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A few days ago we took a trip to Natural Tunnel State Park in Virginia. The park is centered on the Natural Tunnel, which is a massive naturally formed cave that is so large it is used as a railroad tunnel. The railroad tracks are still activate and a train passed through as we were first walking down the mountain. Natural Tunnel State Park was created in 1967 and opened to the public in 1971, but the natural tunnel has been a Virginian tourist attraction for more than a century.

Daniel Boone is believed to have been the first European to see it in the 18th century. The 41st United States Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan dubbed it the "Eighth Wonder of the World".

As impressive as all that is, what stood out to me was the story surrounding the highest peak above the tunnel. The story of forbidden love and death, the story known as Lover's leap.

So, I thought I would use my pictures and the videos I took at the park to tell the story of Lover's Leap. I kept the video very short, I hope you enjoy it.

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This use to be a page on our site and I removed it. But I thought it would be a good idea to preserve the actual content, and add some, from the page. I know some of this information, especially the tools, is probably out dated but there is still some good information. It is important for ghost hunters to be prepare when going out to investigate and this post will provide some useful information. There may even be some seasoned investigators who will find some of these tips useful. There are two lists, one for ghost hunting tools and one is ghost hunting tips.

 Lets get to the list.

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Image from old Ghost Hunters Episode

Ghost Hunting With Infrared Technology
 
Replace Fear Of The Unknown With Curiosity

Ghosts have been of significant interest to the human race for centuries. Cultures all around the world believe in spirits that survive death to live in another realm.  They are actually the most widely believed of all paranormal phenomena.  The search for proof of afterlife based paranormal activity has become more popular in recent years, due in part because of cable TV's hit series like “Ghost Hunters.”

Ghost hunting can often however be a deceptively complex exercise.  Fortunately technological advancements have allowed the development of increasingly effective methods and tools that allow paranormal investigators help explain these paranormal phenomena. 

Diagnostic instruments based on infrared technology have been used extensively over the years in the search for ghosts.  As these devices have become more affordable they are now widely used by both professional and amateur ghost hunters alike.  The reason for their popularity is because they can detect one of the key indicators of the presence of paranormal activity. Temperature!
  

It’s All About The Surface

In considering the purchase of either of these infrared devices, it is important to understand that they are only able to measure the surface temperature of objects and not the ambient air temperature.  Unfortunately, it is not uncommon to see less reputable sources and sellers of these products suggesting that these devices will be able to measure fluctuations in ambient air temperature.  This is simply not the case.   

This would perhaps leave many people wondering why anyone would consider adding one of these devices to their ghost hunting kit?  The reason these instruments play such an important role in ghost hunting centers on the important task of eliminating non-paranormal explanations of evidence that might otherwise suggest a ghostly presence. 

Ghostly activity is often associated with sudden and dramatic drops in localized temperature which are known as ‘cold spots.’  The presence of a cold spot is not automatically definitive proof of paranormal activity however when there may be environmental or other explanations for decreases in temperature.  An infrared thermometer or thermal imaging camera can however quickly eliminate many of these other possible explanations, such as air ingress from windows or vents.  Being able to disqualify false indicators of paranormal activity is a critical task for any ghost hunter and these instruments are able to do this extremely quickly and effectively.


Recommended Equipment

Infrared Thermometer

As with many items of technology there are a wide variety of models available with a range of different features.  A basic infrared thermometer will enable ghost hunters to measure the surface temperatures of common objects like walls and other non-reflective materials reliably and efficiently.  High quality models for these tasks can be purchased for between $20.00 and $50.00. 

There are some more advanced models which come with the ability to measure not only surface temperature, but ambient air temperature as well courtesy of a K-type slot for a thermocouple.  These models would be ideal for those who do not have a separate device to measure air temperature and will enable them to be able to detect both forms of temperature from the same device at the same time. 

Thermal Imaging Camera

Thermal cameras are becoming increasingly popular, especially as their price continues to come down while their quality and features improve.  That said, budgetary considerations are likely to play a role in the decision-making process as to which model most consumers will look to buy.

The benefits of a thermal camera cannot however be overstated.  They are able to quickly scan a large surface area or multiple objects very quickly.  The ability to clearly view temperature hot and cold spots via the thermal image displayed on the screen allows users to assess whether there may be natural sources for any temperature fluctuations.  Many models also come with dual thermal and digital cameras, which eliminate the need for carrying additional equipment on the job. 

