Appearance / Description of Object(s)

The object looked very much like a large trunk , or the obelisk in "Space Odyssy 2000" Rectangular -length twice its width and thickness 1/2 its width. Orange glowing lines about its middle and all visible edges.

Size of Object(s)

At arm's length 3/8th in. between thumb and finger. Or- the diameter of the moon. This would mean at least 1500 ft to 3500 ft in length. Plus++

Description of Area / Surroundings

Central Oregon Elevation 4000, along Big Lake Road, South of the road junction and Santiam Pass, Hwy 22 to Bend, Oregon. Right Big Lake Campground and lake. Mt. Washington Elevation 7,100 ft to the SE. 3 miles.

Full Description & Details

As I was standing in the middle of the road looking at the pre-dawn sky of brilliant stars and Polaris, I noticed what seemed like a fireball low in the trees north along the road. There were huge flames all about the object and suddenly it veered to my right and rapidly gained altitude to about 22 Degrees above the horizon. (Polaris is about 45 Degrees altitude) The flames went out and I was looking at this object broadside. It was clearly delineated twice as high as its width. I could see its thickness (about 1/2 its width) as well as the top was angled about 15 degrees to the right. An extremely bright ablation tail formed from each of the four visible edges and formed smooth curves top and bottom (like a scimitar blade) joining some distance back. This tail became so bright the sky turned briefly to blue then faded to black once again with the brilliant stars in the background. I could see brown smoke trailing in the bright yellow -orange light . The object was clearly visible by an orange glowing rectangular seam at its middle and at all of its edges. There were a few orange sparks from the top and leading edges. 3 to 4 four seconds later and perhaps at a bearing 45 Deg. NE. Altitude still at about 22 Deg. It disappeared into the night sky except for a faint wisp of trailing smoke.

The road was lined with alpine firs and tent camp sites were to my right . The camp site of my friends and my self was to my right about 40 ft . The lake shore about 100 ft. The four of us were heading out on a roped accent of the Mt. Washington spire early this morning at sunrise. My friends were asleep and did not witness any of this and I did not say anything to them as I did not want to "spook" our day and some tricky climbing later on.

Further information submitted on 3/13/2006:

This is not the usual UFO case as you can see. But, there are very puzzling aspects regarding this sighting. First is I have difficulty justifying my ability to see an object possible as distant as the space station for example. If I assume 3/8th at 24in (arm length) and taking the sighting angle of 22 +,- Deg vertical angle the size of this object boggles the mind. A minimum a 2500 feet in length and more likely more than a mile in length. OR, the object dipped to perhaps just ten miles altitude above ground. Why didn't it burn up? The shape was maintained thru out its visibility. I estimate it to be traveling at near the escape velocity of earh, or 25,000 mph. It appears to be free falling and deflected to my right after approaching at a very low angle to the earth. Then perhaps headed either into earth orbit, or back into space. With only one witness, determining which would be additional conjecture.

I hope this will describe in a clearer fashion what it was I observed.

Can sighting be explained as any conventional man-made or natural object?

The size determination is critical to ascertain if manmade or not. AT first I thought perhaps this was a spent rocket casing or of that nature. But, it's shape cleary ruled this out . I know of no technology that could have constructed something is possibly a mile in length and half a mile wide and probably an 1/8th of a mile thick. Or this could have been much closer to earth - maybe 20 miles high but the angle altitude was about 22 Deg

Witness Background

I have a civil engineering and land surveying background. I attended the University of Oregon for three years with a major in liberal arts. Ended up with a technical degree in a two year engineering program and worked with my father in his engineering business. My hobby is weather and I keep continuos records. Belong to the local American Meteorological Society

Views on UFOs, before and after sighting

I have read a lot over the years regarding UFO's including J. Allen Hyneck's Close Encounters of The Third Kind. and others I am curious but somewhat skeptical. The best witnesses have always been very creditable and responsible types.

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