Deep in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, they say a pale, skeletal woman wanders between the pines, park rangers supposedly call her Penelope. Others call her a strange creature.

In episode 7 of California Cryptids, we uncover the chilling stories behind Penelope, the so-called Pale Witch. From Tioga Lake to Mono Lake, witnesses describe a figure with both human and inhuman features. Could she be a ghost, a cryptid — or something even older?

🎙️ Chapters / Timestamps

0:00 – Cold Open: The Pale Witch of the Pines

1:37 – Have you ever heard of Penelope?

3:50 – Story 1: The Terror of Tioga Lake

10:23 – Discussion: Does giving something a name create validity?

12:08 – What would you name the creature?

13:39 – Does it seem like a ghost, cryptid or something else?

14:18 – Story 2: The Monster of Mono Lake

20:01 – Discussion: Is this the same creature as the first story?

20:35 – Alexis Makes Steve Sound Hot!

21:31 – Did Steve make it in time to go fishing?

22:15 – Story 3: The Origin of Penelope

27:43 – The Wendigo Connection

29:54 – The Legend of Ninitakati: The Walking Skeleton of the Mono Tribe

33:37 – The Witch from Left 4 Dead 2 and other comparisons

41:07 – Penelope vs. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

42:31 – What was your favorite story tonight?

44:24 – Outro

🌲 About This Episode:

Penelope’s legend may be rooted in Native folklore, but her sightings stretch from Tioga Lake to Mono County, where hikers and campers still report seeing a tall, pale figure watching from the trees. We connect her myth to the Wendigo, explore the Legend of Ninitakati, and debate whether naming a creature gives it power.

🎧 Want to Listen to more cryptid stories on California Cryptids?:

• https://youtu.be/eYi0cWjg1UM

• https://youtu.be/msMyJ5TNQIc

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Sources:

ToContriveandJive: - https://tocontriveandjive.wordpress.com/2022/10/25/penelope-the-terrifying-monster-stalking-the-silent-hills/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Native Languages - https://www.native-languages.org/mono-legends.htm

Field Guide to North American Monsters (book) - https://archive.org/details/fieldguidetonort0000blac/page/28/mode/2up