More advanced models come with greater resolution of the thermal detector for clearer imaging and video recording capabilities, but also come with a greater price tag.  Realistically, it is not likely that these features are required for ghost hunting purposes and a more affordable model will perform just as admirably.


Feared By Ghosts, Loved By Hunters

Compared to yesteryear, the ability to prove or disprove the presence of ghosts and other paranormal phenomena is greatly enhanced with the use of infrared technology.  It is an exciting prospect for ghost hunters that these instruments are more widely available and in the future will come with even more advanced features.  They have multiple applications which can be used to save money and which will offset the initial cost of purchase. 

In the realm of ghost hunting the ability to quickly and definitively rule out other explanations for indicators of paranormal phenomena is of critical importance.  The time to turn the tables has arrived.  Good luck haunting the ghosts!



 
Guest Post By Christopher Hale of GunandCamera.com







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A few months ago I finished reading the book Ghost: A Natural History: 500 Years of Searching for Proof and it was a little about Harry Houdini and how he was interested in ghosts and mediums.

So, that got me to dig into some of the histories of Houdini and led to the creation of a short documentary-type video about him.

Here is the video, it is but a small glimpse into the life of Houdini

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Critter photo by Larry Smith

This post by TCC Team member Leon Drew. Leon gallops the plains and rides tall in the saddle while in the mountains of the great state of Colorado. He is an Army Vet, History Buff, Telecom Engineer, Paranormal investigator, and Bigfoot Researcher.





Where to start? I was contacted by a gentleman “Larry” about a set of pictures he has. These were taken in his backyard on a game camera “Wild Game Innovations Model D8”. He has only sent me hard copies. None in original format. He states that the pictures show an entity that has appeared in his backyard on multiple occasions.  The description is they appear as a “translucent wing” in multiple colors and sizes. See inserted image above.

As a researcher, I try very hard to keep an open mind. To have no preconceived ideas or notions. So when I first talk to Larry I was very excited and interested. So without poisoning the pot. I will present his evidence and let you decide Please excuse the grammar and spelling as this a direct copy of his statements.

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This post by Thomas Marcum, Thomas is the founder/leader of the cryptozoology and paranormal research organization known as The Crypto Crew. Over 20 years experience with research and investigation of unexplained activity, working with video and websites. A trained wild land firefighter and a published photographer, and poet.



Just in time for Halloween and filled with ghost and haunting tales dating back into the 1600's, it's Roger Clarke's Ghost: A natural history: 500 years of searching for proof. Yeah, it's a long title but it's very fitting.

As some of you may know, I have a hard time reading most books because they tend to not hold my interest and end up just laying around. Well, I'm happy to say this is not the case with this book. It has held my interest with not only it's recounting of very old hauntings but also with it's large list of famous people. There are many famous names in the book that you will recognize and learning about their involvement in ghost, hauntings and research that will fascinate you...it sure did me. From John Wesley to Charles Dickens to Harry Houdini and numerous Dukes, Earls and Vicars, learn how they helped shape the paranormal field to what it is today.

This book is more than just a bunch of ghost stories, it shows how some of these famous tales were debunked and how some led to lawsuits, destroyed lives, exposed secrets and caused deaths.  It's also fascinating to read and understand how ghost stories evolved from knocks and bangs to seances with full body apparitions.

Ghost: A natural history: 500 years of searching for proof not only manages to be entertaining but it is also educational. I found a great wealth of knowledge in it.        

At times the book takes a look at how various classes in society were thought of when it came to seeing ghost and some of the extremes taken to try and expose fakes. It explores the mob mentality of the "ghost mobs" that would gather at haunted houses. Sometimes hundreds of people would gather at haunted houses, some walking for miles, in hopes to get a glimpse of a ghost.

This book is filled with over 350 pages of history, creepy tales, knowledge, murder, pictures and so much more.

I highly recommend it.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Thanks
~Tom~

  



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Paranormal researcher Chris Bores during an investigation

This post by Thomas Marcum, Thomas is the founder/leader of the cryptozoology and paranormal research organization known as The Crypto Crew. Over 20 years experience with research and investigation of unexplained activity, working with video and websites. A trained wild land firefighter and a published photographer, and poet.


