but he was willing to do anything to get her back.
The Incredible Coincidences That Led To Bonnie Being Reunited With Her Father
Usually, only photos of kidnapped children were put onto the cartons but he pleaded with those responsible for the campaign to make an exception for his little girl. Whatever he said obviously worked and it was only because of his sheer grit and determination that he prevailed. It’s still unknown why Bonnie’s stepfather decided to buy the carton for her. Many presumed that it was a mix of arrogance and confidence, thinking that Bonnie would keep it hidden and would never learn how to read.
Bonnie was immediately reunited with her father, four years after being abducted. It was a miracle that her face had been put on cartons that were delivered to that particular grocery store in Colorado, and it was a sheer fluke that Bonnie had accidentally left it for someone else to find.
Bonnie Gives An Interview About Her Time On The Run And Her Future
Years later, Bonnie was interviewed about her time spent unknowingly on the run with her mother and stepfather. She was asked about her time in Saipan and Hawaii, as well as the many rules she was made to follow to avoid being recognized. She had absolutely no idea that she was being looked for by her loving father, someone she had little recollection of.
“I wasn’t kidnapped by strangers, I was kidnapped by people that loved me,” she said. Charges were filed against her mother and stepfather but that was of no concern to Bonnie. Her life was now all about being back with her father and learning who he was after so many years apart and almost no memory of him.
The Milk Carton Campaign Is Phased Out After Terrible Results
Her father told reporters that he had never stopped looking for her, and had never given up hope of one day being reunited with her. He was adamant that someone, somewhere would recognize her from the many photos that had been distributed throughout the States.
On the whole, the Milk Carton Campaign had been unsuccessful, bringing home only two of the 200 children displayed on nearly five billion cartons, as well as one pizza boxes and the back of envelopes. Thankfully, one of those found was Bonnie. The scheme was eventually phased out, being replaced by Amber Alerts in 1996. This new program sent texts, showed messages on billboards, and displayed alerts on the front of buses. It’s proven to be one of the most efficient ways of spreading details about a missing child as quickly as possible. But Bonnie’s father will always be grateful for the Milk Carton Campaign.