I recently reviewed the paranormal documentary film Pursuit of the Paranormal, my review can be found Here, but I also had a chance to interview the director and creator of the film, Chris Bores.
Here is our 16th interview in the ongoing series, I hope you enjoy it.


 - Start Interview -  

TM:  How long have you been researching/studying the paranormal?

CB: I have been investigating the paranormal since 2006 when all the ghost hunting show began exploding onto our TV sets. It took me a few years to really figure out the path I wanted to take in this field but in 2012, I was really able to able to figure out a skill set that helped me get some pretty amazing conversations going with spirits

TM: What got you interested in ghosts, Was there a particular event that got you started?

CB: Like many, I got caught up in the ghost hunting craze when Ghost Hunters on Syfy became popular. I didn’t realize it was an actual pastime with a specific methodology until then.

TM: During your research/studying of the paranormal, have you ever encountered aggressive behavior or felt in danger from a spirit?

CB: Oh yes. I have been attacked on one occasion and had to leave the room and tell the spirit enough, I am leaving. Thankfully it backed down after I said that. On other occasions I’ve had to bless an area from a negative being.

TM: It seems Skeptics are always doubting the paranormal field, and make claims of evidence being faked, How do you deal with it?

CB: I’ve encountered naysayers countless times over the past couple of years. Ghost Hunting is very polarizing. Until you have that experience, you are not going to believe in it.

TM: What do you feel is your best evidence of the paranormal?

CB: I’ve got my share of cool EVP’s just like everyone else. Anyone can do it so I wanted to steer away from really highlighting that part of my research. The main reason I wanted to come up with a communication skill set that breaks the mold in this field is because everyone can go out and capture EVP’s.

My favorite evidence is getting interactions that last for an hour or longer. Not many people can do the type of work that keeps spirits entertained long enough to pull actual information from them. But recently I was at a location talking to this spirit who many referred to as Caroline. Once I got her comfortable enough with my presence, I asked her if that was her name and she said it wasn’t. This is done through a K2 device I use. Not sure what her name really is though. Sadly I didn’t have a device that worked well enough that night to tell me that. 

TM: Do you have a favorite place you would like to investigate?

CB: I’d love to hit up places like the Winchester Mansion or Stanley Hotel. I’d love to see if I could get a conversation started with the spirits that lurk there.

TM: Do you have a place you would like to investigate but haven't got to, yet?

CB: Same as above. Ghost Hunting doesn’t pay a dime so it’s a challenge to travel around to all these places that harbor all the great activity hunters are looking for. Easter State Penn is another place that’s high on my list.

TM: What would you be doing if you wasn't researching/studying the paranormal?

CB: I am constantly working on videos and working with clients in the area to pay the bills. I would probably be doing more of that.


TM: Thanks for doing the interview, keep us posted on your work.

 Here is some pictures of some investigation work.



Chris and team member Alan Cicco getting some background information about the structure before the investigation starts.











Chris and Alan communicating with a spirit by using a K2 Meter





- End Interview -



A big thanks again to Chris Bores for doing the interview and good luck to him and Alan in their paranormal research.

Thanks
~Tom~





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Ghost or Dust?

This post from TCC Team Member Jason Morse.  Jason is a lifelong outdoor enthusiast, trained in wilderness survival tactics, a 26-year martial artist, DJ, EMT, and amateur writer. Jason conducts bigfoot field research, witness interviews, and more for The Crypto Crew.



What was this Orb? Was it just dust or a spirit?

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Ghost hands (Re-creation)

This post by Thomas Marcum, Thomas is the founder/leader of the cryptozoology and paranormal research organization known as The Crypto Crew. Over 20 years experience with research and investigation of unexplained activity, working with video and websites. A trained wild land firefighter and a published photographer, and poet.


After posting the ghost dragging a man article, we received a report about ghost type hands touching a woman while she slept.

Here is what Khristey told us.

"Ok, so I had been seeing weird stuff in my apartment. I lived in an old school building in Sciotoville, OH called Linsey, I think that was the name of it.  I was in a basement apartment and I wasn't the only one who seen stuff weird stuff happen there. Some of the strange stuff was like things moving, things going missing and we seen what seemed like kids playing at night beside the building.

Well my sister-in-law tried to expel what we thought might have been a bad spirit, the lights were off and she had a candle lit in front of her. Then, I seen the strangest thing ever, it looked evil but also looked like a part of her, kinda looked like a mirror effect like a demon leaning out of her. It was kinda a reddish color and she stepped out side and came back in and poured salt everywhere, while mumbling. The reason she did this was because I had been feeling like I was being violated. It felt like someone rubbing my whole body and I was not being able to move. I would wake up in the middle of the night with this going on and sometimes it would happen when I had just laid down. I guess that could be called an attack in a way. I kept ending up with scratches and red marks on my body."


Rubbing and leaving red marks and scratches on your body, I would say that is considered an attack.
Thanks goes to Khristey for sharing her experience with everyone. I know there are others out there that have had similar things happen, please feel free to share your story with us. You can use THIS LINK to submit it.

Thanks
~Tom~




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Message from the grave

This Post By TCC Team Member Dorraine Fisher. Dorraine is a Professional Writer, a nature and wildlife enthusiast who has written for many magazines. Get Dorraine's book The Book Of Blackthorne!



Have you ever had strange experiences after someone close to you died?

"Jay" is someone who prefers to remain anonymous, but swears he had communications with a friend via text message who had previously been killed in an auto accident.

"It was the weirdest thing that’s ever happened to me," he said with a pang of sadness that was still obvious. "Carl had been my best friend for years. We grew up together, took vacations together, and met our wives almost at the same time. And when the accident happened, it was like I’d lost a brother. I was beside myself."

But on the day following his friend’s funeral, Jay, in his grief, couldn’t get his head together. He had promised the family that he would pick up some pictures and personal items from the funeral home after the funeral service was over and deliver them back to Carl’s wife.

The family had created a type of shrine to Carl for the funeral that consisted of old and new pictures, his favorite sports memorabilia, items from his children, and other favorite personal items for people to look at and remember him.

"It was my only job that day. I promised I’d do that one little thing. But I was tired and I got to talking to people and it just slipped my mind," Jay recalled.

And he didn’t remember it until he was some seven miles away from the funeral home. He stopped in a parking lot of an old rural church and pulled his phone out of his jacket pocket.

"I was getting ready to call Carl’s wife and let her know what happened and that I’d be late."

But to his surprise, Jay glanced at the screen on his IPhone only to see a message already opened and scrawled across the screen, "You really are stupid, you know that. Haha!"

"I checked for a number of the caller but there was none, which was really weird, and I was curious. So I asked, ‘Who is this?’ And within seconds the answer came back, ‘Who do you think this is, Chief?’"

"And then I felt like I’d swallowed a big rock. Carl always called me Chief. It actually dated back to our days as kids when we played cowboys and Indians. The name Chief just kind of stuck."

"I just buried you today. You’re dead. I don’t know who this is but, what kind of a sick bastard are you? I punched in the message, feeling pretty mad and not knowing what to say or what to think. Only that someone was playing a really sick joke."

But then there was no response for quite some time and Jay began to think he may have just dreamt the whole thing even though he could see it on the screen.

"I was surely tired enough," he said.

But he kept staring at the screen, feeling confused and somewhat mesmerized in his fatigue, and he stared off across the highway for a moment only to hear his phone chime another text message.

The text appeared on the screen. "Lucky for you, dumba**, they boxed all my stuff up and left it in the coatroom for you to pick up. ‘Good thing somebody’s on the ball today, ‘cause you sure ain’t. Hahaha!"

"I swear my heart felt like it was going to jump out of my chest," Jay recalled. Carl had also called me that name fairly often… when we weren’t with our families, of course. But now I had to know if it was who I thought it was. So I typed."

"Carl?"

"But no answer. So I sat there for a minute, thinking I’d surely gone crazy. And it seemed like a really long time when I suddenly looked down at my phone again."

"You really are stupid,’ the text said again."

But Jay just stared at the screen, only to see another message appear.

"You’ve been stupid since we were kids and you rode your bike off the dock at Spring Lake. Hahaha!"

"So now, I was stunned. Nobody talked to me like that…except Carl. And nobody knew about that except Carl. I nearly drowned that day because my foot got stuck in the bike when I went in the water. Carl’s the one that jumped in and got me. He helped me get the bike out of the lake and he swore he’d never tell anyone. I would have been in big trouble if he had."

"So I texted back."

"How did you know about that?" I typed.

But then there was no answer again. So Jay waited again. He glanced away from the screen again and then glanced back to find another message.

"I gotta go, Chief."

"Wait," I texted back."

"Take care of things for me," a text returned.

"And that was all," Jay told me. "I asked him once more to wait, but there weren’t any more messages. I stared at the screen for a while until I pulled myself together and the screen went off. I sat there for a minute wondering if this had really happened to me. And I tried to pull up the last message again only to find that it wasn’t there. All the messages were just gone."

Disappointed and a little bewildered, Jay drove all the way back to the funeral home that was in the neighboring town hoping to get the items quickly and be on his way. But when he arrived, he found they had been removed from the entryway.

"I yelled out to see if anyone was around to help, but there was no answer, though I suspected everyone was in the office upstairs. I was so tired, and I didn’t quite know what to do for a minute until I realized that the text message had said the stuff was in a box in the coatroom. I felt a little weird about it but nevertheless I went into the coatroom. And sure enough there was a box sitting just inside the doorway. It was half open and had the family name printed on the outside in black marker. I flipped the lid open and saw that all the items were there…ready for me to take home….just like the text had said."

"It’s strange what goes through your mind," he said. "I never told Carl’s wife because I didn’t want her to know he’d contacted me instead of her. Though maybe he contacted her too and she never said anything to me about it. Why would she? Who would believe it anyway?

So, did Jay receive a text message from beyond?

"Sometimes I’m not sure I believe it either," he said. "But when he told the story about the day at the lake, I really wanted to believe it. We were good friends. He talked to me just like that all the time. And we never went back on our promises. I really don’t think anyone knew about it except him and me. I guess I want to believe it was him saying goodbye in his own way, but I know I’ll never know for sure." *******DF
　

　


©The Crypto Crew


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Is it a ghost?

This photo taken at Georgia’s Historic Worley B&B Inn shows what appears to be a man resting on a bed. However, he wasn’t there when the photo was taken. According to L.E.M.U.R. Paranormal Investigations, the ghost might belong to a teen who died in the home in the late 1800s. What do you think?



Do you have a creepy ghost photo? Send your ghost photos and stories to us - thecryptocrew@kih.net






[Source:Ghosts n Ghouls]
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From our friends over at Paranormal Geeks Radio - Give them a visit.




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Recreation made at actual area where Girl in White was seen

This is a guest post by Tim Cornett. Tim is a amateur Kentucky historian and author.
Tim has worked as a reporter, publisher, editor and photographer.
Find out more about Tim by Clicking Here



One night several years ago (in the 1990s) I was on my way back to Pineville, KY. after having been to see my fiancée. She lived at Black Snake, KY. which is just off of US 119, about nine miles from Pineville. I say night but it was actually around 2:00 a.m.

    The area where the Light House Mission is located has been different things – a garage, a restaurant, etc. At that time some of the coal truck drivers where parking their trucks in the lot around the building that was there. As I approached this place I noticed there was a young girl in a long white dress standing on the step on the driver's side door. It appeared that she was looking in the truck.

     I realized that no one should be around those trucks at that time of morning. I had already passed the area, but I was only 40 or 50 feet from it. I turned around to go back and see if the girl needed help or what was going on. When I pulled into the lot my head lights swept the truck she had been on, but she wasn't there.

     I got out of the car and looked around the trucks and the lot, but the girl was nowhere to be found. I realized then that it had been a dissatisfied spirit that I had seen. I got back in the car and went on home.
     A few weeks later I was going to my fiancée's. I was driving along US 119 , headed toward Harlan, KY.  It was about 8:00 p.m. and was dark and dreary, as there was a light drizzle of rain falling. As I passed the lot where the trucks were parked I again saw a girl in a long white dress. She was standing on one of the trucks , looking in the window.
     I stopped my car in the middle of the road to look back at the girl. But when I turned my head to look she was gone.
     I just saw this apparition twice and have never heard of anyone else seeing her, but I believe The Girl In White roams that area looking for something or someone.

Thanks
~Tim~

©The Crypto Crew




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